Desktop changes reshape publishing environment - Folio: Special Report

Folio: The Magazine for Magazine Management, Sept 1, 1993 by Jean Marie Angelo

The second in command in the production department, most commonly the production manager, is also involved in purchasing decisions at 27.9 percent of the companies surveyed. Eighteen percent consult with the art director.

On the average, our respondents have invested $232,400 to date on desktop and electronic publishing systems, excluding the cost of training. Twenty-three percent have spent between $25,000 to $74,999. About 13 percent have invested between $100,000 and $249,999. Nine percent have spent more $250,000.

Thirteen percent of respondents interviewed have planned no hardware purchases for the current fiscal year. Those who are planning to buy new hardware are budgeting for an average expenditure of $46,600. One-fourth of respondents say that their planned spending for new hardware will fall in the $10,000 to $49,999 range.

About 38 percent have budgeted for new software purchases, with the average expense being $4,000 for the current fiscal year. Twenty-one percent of respondents will spend between $500 and $2,499 on new software. Another 10 percent will spend between $2,500 and $7,499. Seven percent indicate they will spend $7,500 or more.

Twenty-two percent have also budgeted for upgrades to hardware already on site. The average expenditure will be $6,000 for the current fiscal year, according to respondents. Twenty-three percent have budgeted for software upgrades for the current fiscal year, and the average upgrade expenditure will be $1,400, according to respondents.

About 70 percent of respondents report having scanners on site. The brand names most often mentioned are Microtek, used by 11.7 percent, and HP Scanjet, used by 10.8 percent.

Eighty-seven percent of respondents report having some type of output device on-site. The most common brands of laser printers mentioned include Apple LaserWriter, used by 18.9 percent of respondents, and QMS, used by 12.6 percent.

If the Photo CD experiment works for Hanley-Wood and the other magazines that are using the new technology, the next report on DTP may reveal a more sophisticated list of output devices. Ink-jet and dye-sublimation printers, usually found only at pre-press services, may be found at more publishing companies this time next year. Other concerns production directors will no doubt ponder: staff training, adding random-access memory to existing systems, and color trapping.

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