Digital BW, The Print

> Maybe I'm all wet about the dongle, but I don't see any
> software "going large" that requires one.

The use of dongles, with (expensive) specialty software is not uncommon. I
don't really like them myself, but I understand that software manufacturers
need to protect their revenues.

> As to the pricing. There is no question that even PiezoBW is
> expensive...when it was introduced it was REVOLUTIONARY...and still
> is, to some extent. As/if there is comptetition and greater unit
> sales for Piezo the market will bring the price down.
>
> As I think about the pricing, it is the concept of pricing per
> PRINTER rather than CPU that is unique. I gues they will just have to
> see if this works... All the printer manufacturers (and until MIS
> cloned the Piezo ink) practically give away the printer, DO give away
> the software so they can sell us ink and paper.

This pricing model suits the print industry where most RIP purchasers have
multiple users, and a smaller number of large format printers. You may be
dealing with a $2000 software package for a $10,000 printer.

By releasing a scaled down version of the RIP (no tiling features, etc.)
that is limited to desktop-type printers, Imageprint is going after a
completely different market. I'd imagine here the typical setup would be one
person with two printers. The cost of the software alone will probably cost
more than both desktop printers combined. I think the current pricing model
is going to deter a large portion of it's potential market share. Hopefully
the product will succeed as I think it's something that's really needed.