James, your posts are good from time to time, but read post #2801. The real issue here is the replacement of an outdated printing system (which nearly all in the printing industry agree should be replaced). The question is, "Who will be the winner in this replacement race - who will be the next standard?" Right now, Presstek is the clear winner. As Presstek continues to establish its printers worldwide, and as the old school printing competition begins to lose business to the Pearls, the boom will occur (it's already ocurring).
The printing world is really no different than the computer world. Computer makers went with Intel, because Intel offered a standard. Programmers choose Microsoft because Microsoft offered a standard (although I can think of several better program languages at the time which were better than Microsofts). Printers are all looking for a "standard." The suggestion was made that printers would use one system in one area, and as a short time went along, and they saw a system utilizing a "faster" direct imaging system, they'd bump up to this new system. Large printing companies want a standard across all lines of their printing business.
Once they transfer to the Presstek standard, they probably won't switch for another fifteen to twenty years. Things don't change very quickly in this business once a new standard is established. Right now the printing industry is attempting to determine what that standard will be - and, yes, you guessed it, the common opinion among printers is that Presstek's system would be that good new standard.
If you have solid information which is different from this, I'd certainly like to here it. I've been attempting to listen to those in the printing industry.
The printing industry doesn't buy printers like a business buys copy machines. Because of the significant cost assosiciated with purchasing a Pearl system, or any system for that matter, when they buy a system, they intend to keep the system on average for fifteen to twenty years. And, they want this system to extend across all their printing lines for the purpose of standardization. |
