>From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (mart)
>Date: Tue, 13 Aug 2002 16:51:28 +0200 (MEST)
>
>IIRC, there is a widget that plugs into a HP inkjet printer, allowing it to
>be connected to an AppleTalk network. It's called something like
>HPJetDirect. Maybe that's what's needed?
There are two basic types of product under the JetDirect name.
There are the JetDirect Network Interface Cards which plug into HP
printers with the appropriate slots. HP printers with slots are
usually Laserjets and some of the high end ink jets such as the
PaintJet XL300 (ancient now, but cool in its day) and the HP 1200M.
There are also the JetDirect Print Servers in a box. I forget
exactly what HP calls them, but I ended up with one in an auction lot
once. They basically have a network interface and one or more
parallel ports. Printers are plugged into the parallel ports and the
box is put on the network with the network interface. However,
these boxes (at least the HP ones) usually don't support QuickDraw
printers on the Mac, only Postscript. And most Postscript printers
for the Mac already have a network interface even if it is only
LocalTalk.
The reason only postscript is supported isn't so much a quality of
the JetDirect box as it is a quality of the print drivers. A print
driver on the Mac (printer extension) which uses QuickDraw directs
its output to the serial ports. So how are you going to get that
output to go the network port so that it can reach the printer you've
installed on the network? Whereas most Postscript drivers direct
their output to AppleTalk which can be output via LocalTalk or
Ethernet, thus giving you a conduit to the JetDirect box and the
printers attached to it.
A print driver which will output QuickDraw printer output, but direct
its output to AppleTalk would be a handy thing. Hmmmm. I wonder if
MicroSpot's MacPallete II could be adapted?
But as the other poster said, in this case, the HP DeskWriters for
the Mac have LocalTalk support built in. However, the older DeskJets
(which were for the PC) do not. I wonder if the DeskWriter AppleTalk
drivers would work on the DeskJet if you connected it to your network
through an HP JetDirect box or equivalent.
Jeff Walther
--
Compact Macs is sponsored by <http://lowendmac.com/>.
Support Low End Mac <http://lowendmac.com/lists/support.html>
Compact Macs list info: <http://lowendmac.com/lists/compact.shtml>
The FAQ: <http://macfaq.org/>
--> AOL users, remove "mailto:";
Send list messages to: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To unsubscribe, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
For digest mode, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subscription questions: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Archive:<http://www.mail-archive.com/compact.macs%40mail.maclaunch.com/>
Using a Mac? Free email & more at Applelinks! http://www.applelinks.com
