In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Rich Mellor wrote:
> On Thu, 25 Nov 2004 20:43:29 +0100, Wolfgang Lenerz
> wrote:
>
> > On 25 Nov 2004 at 18:46, Rich Mellor wrote:
> >>
> >> If Proforma cannot output to these printers - is there much point in
> >> persuing this further as people will still be struggling to find
> >> printers
> >> which are compatible with the QL...
> > I disagree (again...).
> >
> > I'd never buy a GDI printer, and there are many others that wouldn't
> > (just
> > think of Linux). There are so many pronters out there that have some
> > kind of
> > emulation( Laserjet, PCL etc...)
>
> The trouble is locating them - if these printers are so readily available
> at low prices, then what exactly are we developing this for as the QL can
> already output PCL 3 (just not the later versions).
>
> There is no list anywhere that I can find of modern printers which support
> ESC/P2 or direct text output. Don't forget that most Linux / Unix users
> now use some form of printing program for output - no idea whether that
> sends plain text and epson control codes to the printers or graphics..??
The problem is not the odd windows-only printer, the problem is that
applications like Xchange only support ESC/P2 printers in text mode. Most
printers have dropped the text mode as modern DTP packages print in graphics
mode so they can use a better range of fonts and print images. This makes
printers cheaper. Also Postscript printers which are mainly laser with
parallel ports are not supported either. The aim of using Proforma seems
to be to create a standardised printer driver system that would enable
these printers to be used. Rather than each app having to write a print
driver system of it's own, a standard set of print drivers is used. Once
a driver is writen for a printer all applications can use that printer,
including legacy ones using PFF. This would enable my Epson C80 to
print text in colour. So in other words the QL is starting to
catch up to where RISC OS was in the 1980s. There is no magic
bullet to making all printers work, instead we need to make as many as
possible work as best as possible.
I hope not many people have been forced to unsubscribe because of the
heavy volume.
--
Tarquin Mills
ACCUS (Anglia Classic Computer Users Society)
http://www.speccyverse.me.uk/comp/accus/
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