More GS printer information

[Rubywand <rubywand@swbell.net>]

     Since I'm in the market for a decent printer, the info from the Spring
Shareware Solutions II issue inspired more checking around.

     Evidently, for connecting an HP Deskjet, the current Harmonie drivers from
SS2 expect to find a Printer Control Language (e.g. PCL 3) interface. According to
specs on HP's site, this includes several current B/W+Color models. They are
listed below, in most cases with current prices from Egghead or Office Depot:


DeskJet 340 ($241.43) and 340CBi Portable ($265.43)
DeskJet 420C ($99.00)
DeskJet 695C ($134.52) / 697C ($149.99)
DeskJet 810C / 812C
DeskJet 880C ($262.52)  / 882C ($299.99)
DeskJet 895Cse ($399.99) / 895Cxi ($405.70)
DeskJet 1120C / 1120Cse ($499.99) / 1120Cxi ($428.31)


The reason for the groupings (e.g. Deskjet 695C / 697C) is that this is the way
the models are listed in the particular specs pages.


     To view the specs for a current model, begin at ...
http://www.hp.com/cgi-bin/peripherals/pandi.pl
and click Personal Printers. On the new page, click on the model.


     The SS2 info discussed the new Apollo P-1200 series of "powered by HP" inkjet
printers. The specs starting at ...
http://www.myapollo.com/products/features.htm
indicate the presence of a PCL 3 interface. Current models and prices are ...

Apollo  P-1200 ($79 from Apollo press release)
Apollo  P-1250i ($109.99 at Egghead)
Apollo  P-1220 Barbie (approx. $79 from Apollo press release)

The P-1250i seems to be the P-1200 with a software bundle. Evidently, it is fairly
new, since it does not show up in Egghead's listing of inkjet printers. To get a
listing with price, you need to search the site for "Apollo".


     Getting specs on older HP Deskjet models is not always so easy.

     A good try is to start on ...
http://www.hp.com/cposupport/eschome.html
and, next to Quick Product Finder, enter "deskjet". This produces a list of all
Deskjet models. Clicking on a model number gets you to a page where you may or may
not be able to click for detailed specs. (So, information from users on Csa2 and
other forums and from publications like SS2 may be your only resource.)



     The SS2 info says that some HP Deskjets (e.g. the 820) are not compatible
with Apple II's because they do away with PCL hardware and depend upon the
Printing Performance Architecture (PPA) interface.

     According to specs on HP's site, new Deskjet models which depend upon PPA are
...


DeskJet 710C ($208.37) / 712C- $199.99 
DeskJet 720C ($249.88)/ 722C


     Which leads to the question: Will Harmonie drivers include PPA support? An HP
document titled "HP DeskJet 600, 700, 820C, 880C, 895C, and 1000 Series Printer -
PCL Printer Commands" begins with the following observation:

>>
NOTE: The HP DeskJet 710, 720, 820, 880,
895, and 1000 series printers will also use most of
these commands. PCL commands for the HP
DeskJet 710, 720, 820, and 1000 series printers,
can only be used from a Windows DOS Shell.
<<

ref: http://www.hp.com/cposupport/printers/support_doc/bpd02925.html

The document then lists all of the PCL command codes with functions. It seems
like, if an MS DOS application can talk to PPA printers using the PCL commands,
then, so could a IIgs application (or ProDOS-8 or DOS 3.3 application).



     One fact which is hard to avoid noticing is that HP Deskjets cost a lot more
than most other printers with similar or better 'features'. You can find a fairly
good comparison of price and features for several current inkjet printers on
Office Depot at ...
http://www.officedepot.com/shop/catalog/comparison_chart.asp?ID=405004&LEVEL=SC&SID=HWNMCE2N3TS12N4U001PQPRBE1A32DK7

     Are HP Deskjets notably better in some way which does not show up in the
typical features listing?




Rubywand