Re: Q: AppleTalk GS to MacSE

[dempson@actrix.gen.nz (David Empson)]

Michael Elliott <cv985@FreeNet.Carleton.CA> wrote:

> I am considering connecting my Rom 03 GS to a Mac SE via Appletalk.
> I basically want to share files and a printer (Stylewriter I)
> Has anyone had any experience with this- could you tell me if you think
> it's useful?

Connecting the Mac and Apple IIgs may be useful if you want to share
files without having to shuffle floppy disks back and forth.

The StyleWriter, however, is likely to be a problem.  As far as I know,
it does not support AppleTalk directly (there is nothing like the
ImageWriter's AppleTalk option card for the StyleWriter).

It may be possible to share the printer with other Macs over an
AppleTalk network via software running on the Mac, but I doubt the IIgs
would be able to access it via this method (the IIgs doesn't support a
networked StyleWriter, only a directly connected one).

> Also, is there anything else I will need to hook them together besides 2 of
> the little "box" things that have phone cord in between?

If you are only connecting two devices together, you don't even need
drop boxes: you can use a printer cable (as might be used between a IIgs
and ImageWriter II, or a Mac and a StyleWriter).

You need drop boxes if you want to connect three or more devices.  You
can use Apple's LocalTalk cabling system or third party systems such as
PhoneNet, which use telephone cable.

> GS printer port -->appletalk<--MacSE modem port

You cannot connect AppleTalk to the Mac SE modem port, unless you are
running Open Transport on the Mac.  "Classic" network only allows
AppleTalk to be connected to the printer port.

-- 
David Empson
dempson@actrix.gen.nz
Snail mail: P.O. Box 27-103, Wellington, New Zealand