Re: FS: A StyleWriter for your Apple

[supertimer@aol.com (Supertimer)]

news@chakotay.ncc74656.org (News system) wrote:

>Supertimer <supertimer@aol.com> wrote:
>
>>Corey SN Walker <walkerc@unbc.ca> wrote:
>>
>>>Is the [StyleWriter] still available, and will it work with Laser 128 EX/2
>>>Apple IIe compatible?
>>
>>The StyleWriter is only for the Apple IIGS or Macintosh.
>
>True.  I "rescued" one from a trash can, bought a power supply (a no-name
>type that delivers a bit less current than the printer says it needs, but
>it's worked so far) and an ink cartridge (Canon BC-02) for it, and cleaned
>some gunk off of it (it was in the laundry room and had had some lint and
>other stuff dumped on it before I found it).  Works like a champ now.

The StyleWriter is an excellent printer.  I was kind of sad
when mine died.  I replaced it with a Canon BubbleJet and
now use Epson LQ emulation via Harmonie on the IIGS.
The results look same as StyleWriter.  360 dots per inch.
Very nice text and graphics quality.  It prints slower than
the StyleWriter, though, a fact which I attribute to the
lack of Apple's proprietary compression used on the
StyleWriter.

>>For the Laser 128EX/2 (a great computer, by the way), I would
>>suggest an Epson Stylus ink jet printer.
>
>No matter what computer you have, an Epson inkjet printer is about the last
>printer I would recommend to anybody.  The nozzles are more susceptible to
>clogging than most other printers, and because they're a permanent part of
>the printer instead of a disposable item like in HP/Canon/Lexmark inkjet
>printers, when (not if) they get clogged up, you'll have to send the printer
>into service to have it fixed.

I didn't know that.  They seem like such good printers for
the PC.  I mean, the photo quality is stunning.  Much
better than similarly priced HP printers.

>Some of the older Canon inkjets (BJ-200, maybe BJC-4000 and/or BJC-600 too)
>offer Epson emulation and might be good candidates for use with an Apple II
>if you can find one.  Supplies for them are also readily available

Yes, all three Canon models you mention support Epson
LQ emulation.  Under Harmonie on the IIGS, the only
problem is that the latter two (the BJC models) won't
print color.  However, when printing with PrintShop GS
using the Epson LQ option, they do print color.

>(Even with Epson emulation, though, print quality from 8-bit apps still
>won't be up to modern expectations unless all you're printing is plain text
>with some basic formatting.  Programs such as Publish-It! and TimeOut
>SuperFonts (apps I used quite a bit back in the day) will work with
>Epson-compatibles, but the Imagewriter delivered better quality with these
>apps (up to 160x144 dpi vs. 120x72 dpi from an Epson).  Publish-It! would
>also produce PostScript output that can be fed to nearly any
>PostScript-compatible printer, but since those are still relatively
>expensive even today, it's not too likely that you'd use one with an Apple
>II unless you're sharing it with another computer that's better able to take
>advantage of its capabilities.)

I don't know about 8-bit apps, but Canon and Epson ink
jet printers emulate the Epson LQ models, not the FX
models.  As such, the emulation supports 360 dots per
inch print.  At least that's what the printer generates using
Epson LQ emulation in 16-bit GS programs using
Harmonie.

For 8-bit applications, I would think that it depends.  If the
program only has Epson FX or other Epson 9-pin emulation,
then of course you only get 120x72.  But if the program
in question supports the Epson LQ, one would think you'd
get 360x360 too.