Re: The Postscript option and AppleTalk? (Re: parallel card)

[supertimer@aol.com (Supertimer)]

"Michael Y. Su" <msu76@bellatlantic.net> wrote:

>Supertimer <supertimer@aol.com> wrote:
>
>> Talking about external rendering, I was wondering if the
>> LaserJet 4MP supports Postscript?  If it does, chances
>> are it also supports AppleTalk.
>
>Ah... yes it does... I happen to have the PS version of the 4MP.

That's great.  Just connect the IIGS' printer port to the
4MP's serial port via your IW cable, install the
LaserWriter driver, select LaserWriter as the Direct
Connect printer, and give it a shot!  Others have done
it before.

>> AppleTalk serial ports communicate at 230k (more
>> than 4x faster than 57.6k) and Postscript is always a
>> text stream of commands on how to construct a
>> printed page (like PCL external rendering).
>
>Hmm... now if only I could use this to my advantage...

The Apple IIGS supports AppleTalk so if the 4MP is
AppleTalk capable, you can set up the LaserWriter
driver via the Network Printer control panel.  It'll
speed up printing (parallel card speeds through the
serial port), but is not absolutely necessary.

>> There IS one problem with HP Postscript printers with
>> a IIGS: I remember reading that the System 6.0.1
>> LaserWriter driver does NOT work with HP Postscript
>> printers.  One needs the System 6.0 LaserWriter
>> driver.  Somehow, generic Postscript capability (as
>> opposed to Apple specific Postscript) was lost with
>> the upgrade to 6.0.1.
>
>Well, would bringing in a driver from 6.0 and transplanting it into 6.0.1
>work a HP PS printer?

Absolutely.  You could try the LaserWriter driver from
6.0.1 first, though.  If it doesn't work, then bring in the
one from 6.0.

1) Install LaserWriter driver into Drivers folder
     **RESTART COMPUTER BEFORE STEP 2**
2) Open graphical control panels under Apple menu
3) Select Direct Connect printer
4) Set LaserWriter as Direct Connect printer.
5) Go into AppleWorks GS and print something!

Did it work?  If not, check the baud rate.  Some of the
earlier laser printers only supported 9600.  The
normal IIGS printer port driver supports up to 19200.
Third party ones support up to 57600.  So in your
case, first try 19200.  If that doesn't work, try 9600.

6) If everything is working and you decide to try
   AppleTalk (for the 230000 speed) you can set
   up the 4MP as a network printer later.  Might
   be a good idea to check HP's web site to be
   sure.  Or you can leave things as is.  AppleTalk,
   like the parallel card, is not absolutely needed.
   It is just for speed.

>> I still recommend Harmonie though.  That's because
>> with Postscript, you are limited to using the internal
>> printer fonts (unless you had the GS Plus program
>> called Laserbeam to download your fonts to the
>> printer and GS Plus programs are no longer available
>> ...someone bought the rights and is sitting on the
>> programs, not answering email inquiries either).
>
>Well, my 4MP has quite a fontset.  But I'm sure having the GS fonts
>available for print wouldn't hurt either.

You should definitely give the LaserWriter driver a
try then.  Good luck!

>So much for Laserbeam.  These are the times I wish I had went into
>programming rather than medicine.  :^)

;-)

Does anyone have an idea of what's going on with the
GS Plus software or why the guy the bought the rights
to them is sitting on them?  I can see no good reason
why he'd just sit on them.