Re: Parallel <---> Serial ?

[supertimer@aol.com (Supertimer)]

(this message has been both posted to csa2 and emailed)

Joe Kohn <joko@crl.com> wrote:

>Supertimer <supertimer@aol.com> wrote:
>
>: At the point, I decided enough was enough.
>: I read about serial to parallel converters in
>: GS+ magazine when they reviewed a
>: portable DeskJet.  I was impressed, got a
>: bi-directional converter, and my Canon works
>: FINE with Harmonie ever since.
>
>As the publisher of Harmonie, your message certainly intrigued me because 
>I really haven't gotten any direct feedback before this about anyone 
>using a serial to parallel converter to connect a parallel printer to the 
>IIGS serial port.
>
>Could you tell me a little more? Specifically, which drivers are you 
>using with the serial to parallel converter? What I'm really asking is: 
>are you using Harmonie's FingerPrint driver or the Printer57k driver?

I'm using the Printer57k driver.  As far as Harmonie is
concerned, I'm printing out the serial port.  As far as
the Canon BubbleJet is concerned, Harmonie's output
is coming from a parallel port.  That's the beauty of the
bi-directional serial to parallel converter.

>Also, what about speed? Generally, a parallel interface is 4 times faster 
>than a serial interface. As a means of comparison, on a printer that is 
>rated at 4 ppm, it takes a little more than one minute to print a single 
>page from the word processor in AWGS to a parallel printer using 
>Harmonie's Internal Rendering, and almost 5 minutes to print that same 
>page to a serial printer. 
>
>How long (approx) does it take you to print a page in AWGS? Closer to one 
>minute or five?

I haven't timed it, but I'm pretty sure it is somewhere
inbetween.  I'll print out a test page and get back to
you with the exact figure.  I have a 12.5Mhz TWGS
and I'm certain that one page does not take 5 minutes
to print out.  It always seems closer to 1 minute for me,
but again I have not timed it.

Will get back to you with the results; stay tuned...