Re: Apple printer to IBM compatible?

[cheer@i.hate.spam (Christopher D. Heer)]

It was Tue, 18 Feb 1997 03:23:39 GMT.  I was reading instead of working.  And 
Regis Trudel <rtrudel@odyssee.net> said:

>A friend game me an old Apple printer.  My computer is an IBM
>compatible.  The printer cable from my computer does not fit on the
>printer.  Can an Apple printer be connected to an IBM compatible
>computer using an adapter?

Well, I'm going to do some guessing, here.  For a more concrete answer, supply 
us with the printer type.  :)

First, I'm assuming you're using a parallel printer on your PC.  The end of the 
cable that plugs into the printer is sort of shaped like a sideways capital D, 
with a long, solid plastic piece inside that fits into a port on the back of 
your printer.  If the Apple printer you have is an actual Apple-brand printer, 
odds are it has a small round plug instead.

That's a serial printer.  You would need to get the appropriate serial cable 
and connect it to an open serial port on your PC.  It's something of a hassle 
to set up, but it *will* work.  Your software, on the other hand, is a 
different story.  Software programs require "printer drivers" for specific 
printers.  If you are using DOS-based software, you'll need printer drivers for 
each individual program (for example, Word Perfect, Lotus 1-2-3, etc.).  If 
you're using one of the Windows environments, you just need a driver for 
Windows.

Whether these drivers are available or not is another matter.  Again, it will 
depend on your specific printer.  I read here recently that a driver for the 
Imagewriter II for WordPerfect 5.1 exists, as well as Windows 3.X (and Windows 
95 will use 3.X drivers if necessary).  Can't help you with finding them, alas!
-- 
          Christopher D. Heer - cheer at us dot oracle dot com
     My opinions are my own and do not reflect those of Oracle Corp.
    SPAMProtect: You'll need to fix my email address before replying.