RFC: List of printers that work with Apple IIs

[nathan@visi.com (Nathan Mates)]

I just can't stay away from doing the changes I see as necessary to
the c.s.a2 FAQ, even after releasing a version already today. Oh well;
no rest for this workaholic. Anyhow, I'm updating the list of Apple II
compatible printers (keyboards, mice, drives, etc are also on my list
of things to do). Here's what I've got right now in the c.s.a2 FAQ
(latest version is always on the WWW at
http://www.visi.com/~nathan/a2/faq/csa2.html)

   Anyways, as I note at the bottom of this section, I'd like feedback
on which printers work, and which don't.

--- Begin section
   Q#31 Can I hook up a LaserWriter, DeskJet, etc to my Apple //e?

   A: A number of them; please read the Yes, all the above connections
   have regular serial or parallel connections. The tricky part is
   getting them to do what you want. The DeskJet, for example will print
   very nice-looking text with regular old "PR#1". But if you want to
   change the font or print graphics, you may have to purchase some
   software. One excellent program for these types of printers is
   PublishIt 4.

   For AppleWorks fans, there is the program called SuperPatch. Among
   it's patches is a cool DeskJet 500 (most Deskjet 6xx printers should
   be compatible, but check the documentation) printer driver. You can
   print sideways, and change fonts with normal AppleWorks commands. The
   Deskjet driver is built in to AW 4.0 and later.

   The Apple Stylewriter family is not supported by any //e program to my
   knowledge.                                      

   Q#32 Can I hook up a Laser printer, ink jet, or bubble jet printer to
   my Apple IIGS?

   A:In short: a number of them, but not all. Please look through the
   following list to check if a particular model you're looking at is
   supported. Also, the following applies to all programs which support
   the GS system toolbox methods for talking to printers through drivers.
   Most GS programs support this; Print Shop GS is an exception-- it'll
   pretty much only work with the printers listed in the program, and
   then only at its printing resolutions.

   On the GS, you can hook up most LaserWriters made by Apple via
   AppleTalk or direct serial connection. A GS program can typically
   print to a LaserWriter if it's connected to the GS via AppleTalk; just
   install the LaserWriter drivers from the System 6 disks. Note that
   some Laserwriters from Apple may be 'Quickdraw,' not true Postscript
   printers, so they won't work from the GS. The Laserwriter, Laserwriter
   II, LW II NTX are all known to work fine.

   Of the Apple Stylewriter family, ONLY the original Stylewriter will
   work on the GS, and then only from GS/OS with the System 6 drivers. As 
   Apple has not written drivers or released the specifications so that
   drivers could be written by third parties, none of the rest of the
   Stylewriter models works when connected to a GS.

   The HP DeskWriter family is mostly only for Macintoshes; the DeskJet
   3xx, 5xx or 6xx (xx= any 2 numbers, plus some optional letters)
   printer families is much more friendly to all models of the Apple II.
   If you get a DeskJet, or PaintJet, etc, you can hook them up via a
   parallel printer card. The exceptions to this are HP's recent 'Windows
   Only' printers, such as the HP DJ 820C models, which don't work at all
   with Apple IIs.

   But, in order to use pretty much any inkjet or bubblejet printer that
   the GS can talk to effectively, you will want Harmonie from Vitesse
   (better) or Independence (cheaper) from Seven Hills. They are new
   printer drivers for GS/OS programs only. These two programs extend the
   ranges of printers supported by the GS. If you want to print from an
   8-bit program, see the previous question.

   Harmonie's drivers also support a number of printer modes that other
   printers can handle. Apparently the Canon BJ-200e works well with
   Harmonie 2.1's Epson LQ or Epson LQ 4000 drivers.

   I'd like to get a list of all printers that are 1) officially
   supported by Harmonie/Independence, 2) not officially listed, but a
   driver exists that works well with them and 3) don't work at all with
   Apple IIs. Given that I have neither the time nor the money to test
   every printer on the market, I'd appreciate feedback sent to me at
   nathan@visi.com. 

--- End quoted section

Nathan Mates
--
<*> Nathan Mates http://www.visi.com/~nathan/      <*>
# What are the facts? Again and again and again-- what are the _facts_?
# Shun wishful thinking, avoid opinion, care not what the neighbors
# think-- what are the facts, and to how many decimal places?  -R.A. Heinlein