[comp.sys.atari.st] HP Deskjet GDOS Driver

wkk@cbnewsl.att.com (wesley.k.kaplow) (11/08/90)

I recently bought TurboJet from Neocept.  I was planning on using the
Deskjet GDOS driver and fonts.  However, since I bought the product
mail-order, it seems that I need WordUP to even unpack the files on the
TurboJet distribution disk.  I still need a Deskjet GDOS driver so that
I can get output from LDW-Power.  If any knows where I can get or purchase
either a PostScript or Deskjet driver, please mail me a message.

Wesley Kaplow
AT&T Bell Labs.

att!wayback!wkk
wkk@wayback.att.com

rrd@hpfcso.HP.COM (Ray Depew) (11/10/90)

MORAL GOES AT THE FRONT OF THE STORY:  Don't buy [insert product name here]
from Neocept!

> I recently bought TurboJet from Neocept.

Ooh, bad move.  (I retract all nice things I ever said about Neocept.)

> I was planning on using the
> Deskjet GDOS driver and fonts.  However, since I bought the product
> mail-order, it seems that I need WordUP to even unpack the files on the
> TurboJet distribution disk.

Hi Wesley,

Yeah, I got burned by Neocept too.  Exactly the same scenario you described.
I wrote them a "dissatisfied customer" letter, asking for a fix or my money
back, but I haven't heard from them yet.

MiGraph, in Federal Way, Washington, makes a bee-yoo-tiful set of DeskJet
fonts & drivers.  It only costs $5 ($10?) more than TurboJet.  Sorry I don't
have address & phone, but you can get the phone # from Directory Assistance.

MiGraph are the people that make EasyDraw and some other cool GDOS stuff.
We used their fonts and drivers at HP in Corvallis, when "evaluating" the
DJ series with [non-HP] computers.  I recommend them highly.  And as soon as
I get my money back from Neocept, I'm going to order my own set!

--
Regards
Ray Depew
HP -- IC's by Bill & Dave
rrd@hpfitst1.hp.com
DISCLAIMER:  HP doesn't know I'm writing this.  Besides, I'm on break!

rrd@hpfcso.HP.COM (Ray Depew) (11/21/90)

Hugh suggested in email that I post a part of the discussion he & I have
been having re: Neocept.  (Does anyone at Neocept read comp.sys.atari.st?)
Here is the main part of our discussion.  It may have general interest to 
this group.  I'd be interested in hearing if others of you have had similar
experiences.

hugh> I bought TurboJet from Neocept a little over a year ago.
hugh> In a random order, here are some points of interest.

me> I ordered mine at the end of June.  Neocept moved offices (?) sometime in
me> the summer, and didn't get around to mailing my order until late September. 
me> In the meantime, I moved from Oregon to Colorado in August.  I left a message
me> on Neocept's answering machine, informing them of my move, and expecting
me> to see my TurboJet in early September.  I didn't receive it until mid-October.

hugh> - I have an HP LaserJet IIP with 512K RAM (and a 1Meg 1040STF)
me> I have an identical setup.  I'm (er, would have been) running MSWrite as a 
me> word processor.

hugh> - I picked TurboJet since the people at Migraph claimed 1Meg of
hugh>   printer RAM was required while Neocept claimed that 512k would
hugh>   almost always work (I queried both by phone).  I also read a good
hugh>   comparitive review in ST Informer.

me> Me too.  And it was $10 cheaper from the sources I checked, including the
me> mfrs.

hugh> - I did not need WordUP to unpack the disk.

hugh> Could you tell me what has changed with the TurboJet distribution?
hugh> In particular, in what way is WordUP required?

me> Now, THIS is where the main change occurred.  I only got ONE disk.  When I
me> looked at the disk directory, I expected to see the typical font/driver
me> filenames you expect with GDOS stuff.  Instead, there were 4 or 5 filenames
me> that gave no indication of being for GDOS.

me> The documentation mentioned *two* disks, but the README file on the disk 
me> indicated that the disk contained an "install"-type program that would
me> unpack the files and put them in their proper places.  The real STINKY thing
me> is that the "install" program was not a stand-alone, but it ran from inside
me> WordUP.

me> When I had ordered TJ, way back in June, the printed information I had
me> received from Neocept said that TJ was just what I needed for MSWrite, and
me> that it would work fine.  I kind of feel like someone's playing bait and
me> switch with me, and they're holding onto my money as leverage.  (Yes, they
me> cashed my check.  IN JULY.)

hugh> - I *think* that the second disk (of two) came with a virus!...

me> Yow!  Well, it won't do any good to send it in for a refund.  They'll 
me> probably "upgrade" your TJ for you, and you'll be stuck where I am.

hugh> - The driver usually works, but I have a lot of GDOS problems.  I
hugh>   don't think they are TurboJet's fault.  

me> Okay, we'll give them the benefit of the doubt.  I had previously only heard
me> good things about Neocept; I was (trite phrase, sorry) shocked and dismayed
me> to receive treatment like this from them.

hugh>   + MSWrite misbehaves in some cases.

me>   :-)   Well, that ain't GDOS or TJ. That's MSWrite.

hugh> I read on usenet that the address of Neocept changed recently...

me> Yep.  And they're still unresponsive.  I mailed them a "dissatisfied
me> customer" letter, including everything I've told you, on October 31.  no
me> response.  I think I've been more than patient.

Actually, I wish Neocept had just given me
what I ordered, and not gotten me caught in the middle of this.
I didn't want WordUp, just the GDOS stuff.
I've been recommending Neocept all along on the net and anywhere else,
and now I realize that I've been steering people into trouble.  
I wanted to have a word processor my wife could use without getting 
frustrated or having to do any more than load one disk.  Now my wife's 
mad at me, I'm $40 poorer with nothing to show for it, and who knows how 
many other people are in the same situation. Unless someone has
a better idea, legal action is next.


Regards
Ray Depew
HP -- IC's by Bill & Dave
rrd@hpfitst1.hp.com