svoboda@cup.portal.com (Edward J Svoboda) (07/27/89)
I have never much liked the poor resolution and high price of Apple's
Imagewriter II printer, therefore, I recently purchased an Orange Micro
Grappler LQ printer interface and a Panasonic P1124 24-pin printer for my Mac
Plus. A possible 180 dpi and better paper-handling at roughly the same price
as an Imagewriter II were the basis for my decision.
After installing and testing the setup, I was not pleased. The Grappler
software used so much memory of my one megabyte Plus that I could print from
few of my large applications, such as HyperCard. The software also would not
print from my favorite page layout program, QuarkXPress 2.1. Since the
interface promised Imagewriter LQ compatability, I was not pleased. I also
wanted to access my printer's much faster internal LQ fonts on top of the
standard Mac screen fonts.
Then, while in my local computer store, I spotted a new package by EPSON
called "EPSON LQ Printer Software". The box read:
* Choose from a variety of 24-pin printers from the leader
in dot matrix technology. [Could this be EPSON? Nah!]
* Access Epson printer resident fonts for faster text printing.
* Provides full HyperCard compatibility.
* Includes fine tuned bit-map fonts in popular typestyles.
* Compatible with a variety of font packages for the Macintosh.
This looked like a solution to my problems, with one possible string
attached: my printer was not an Epson. However, my Panasonic P1124 was
supposed to be Epson LQ2550 compatible. I decided to buy the package (under
$60) and give it a try despite Epson's non-mention of compatibility with
non-Epson printers.
I set up my Grappler LQ as an (expensive) serial-to-parallel dumb
interface. I say expensive because I am sure one could get a simple
serial-to-parallel interface for much less. I tossed aside the serial cable
included with the Epson package and removed the Grappler software, replacing
it with the Epson software and fonts. To my pleasant surprise, the setup
worked without a flaw!
The setup works with all of my software. I can even map the printer's
internal fonts to the Mac's screen fonts, where the printer will make
appropriate user-selected substitutions. The software uses less memory and
allows me to use most of my Panasonic's special features, at a wide variety
of resolutions and combinations.
Assuming that the Epson package works with other Epson-compatible
printers as well, I strongly recommend its use over the Grappler LQ. If one
intends to use a printer without a serial interface, he will have to add one
to his printer or use a serial-to-parallel interface. The Grappler LQ
includes such an interface, but is more expensive.
If Epson would state on its packaging that their software is compatible
with Epson-lookalikes, I am sure they would sell more of their Epson LQ
software. But of course Epson is in the printer business and would rather
sell more of their printers than letting Mac users know they can get a
similar, often better, printer for less money.
svoboda@cup.portal.com
If you are also using a non-standard (i.e. non-Apple!) printer setup, let us
know of your experiences. It may be beneficial to others!