erik@hpsadla.UUCP (01/16/88)
I'm looking for the best way to use an HP LaserJet with a Mac+. I've heard of a few products, like LaserStart, but haven't heard from anyone using them. I'm interested in: Does it work fine with MacDraw, SuperPaint, MacWrite, and WriteNow? Does it include the LaserJet fonts? Very important: Can it generate a file on disk instead which can later be sent to a LaserJet (via modem + workstation). I've heard of a driver for HP plotters, how does it work based on the above questions. Thanks in advance for the information, Erik Kilk
sysop@stech.UUCP (Jan Harrington) (01/18/88)
in article <2290013@hpsadla.HP>, erik@hpsadla.HP (Erik Kilk) says: > > > I'm looking for the best way to use an HP LaserJet with a Mac+. I've heard > of a few products, like LaserStart, but haven't heard from anyone using them. > I'm interested in: > > Does it work fine with MacDraw, SuperPaint, MacWrite, and WriteNow? > Does it include the LaserJet fonts? > Very important: Can it generate a file on disk instead which can > later be sent to a LaserJet (via modem + workstation). > Back a couple of summers ago I tried this. To tell you the truth, what you get is little more than a high-quality Imagewriter, unless you invest in some HP font cartridges. 72 dot/inch output looks terrific (e.g., MacDraw, SuperPaint, FullPaint, MacPaint, etc.). However, word processing presents a significant problem. First, without font cartridges you are limited to the 8 (count them, only 8 ...) type faces that come built in the printer. No boldface, no italics, etc., etc. You can access fonts in the font cartridges. LaserStart has some generic screen fonts that you can use to simulate the spacing of the fonts that come in cartridges, but it won't be the kind of WYSIWYG that you get with a postscript printer. Downloadable fonts are not useable, since even if you get them into the printer in some way, none of the Mac software is set up to insert codes to trigger their use (I tried this - using my MS-DOS machine to get the fonts in. No luck.) Though I got the LaserJet + at 40% off through my employer, I sold the thing after only two months and mortgaged the cat to buy a LaserWriter. I haven't been sorry. The only circumstances under which I'd recommend the HP and a Mac right now (until postscript becomes available on the HP) is if it comes free. Jan Harrington, sysop Scholastech Telecommunications ihnp4!husc6!amcad!stech!sysop or allegra!stech!sysop ******************************************************************************** Miscellaneous profundity: "No matter where you go, there you are." Buckaroo Banzai ********************************************************************************
stephens@hpcupt1.HP.COM (Greg Stephens) (01/19/88)
I have to agree with Jan, having used the LaserStart driver with the LJ it is basically a laserprinted (75dpi) version of the Imagewriter. However you can choose to print at 150 or 300 dpi, but since everything is still in bit image format the scaling is not very good and it takes a lot longer to print. I am waiting to hear of a Postscript card for the LJ II. Anyone heard of one yet? Regarding plotter drivers. I have used PlotStart and MacPlots II. I do not recommend PlotStart. MacPlots II is better but still leaves something to be desired. It depends upon what you are using the plotter for. If you are using it for presentation graphics or anything where creative font selection is important, you can forget the Mac <-> plotter connection since all of the plotter drivers only support the imbedded stick font that is included in the plotter. This limitations is, I think, the biggest hole in the Mac's strong offering as a text/graphics/wp/dtp machine. If you want to connect to a plotter for engineering type applications where font selection is not that important then you may find that MacPlots II will work just fine.
gerrie@hpfclp.HP.COM (Gerrie Shults) (01/19/88)
>> I'm looking for the best way to use an HP LaserJet with a Mac+. I've heard >> of a few products, like LaserStart, but haven't heard from anyone using them. >> I'm interested in: >> >> ... >> > > Back a couple of summers ago I tried this. To tell you the truth, what > you get is little more than a high-quality Imagewriter, unless you invest in > some HP font cartridges. > > ... > > Though I got the LaserJet + at 40% off through my employer, I sold the > thing after only two months and mortgaged the cat to buy a LaserWriter. > I haven't been sorry. The only circumstances under which I'd recommend > the HP and a Mac right now (until postscript becomes available on the HP) is > if it comes free. > > > Jan Harrington, sysop > Scholastech Telecommunications > ihnp4!husc6!amcad!stech!sysop or allegra!stech!sysop Softstyle, Inc., the publishers of both LaserStart (for the HP LaserJet) and JetStart (for the HP ThinkJet), have a new driver system out now called PrintWorks for the Mac. It comes in two versions, one for laser printers and one for "dot matrix" printers. The former supports the HP LaserJet, the latter supports the HP ThinkJet, QuietJet and PaintJet, among others. I have been told by HP that this newer software works much better than the older ...Start products. I have ordered PrintWorks to drive an HP PaintJet. Unfortunately it is a two-step process. The base product only gets you ImageWriter drivers, you then have to send in your registration card and ask for the additional driver you need (no extra cost, though). I am awaiting my HP driver now, and will try to report on it after I get it. Gerrie Shults hplabs!hpfclp!gerrie or gerrie%hpfclp@hplabs.hp.com