jon@jonlab.UUCP (Jon H. LaBadie) (05/14/89)
We are about to switch to using PostScript for our output of
troff files. At about the same time, another major group in
our office is about to switch off of "mainframe word processing"
to PC's and WordPerfect. This latter group will be using HP
LaserJet's as their output device.
It woule be nice, if our PostScript printer were LaserJet
compatible to serve as a backup to the other groups needs.
Obviously, this is not the major criteria in the buying
decision, but it is a factor. Thus, I would like some input
from those more experienced than me as to how compatible are
the various HP "compatible" PostScript printers?
BTW, the likely list of PS printers has been narrowed down to
either the Apple LWII-NTX, or the NEC LC-890. No reason this
list can not be expanded, but I would be particularly interested
in comments about these printers.
--
Jon LaBadie
{att, princeton, bcr}!jonlab!jon
{att, attmail, bcr}!auxnj!jonvpg@cbnewsc.ATT.COM (venu.p.gopal) (05/14/89)
In article <778@jonlab.UUCP> jon@jonlab.UUCP (Jon H. LaBadie) writes: >We are about to switch to using PostScript for our output of >troff files. At about the same time, another major group in >our office is about to switch off of "mainframe word processing" >to PC's and WordPerfect. This latter group will be using HP >LaserJet's as their output device. Why not get your latter group also to use postscript (on the PC's) ? WordPerfect supports postscript, so does Lotus 1-2-3 and almost all major applications software now for the PC. Using some sort of LAN, you should even be able to use a single printer for both mainframes and PCs (we do that at our site). Venu P. Gopal UUCP: att!ihuxy!vg55611 Internet: vg55611@ihuxy.att.com BITNET: com%"vg55611@ihuxy.att.com" or com%"vg55611%ihuxy@research.att.com" Silence those silent letters and save the world 500 million keystrokes a day.
howeird@hpwrce.HP.COM (Howard Stateman) (05/16/89)
>It woule be nice, if our PostScript printer were LaserJet >compatible to serve as a backup to the other groups needs. >Obviously, this is not the major criteria in the buying >decision, but it is a factor. Thus, I would like some input >from those more experienced than me as to how compatible are >the various HP "compatible" PostScript printers? >Jon LaBadie >{att, princeton, bcr}!jonlab!jon I don't know if there's a board for your machine, but the HP LaserjetII Printer has a Postscript upgrade which is called Jetscript. It adds Postscript support to the HP PCL support. I know it works from a PC, you can have Postscript (Apple Lasewriter Plus compatible) as well as HP Laserjet format in the same printer at the same time. -------------------------------------------------------------------- |Howard Stateman, Hewlett-Packard Response Center, Mountain View, CA | |howeird@hpwrce.HP.COM or hplabs!hpwrce!howeird | |Disclaimer: I couldn't possibly speak for HP. I know too much. | |--------------------------------------------------------------------| |Sysop of the Anatomically Correct BBS (415) 364-3739 | --------------------------------------------------------------------
jon@jonlab.UUCP (Jon H. LaBadie) (05/17/89)
In article <776@cbnewsc.ATT.COM>, vpg@cbnewsc.ATT.COM (venu.p.gopal) writes: responds to my request for info on HP compatible PS printers with: > > Why not get your latter group also to use postscript (on the PC's) ? > WordPerfect supports postscript, so does Lotus 1-2-3 and almost all major > applications software now for the PC. Using some sort of LAN, you should > even be able to use a single printer for both mainframes and PCs (we do > that at our site). > The other group is following a decision made higher up the ladder. As to a single printer, the volume is likely to be too great for many single printers and the two groups draw upon different budgets. -- Jon LaBadie {att, princeton, bcr}!jonlab!jon {att, attmail, bcr}!auxnj!jon
cramer@optilink.UUCP (Clayton Cramer) (05/18/89)
In article <776@cbnewsc.ATT.COM>, vpg@cbnewsc.ATT.COM (venu.p.gopal) writes: > Why not get your latter group also to use postscript (on the PC's) ? > WordPerfect supports postscript, so does Lotus 1-2-3 and almost all major > applications software now for the PC. Using some sort of LAN, you should > even be able to use a single printer for both mainframes and PCs (we do > that at our site). > > Venu P. Gopal I've been told that the Lotus 1-2-3 PostScript driver only works with directly connected serial PostScript printers, and there is no way to make it work through a LAN (since the printer redirection on all LANs redirect LPTx). (At least, that was the state of things a few months back). But I've got a product that solves that problem, if you need it. -- Clayton E. Cramer {pyramid,pixar,tekbspa}!optilink!cramer Assault rifle possession is a victimless crime. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Disclaimer? You must be kidding! No company would hold opinions like mine!
sklein@cdp.UUCP (05/18/89)
Well, as far as I know the Apple LaserWriters do *not* emulate the
HP LaserJet. (well, at least the original LaserWriter & LaserWriter Plus
did not, and I don't think the LaserWriter II does either.)
But the Apple *will* emulate a Diablo. I've had extensive experience with
the Apple LaserWriter series AND have been using the NEC for about the
past six months. Maintenance-wise, the Apple wins hands down. The NEC
is a big pain-in-the-ass. Paper jams all the time, toner comes in a box
and spills very easily, the imaging drum comes seperately and is so sensative
to light that exposing it to normal room light for just a few minutes can
damage it.
With the Apple the toner/drum is combined into one convenient cartridge.
Just pop out the old, pop in the new. No muss, no fuss.
-shabtai klein
UUCP: uunet!pyramid!cdp!sklein | BitNet: cdp!sklein%labrea@stanford
Internet: cdp!sklein@arisia.xerox.com | Phone: (301) 270-2250
"If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not
bite you. This is the principal difference between a dog and a man."
-- Mark Twain louie@trantor.umd.edu (Louis A. Mamakos) (05/19/89)
In article <134400004@cdp> sklein@cdp.UUCP writes: > >But the Apple *will* emulate a Diablo. I've had extensive experience with >the Apple LaserWriter series AND have been using the NEC for about the >past six months. Maintenance-wise, the Apple wins hands down. The NEC >is a big pain-in-the-ass. Paper jams all the time, toner comes in a box >and spills very easily, the imaging drum comes seperately and is so sensative >to light that exposing it to normal room light for just a few minutes can >damage it. Huh? I've used both Apple Laserwriters (the original, Laserwriter+ and NT) versions, and when I shopped for a personal PostScript printer, I bought a NEC LC890. Maintenance-wise, the NEC wins hands down. It costs me about $15 for a new toner cartridge, rather than $80-$120 for the Canon CX or SX engines that the Laserwriters use. The NEC has two 250 sheet paper trays, which is a huge win, and I've yet to have a paper jam problem any worse than on any other print engine I've used. And guess what, the Canon print engine cartriges also have a drum that's exposed. Don't fault NEC for telling you not to expose it to light any longer than necessary. And another win for the LC890 is the two line LCD display that says "PAPER OUT" or "PRINTING" or "PROCESSING" instead of varying combinations of blinking lights that the Laserwriters are so fond of. When my friend and office mate shopped for a PostScript printer for his personal use, he was also sold on the NEC. Neither of us have regretted our decisions. To answer the original question, the NEC LC890 will emulate a Laserjet-II, just as the Laserwriter-NT and NTX does, though at a cheaper price. Just another mans opinion. Louis A. Mamakos WA3YMH Internet: louie@TRANTOR.UMD.EDU University of Maryland, Computer Science Center - Systems Programming
jim@syteke.UUCP (Jim Sanchez) (05/20/89)
I just got a NEC LC-890 which does postscript and emulates an LaserJet.
I ran the laserjet compatibility suite posted a while back and it passed
all three tests which indicates that a very high degree of compatibility
with laserjet+. I highly reccomend it.
--
Jim Sanchez {sun,hplabs}!sun!sytek!syteke!jim OR
Hughes LAN Systems, Brussels mcvax!prlb2!sunbim!syteke!jimsklein@cdp.UUCP (05/23/89)
It seems I was wrong--the Apple LaserWriter II series *does* emulate an HP according to the review in InfoWorld last week. If you're still looking, I suggest you read that review. -shabtai
jab@dasys1.UUCP (Jeff A Bowles) (05/23/89)
In article <779@jonlab.UUCP> jon@jonlab.UUCP (Jon H. LaBadie) writes: >In article <776@cbnewsc.ATT.COM>, vpg@cbnewsc.ATT.COM (venu.p.gopal) writes: >responds to my request for info on HP compatible PS printers with: >> >> Why not get your latter group also to use postscript (on the PC's) ? >> WordPerfect supports postscript, so does Lotus 1-2-3 and almost all major >> applicartions software now for the PC. Using some sort of LAN, you should >> even be able to use a single printer for both mainframes and PCs (we do >> that at our site). >> Well, some stuff just wants an HP, period. It's sad, but it's true, and Jon seems to be dealing with that grim fact. So, some companies offer "HP-compatibility" with their "Postscript" printer. Now, I have to tell you about one experience with a company that vends such a printer. I have the little brother to such a beast, that is, I have an NEC Silentwriter LC-800, which is: a. Two sheet feeders b. "HP-compatible" c. In some fashion, at some point, can be upgraded to the LC-890 which is Postscript and still HP-compatible. I assume that the LC-890 uses the same software for its HP-compatibility as the LC-800, which is why I'm posting this. The LC-800 "HP-compatibility" turns out to be "it interprets graphics and bitmaps that are formatted for an HP Laserjet, and interprets some text formatting information destined for the HP Laserjet. It doesn't understand most HP Softfonts I've tried, supplies font cartridges that are different character widths/shapes from the corresponding HP cartridges, and provides different combinations of typefaces in their cartridges than you'd find in the corresponding HP cartridges." In short, if the LC-890's HP-compatibility is like the LC-800's, you can't rely on it for detailed features on the Laserjet, like "formatting text". I run Elan's troff on a Laserjet II with the HP Softfonts, and like it a lot, but can't easily use this "HP-compatibility" on an available LC-800 because of what I detail above. And the secretaries using the LC-800 don't like the shape of the characters. (That struck me as strange, but it's like me bitching about the feel of a new keyboard, I suppose. Everything else can be right, but if that one thing isn't right, I'll notice.) Jeff Bowles ps. If you're stuck using troff, look into Elan's product. Good stuff. -- Jeff A Bowles Big Electric Cat Public UNIX ..!cmcl2!{ccnysci,cucard,hombre}!dasys1!jab
les@chinet.chi.il.us (Leslie Mikesell) (05/25/89)
In article <9768@dasys1.UUCP> jab@dasys1.UUCP (Jeff A Bowles) writes: >Now, I have to tell you about one experience with a company that >vends such a printer. I have the little brother to such a beast, >that is, I have an NEC Silentwriter LC-800, which is: > a. Two sheet feeders > b. "HP-compatible" > c. In some fashion, at some point, can be upgraded to the LC-890 > which is Postscript and still HP-compatible. >I assume that the LC-890 uses the same software for its HP-compatibility >as the LC-800, which is why I'm posting this. [incompatibility problems deleted...] The office where I work has several NEC 860's and 890's. We had some HP incompatibility problems with the very first 860 which were fixed with a replacement ROM installed under waranty. We use at least a dozen programs that think they are talking to an HP laserjet and have not had any problems with compatibility or downloaded fonts. I have not tested the 890's HP mode extensively because all the printers are accessable on the same network and we normally keep them busy with postscript. We have not had any major problems with these printers but we do happen to be a few blocks away from an NEC office and get good service. An earlier posting mentioned problems with spilling toner while refilling the printers which I didn't understand. There is a clever interlock mechanism on the cartridge and machine opening that won't let you open the box unless it is in a position where it can't spill. I happen to like the $15 toner box vs. >$100 for a combined toner/drum that other machines use. Les Mikesell