Path: utzoo!censor!geac!torsqnt!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!mcsun!unido!gmdzi!strobl From: strobl@gmdzi.UUCP (Wolfgang Strobl) Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.misc Subject: Re: Windows/Mac flame war fuel Message-ID: <3044@gmdzi.UUCP> Date: 5 Jul 90 18:17:37 GMT References: <8974@goofy.Apple.COM> <2988@gmdzi.UUCP> <1990Jul5.132722.24100@eng.umd.edu> Organization: GMD, Sankt Augustin, F. R. Germany Lines: 35 russotto@eng.umd.edu (Matthew T. Russotto) writes: >In article <2988@gmdzi.UUCP> strobl@gmdzi.UUCP (Wolfgang Strobl) writes: >>casseres@apple.com (David Casseres) writes: >> >>>No configuration is required for any printer driver that supports Apple's >>>printing architecture. Admittedly that architecture is largely >>>undocumented, but several companies have written successful drivers for >>>the Mac nonetheless. >> >>This either implies that the printer driver can query the printer about >>the resources (memory, fonts, resolution, paper size, ...) it has >>available - which is not possible on monodirectional links -, or it >>restricts the printer driver to worst case asumptions. >What monodirectional links? In any case, it is possible for the users of >a printer such as the ImageWriter to change the paper size that the >computer believes is in the printer via the Page Setup dialog box (though >it defaults to standard 8.5x11 on US systems). Fonts don't matter-- the mac >nearly always prints in graphics mode (except in 'draft', where it uses the >printers default font). For postscript printers, there is no monodirectional >link, so the printer can be queried. So there IS a configuration necessary for some printers on the Mac. Fonts do matter for me. I own a HP DeskJet printer with two ROM cartriges which contain fonts. Windows is able to send a mixture of graphics data and requests to use the ROM fonts to the printer. Using the printer's ROM fonts is much faster than sending raster data, and it even looks better, because the internal resolution of the cartridge fonts is higher than 300x300 dpi. I can print the same document on the QMS Postscript printer in my office and on the DeskJet at home and get very similar results. Wolfgang Strobl #include