Path: utzoo!censor!geac!torsqnt!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!usc!apple!uokmax!d.cs.okstate.edu!minich
From: minich@d.cs.okstate.edu (Robert Minich)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.hardware
Subject: Re: Mac IISi vs. HP DeskWriter = Fried Mac??
Message-ID: <1990Dec7.180828.17804@d.cs.okstate.edu>
Date: 7 Dec 90 18:08:28 GMT
References: <1990Dec7.150446.28149@uokmax.ecn.uoknor.edu>
Organization: Oklahoma State University
Lines: 38

frank@dvnspc1.Dev.Unisys.COM (Frank Piper) writes:
|- A possible workaround might be to run the DeskWriter via AppleTalk
|  from day one.  I understand this would involve two AppleTalk boxes and
|  a cable between them; total cost ~$100.  Question is: would this run
|  faster or slower than a straight serial port?
 
rob@uokmax.ecn.uoknor.edu (Robert K Shull):
| First, the cost is more like $41. You need:
| 	PhoneNET StarConnector (pre-terminated)		$17	(NET0069)
| 	TurboNET Plus, SE & II connector		$21	(NET0010)
| 		(comes with terminator and cable)
| 
| These are MacWarehouse prices. If you go this way (which I did) make sure
| that you DON'T get two of the StarConnectors. I ordered the connectors
| before my printer came in, then discovered that I couldn't plug the
| connector into the printer (the case got in the way)
| The connection should be about 3-4 times faster than straight serial.


  If this LAN is for the sole purpose of you connecting to your DeskWriter,
you can use a simple cable without the LocalTalk/PhoneNet/<blah> boxes.
Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but won't an ImageWriter II <--> Mac
cable do the trick? Anyway, this cable will cost you < $20 total with the
only drawback being the need to purchase one more LocalTalk/... connector
box should you expand your LAN to more than 2 nodes. This hack also works
(with some cabling prowess and a copy the relatice Inside AppleTalk page)
with LasertWriters. I have a hand-made (hand-made == ugly) cable for a
Mac 128K-style port to a LaserWriter port. Works just fine on the neato
laser printer that the DOS folks paid for.
  Since a simple cable can do the trick, there is not much of a reason to
run the DeskWriter off of a normal serical line and you get a significant
speedup with LocalTalk. I suppose if somehow AppleTalk confilicted with
your environment, this would be a problem.
-- 
|_    /| | Robert Minich            |
|\'o.O'  | Oklahoma State University| "Get bent."
|=(___)= | minich@d.cs.okstate.edu  |               -- Bart Simpson
|   U    | - Ackphtth               |