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From: johnim@euler.Berkeley.EDU (John Im)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.misc
Subject: Re: Epson LX-800
Message-ID: <10706@pasteur.Berkeley.EDU>
Date: 1 Feb 91 23:05:27 GMT
References: <7344@crash.cts.com>
Sender: news@pasteur.Berkeley.EDU
Reply-To: johnim@euler.Berkeley.EDU (John Im)
Organization: University of California, Berkeley
Lines: 27

In article <7344@crash.cts.com> tvolin@gnh-applesauce.cts.com (Troy Volin) writes:
>I have an Epson LX-800 (compatible with basically every Epson, so you can
>ignore the model number).  Can I use it with the Mac I've ordered (but not
>received yet)?  Will it require any special emulating software to intervene in
>printing?  Thanks in advance...
> 
>        -Troy

The best way to hook up parallel printers to a Mac that I've found is using
the Grappler by Orange Micro.  You need the Grappler 9-pin, I believe, while
the Grappler LX is for 24-pin printers.

It's simply a cable with a hardware translator that translates the code from
the Imagewriter print driver into instructions you specific printer can
understand.  So, you don't need additional cables or drivers, and it's 100%
compatible (you can do anything an Imagewriter can, although it also means
you can't take advantage of any special feature of your printer that the
imagewriter can't do).

I've been using a Grappler LQ (older version of the LX) with an Epson LQ-1000
for a few months.  I've printed out tons of stuff from lab reports (with LOTS
of graphs) to CAD drawings, and I've had no problems.

I have no affiliation with Orange Micro or Epson.  I'm just a very satisfied
customer.

- John