Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!osborn
From: osborn@cs.utexas.edu (John Howard Osborn)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.next
Subject: Re: Printer help
Message-ID: <17688@cs.utexas.edu>
Date: 6 Feb 91 23:59:57 GMT
References: <1991Feb6.080032.18350@engin.umich.edu> <6FEB91142917@uazhe0.physics.arizona.edu>
Distribution: na,local
Organization: U. Texas CS Dept., Austin, Texas
Lines: 38

In article <6FEB91142917@uazhe0.physics.arizona.edu> zazula@uazhe0.physics.arizona.edu writes:
>Hey, anyone out there????  I also would like to know if a dot-matrix
>(ie. EPSON,PROPRINTER) can be hooked up to a NeXT.  I'm assuming you
>would do this via one of the serial ports.  Ideally, one would want
>a way to convert postscript to dot-matrix graphics.  But, being able
>to print plain ASCII text (ie. source code, mail messages, etc.) would
>be a good starting point.  Is it as simple as getting a serial-to-parallel
>cable???

Your options are:

 - Buy a NeXT laserprinter.  (This best from a technical standpoint, but can
   be expensive.)

 - Use a serially connected postscript printer.  (This is the best option
   if you already own such a printer.)

 - Use a networked printer.  (2.0 has a nasty bug concerning this, consult
   your technical support person.)

 - Use a non-postscript serially connect printer and just do line printing.
   (No graphics.)

 - Get an Apple ImageWriter-II, connect it serially, and run iwf.  (iwf is
   a program that rasterizes the postscript, converts it to imagewriter
   commands, and sends it out the serial port.  This is cheap, but I don't
   know if iwf works under 2.0 (Anybody know?) and the print quality is
   so-so.

 - Wait for software to be announced that will let you connect an HP
   DeskJet-500 to your serial port and operate it as a postscript
   printer.  (Much like iwf drives an Imagewriter.)

-
-John H. Osborn
-osborn@cs.utexas.edu