Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!jarthur!andy
From: andy@jarthur.Claremont.EDU (Andy Gray)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st
Subject: Re: HP DESKJET DRIVERS
Keywords: HP Deskjet Printer Driver
Message-ID: <11028@jarthur.Claremont.EDU>
Date: 1 Mar 91 18:05:44 GMT
References: <*V?&*=+@warwick.ac.uk>
Organization: Harvey Mudd College, Claremont, CA 91711
Lines: 48

In article <*V?&*=+@warwick.ac.uk> csuac@warwick.ac.uk (The Juggler) writes:

>I own a 1 meg St system and am looking to buy a respectable printer. The
>deskjet seems to be the best bet but I am concerned as to the availability of
>printer drivers for this machine. I will be using packages such as Calamus,
>1st Word+, Degas, Deluxe Paint. Do you know if HP Deskjet drivers exist for
>these packages and do you have any information on a plug in Epson card for the
>deskjet that makes it Epson LQ compatible.

I have a Deskjet 500, and printer drivers haven't been a problem for me.
The primary applications that I use with my Deskjet are Word Perfect (which
supports the Deskjet fine) and Easy Draw (which works WONDERFULLY with the
Deskjet).  For Easy Draw, I ended up buying a GDOS driver directly from
Migraph.  If you want to print to a Deskjet from a GDOS application, I would
recommend looking into this driver.  It's fast, seems pretty robust, and the
output looks great.

As for your other applications, I can't say for sure, but I wouldn't think
it would be a problem.  Calamus supports lots of high-end output devices, so
I imagine the Deskjet would be included.  If there isn't one for 1st Word+,
I'm sure that you could create one pretty easily.  I haven't needed a driver
for Degas yet, but if I do I plan to create one with Tom Hudson's Printer
Driver Construction Set.  I can't comment on Deluxe Paint.

As you say, you can get an Epson emulation cartridge.  It retails for around
$50 (I think) and lets the Deskjet respond to Epson FX commands.  If you
really can't get or build a Deskjet driver for a particular application, you
could go this route.


>One other thing. I have only read a review on the new Deskjet 500. Do you know
>what the difference is between this model and the two before it, the original
>deskjet and the deskjet+. There seems to be an alarming price difference and I
>am worried there will be an alarming performance difference as well.

The Deskjet 500 is quite a bit faster than previous models, has a
newly-engineered ink (water-resistant, unlike previous inks), and has more
built-in fonts than the Deskjet and Deskjet Plus.  If you want to buy a
Deskjet, I would recommend that you go with the Deskjet 500.  They can be
had for $450 - $500.

					-- Andy

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Andy Gray                     andy@jarthur.claremont.edu
      Platt Campus Center           andy@jarthur.UUCP
      Harvey Mudd College           ...uunet!jarthur!andy
      Claremont, CA  91711          agray@HMCVAX.BITNET