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From: catone@dsl.cis.upenn.edu (Tony Catone)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc,comp.sys.apple,comp.sys.att
Subject: Re: Hooking up a Laserwriter to a PC or a 3B2?
Message-ID: <1084@super.upenn.edu.upenn.edu>
Date: Sat, 25-Apr-87 13:12:53 EDT
Article-I.D.: super.1084
Posted: Sat Apr 25 13:12:53 1987
Date-Received: Sun, 26-Apr-87 20:49:08 EDT
References: <199@houxj.UUCP>
Sender: root@super.upenn.edu.upenn.edu
Reply-To: catone@dsl.cis.upenn.edu.UUCP (Tony Catone)
Organization: University of Pennsylvania
Lines: 40
Keywords: Laserwriter printer
Summary: PC + LaserWriter = Happiness
Xref: mnetor comp.sys.ibm.pc:3559 comp.sys.apple:1189 comp.sys.att:366

In article <199@houxj.UUCP> dck@houxj.UUCP (D.KWONG) writes:
>I think there was a discussion a while back about how to hook
>up an Apple Laserwriter to a PC or compatibles, which I can't remember.
>Could somebody tell me what were the a) alternatives,
>b) best solution and c) cost?
>What about software support on the PC side?

The physical connection is very easy.  One only needs to use a "standard"
null modem cable (experienced RS-232er's will recognize the humor in this
statement).  Really, though the LaserWriter is most forgiving; all 25 pins
are not needed.

As to software, we use FinalWord II by Mark of the Unicorn for the vast
majority of our word processing, and are most pleased with it.  We also
have Microsoft Word, Word Perfect 4.2, PC TeX and MicroTeX, but these
all go virtually unused because FinalWord is so nice.  It sports an
excellent, fully reconfigurable editor with a sophisticated macro 
language that even supports recursion, and generates true PostScript
code for either normal or landscape oriented text.  TeX gives nicer
output but is orders of magnitude harder to use.  I won't comment
on graphics programs; we never found one we liked, so end up doing
graphs ourselves in PostScript :-(

One final warning; the LaserWriter as a default uses XON/XOFF handshaking
for its serial connection.  Some software (Word Perfect 4.2) wants to
use the other popular handshaking strategy (ENQ/ACK?  Sorry, don't have
the manuals here).  Switching between the two is simple, but requires
reprogramming the permanent LaserWriter settings.  This can only be
done about 300,000 times before chip replacement is required.  Since
most software (everything but Word Perfect) uses XON/XOFF, 300,000 times
might not go too far, depending on how often you switch back and forth.
This probably shouldn't break your heart; I dislike Word Perfect for
a variety of other reasons, and even my friends who use and love it
admit that it's support for PostScript devices isn't quite there yet.

If you have more questions or need help, drop a line.

					- Tony
					  catone@dsl.cis.upenn.edu
					  catone@wharton.upenn.edu