Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Path: utzoo!mnetor!seismo!rutgers!sri-spam!ames!ucbcad!ucbvax!decvax!dartvax!merchant
From: merchant@dartvax.UUCP (Peter Merchant)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac
Subject: Re: Need to make a few connections
Message-ID: <6192@dartvax.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 13-May-87 10:14:22 EDT
Article-I.D.: dartvax.6192
Posted: Wed May 13 10:14:22 1987
Date-Received: Sat, 16-May-87 07:47:26 EDT
References: <6534@amdahl.amdahl.com>
Distribution: na
Organization: Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH
Lines: 31
Keywords: Appletalk, async, coax, printing, Laserwriter
Summary: TOPS

In article <6534@amdahl.amdahl.com>, howard@amdahl.amdahl.com (The Toolmaster) writes:
> I need to know what packaged solutions exist for getting a lot of different
> things to print on a Laserwriter.  We have guys with Macs, guys with Zenith
> PC clones, and guys on the mainframe that would all like to print to a common
> Laserwriter.
> 
> The simplest and fastest solution would appear to be run a Phonenet and slot
> an Appletalk board into the Zeniths.  I know exactly what this buys the Macs,
> and maybe I'm asking the wrong group, but what will this actually buy the
> Zeniths.  I guess we're talking TOPS Print as the Zenith based software
> but I am unsure exactly what that buys the user.  Anyone know?
> --
> "Plan for the future because that's where you                Howard C. Simonson
>     are going to spend the rest of your life." {hplabs,ihnp4,nsc}!amdahl!howard
>          - Mark Twain -

TOPSPrint gives the Zeniths a painless way to print on the LaserWriter.  What
it does is turn MSDOS's LPT1: (or LPT2:) into a connection to the LaserWriter.
It seems to spool it to the disk first (so your Zenith users might want to have
a hard disk) and when it decides you're done it ships it off to the LaserWriter.
It allows you emulate a Diablo 630 or a Epson FX-80 (although I have found
software that the emulation does not work with!) or you can send Postscript.
The new version of TOPSPrint is supposed to work with Windows and GEM.

Now, I tried the card in the Zenith 248 and it didn't work.  However, I had
about 5 minutes to try it before the Zenith people wanted their computer back,
so I didn't get much of a chance to try adjusting the various jumpers and
other ick.  I hope to be getting a Zenith 248 to try it more.
--
"Way above it all.                        Peter Merchant (merchant@dartvax.UUCP)
 Standing on higher ground."