Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!husc6!hao!ames!sdcsvax!ucsdhub!hp-sdd!hplabs!hpcea!twakeman
From: twakeman@hpcea.CE.HP.COM (Teriann Wakeman)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac
Subject: Re: Printing to an HP plotter
Message-ID: <430011@hpcea.CE.HP.COM>
Date: 31 Dec 87 16:53:10 GMT
References: <262@esquire.UUCP>
Organization: HP Corporate Engineering - Palo Alto, CA
Lines: 31

There are a couple of plotter drivers available that will allow a Mac to
output to a HP plotter.The one that you were thinking of is from a 
company called Softstyle. From all the reports I get from people in HP
using the Softstyle driver, it isn't a very satisfactory application.

The one I use here at work is MACPLOTSII from Computer Shoppe. It is a 
very good driver. I have used it on both the small and large plotters
with no problems. MACPLOTSII will plot from clipboard OR from drawings
saved in PICT format.  Computershoppe's driver supports hidden lines
and pen changes (read that as colour). MacPlots II comes in two flavours:
The buisness version that supports all the small HP desktop plotters (WITH
RS-232 PORTS ONLY!) and the more expensive Drafting version that supports
both the rs-232 desktop HP plotters but the floor big floor standing HP
plotters. The documentation isn't the best but phone support is the best
I have ever seen.  Considering the Macs great graphic abilities, I'm
supprised that everyone dosn't have a HP plotter (yes this last sentence
was a comercial)  If you can make it to MacWorld, stop off at the
Hewlett-Packard booth and see what What HP plotters can do with a Mac's
output. Sorry about the commercial but as a HP employee and an Enthusiastic
Mac user since '84 (both at home and at work) who does a lot of graphics
and large wall charts I think Macs & HP plotters are a powerful combination.
MacPlottsII (no connection to HP or myself) is deffinatly the driver of choice


TeriAnn Wakeman
HP Corporate Quality
HPMUG co-ordinator
(415)857-5057

Opps I almost forgot, If your dealer dosn't carry it or won't order it,
Computer Shoppe, PO box 18344, Greensboro, NC 27429   (919)299-4843