Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!husc6!amcad!stech!sysop
From: sysop@stech.UUCP (Jan Harrington)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac
Subject: Re: Mac --> HP printers question
Message-ID: <413@stech.UUCP>
Date: 17 Jan 88 20:54:44 GMT
References: <2290013@hpsadla.HP>
Organization: Scholastech, Inc., Waltham, Mass.
Lines: 46

in article <2290013@hpsadla.HP>, erik@hpsadla.HP (Erik Kilk) says:
> 
> 
> I'm looking for the best way to use an HP LaserJet with a Mac+.  I've heard
> of a few products, like LaserStart, but haven't heard from anyone using them.
> I'm interested in:
> 
> 	Does it work fine with MacDraw, SuperPaint, MacWrite, and WriteNow?
> 	Does it include the LaserJet fonts?
> 	Very important:  Can it generate a file on disk instead which can
> 			 later be sent to a LaserJet (via modem + workstation).
> 

Back a couple of summers ago I tried this.  To tell you the truth, what
you get is little more than a high-quality Imagewriter, unless you invest in
some HP font cartridges.

72 dot/inch output looks terrific (e.g., MacDraw, SuperPaint, FullPaint,
MacPaint, etc.).  However, word processing presents a significant
problem.  First, without font cartridges you are limited to the 8 (count
them, only 8 ...) type faces that come built in the printer.  No boldface,
no italics, etc., etc.  You can access fonts in the font cartridges.
LaserStart has some generic screen fonts that you can use to simulate the
spacing of the fonts that come in cartridges, but it won't be the kind of
WYSIWYG that you get with a postscript printer.  Downloadable fonts are
not useable, since even if you get them into the printer in some way, none
of the Mac software is set up to insert codes to trigger their use (I
tried this - using my MS-DOS machine to get the fonts in.  No luck.) 

Though I got the LaserJet + at 40% off through my employer, I sold the
thing after only two months and mortgaged the cat to buy a LaserWriter.
I haven't been sorry.  The only circumstances under which I'd recommend
the HP and a Mac right now (until postscript becomes available on the HP) is
if it comes free.


Jan Harrington, sysop
Scholastech Telecommunications
ihnp4!husc6!amcad!stech!sysop or allegra!stech!sysop

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