Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!husc6!mit-eddie!ll-xn!ames!amdahl!nsc!voder!apple!bhatt
From: bhatt@apple.UUCP (Nick Bhatt)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac
Subject: Re: An Open Letter to Apple (Re: ImageWriter problem)
Message-ID: <7429@apple.UUCP>
Date: 17 Feb 88 23:22:30 GMT
References: <3725@batcomputer.tn.cornell.edu>
Reply-To: bhatt@apple.UUCP (Nick Bhatt)
Organization: Apple Computer Inc., Cupertino, USA
Lines: 30
Summary: Might it be firmware?

ImageWriter flambe...yumm, yumm
We are definitely worried if ImageWriters suddenly start taking their
own lives.  I have just finished printing the Home card from HyperCard,
in which I have changed almost the enire card to solid black.  I was 
using my AppleTalk ImageWriter and driver version 2.6.  I encountered
ABSOLUTELY NO PROBLEMS.

Now a few notes:
[1] My ImageWriter is a relatively new one -- it's platinum and everything.
[2] The ROM version is 04.  I would like to know what your versions are
    (assuming the printer is still alive and unrepaired).
[3] Black backgrounds have a way of destroying printers.  This is mostly
    due to the amount of heat generated when you fire every single pin, 
    on every single pixel, for the length of the line (and job).  The 
    firmware is supposed to prevent the printer from committing self-
    immolation, and my ImageWriter pauses at the end of each line of
    solid black to permit the head to cool down.  If your ImageWriter
    was plugging along, line after line without pause, then that's probably
    what happened.  This is supposed to be handled automatically in the
    firmware, and IS NOT driver controllable.
[4] The big question, though, is why are you seeing it now?  This I cannot
    answer without more information from you.  I don't see how it could be
    the driver, since it works just fine for me.  I'm open to suggestions,
    though.
[5] Please tell me what ROM versions you have, if you have a color ribbon
    installed or not, AppleTalk or not.  Perform the printer self-test to
    find the version number.  It's printed at the top as ROMREV().

           --NB
             AppleLink: BHATT1