Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!cornell!batcomputer!itsgw!steinmetz!ge-dab!peora!jwc
From: jwc@peora.ccur.com (Jon Clifton)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac
Subject: Re: Deskjet
Summary: HP PaintJet Printer Interface for Macintosh
Message-ID: <3773@peora.ccur.com>
Date: 17 Feb 89 17:32:15 GMT
References: <2923@hplabsz.HPL.HP.COM> <26722@teknowledge-vaxc.ARPA>
Distribution: all
Organization: Concurrent Computer Corp., Orlando, Fl
Lines: 31

>In article <26722@teknowledge-vaxc.ARPA>, mkhaw@teknowledge-vaxc.ARPA (Mike Khaw) writes:
>> <2923@hplabsz.HPL.HP.COM>, by taylor@hplabsz.hp.com (Dave Taylor):
>> } There are currently two major alternatives on the market for those
>> } people interested in hooking up an HP Deskjet printer to a Macintosh;
>> } the Orange Micro "Grappler LS" or the DataPak Software "Printer
>> } Interface III" package.
>> ...

Several weeks ago my local Inacomp dealer ran an add for the HP PaintJet
interface.

I copied the HP brouchures; it lists a part 17305A HP PaintJet Printer
Interface Kit for Macintosh, list $125. It includes chooser selectable
drivers, screen fonts, and 2 disks of printer fonts, cables & user manual.

The driver is said to map Quickdraw to PCL and is alleged to be compatible
with "application software that follows standard Apple printing guidelines..".

Other than the brochures, the dealer wasn't very knowlegable.

I also noted a copy of Cricket Expressions (?) which appears to be a set of
drivers. Any net denizems know what it can or can't do ?

About 6 months ago, Inacomp ran a promo show with Apple, HP, Compaq, et al.
I asked the HP guys why the DeskJet doesn't interface to the Mac and they
said at the time they were doing development, Apple wouldn't give them any
technical support (the profit margin on Laser Writers  ya know) and HP wasn't
so sure of Apple's financial health to commit a lot of money to development.
I guess HP sees a market now....

Disclaimer: I never did this before so I don't have an excuse yet.