Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!ames!amdahl!pacbell!hoptoad!tim
From: tim@hoptoad.uucp (Tim Maroney)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.programmer
Subject: Re: System 7.0 Q & A
Message-ID: <7408@hoptoad.uucp>
Date: 23 May 89 19:25:19 GMT
References: <13436@dartvax.Dartmouth.EDU> <30518@apple.Apple.COM> <7267@hoptoad.uucp> <1867@internal.Apple.COM> <89142.094457DN5@PSUVM>
Reply-To: tim@hoptoad.UUCP (Tim Maroney)
Organization: Eclectic Software, San Francisco
Lines: 38

In article <89142.094457DN5@PSUVM> DN5@PSUVM.BITNET writes:
>Sean Parent (from Apple) claimed all currently existing print drivers would
>fail under 7.0.  This is very reasonable, and I expected this.

Yes, I think all of us programmers have been hoping for a Print Manager
rewrite ever since the first time we read the chapter.  I'm very glad
that they've done it, or are doing it.  I hope it really is as easy as
they say to write a new driver for 7.0, though; otherwise, a lot of us
are going to be up the proverbial creek, myself included.  There didn't
seem to be any specific pre-documentation of the new format in the
conference notebooks I browsed, and I wonder when some more detailed
information will be available.

>My question
>is, on an AppleTalk network, with different size Macs (1 Meg vs. 5 Meg),
>connected to the same LaserWriters, will they ALL have to upgrade to the
>new system 7.0, or will some provision be made for using system 6.xx and
>system 7.0 on the same network.

According to the information Apple released, 6.0 and 7.0 LaserWriter
drivers will be able to share printers with no hassles.  However,
concerning your upgrade plans, I've been quoted prices as low as $130
for one-megabyte SIMMs, and prices are continuing to drop.  By the time
System 7.0 is released (first quarter 1990, perhaps?) it ought to be
quite cost effective to upgrade your one megabyte computers.

>If we can't use different systems (with the different LaserWriter drivers)
>effectively, then this cuts me out of system 7.0 (with my Mac II), because
>most of the rest of the Macs are 1 Meg with no upgrade plans in the near
>future.

You're in luck....
-- 
Tim Maroney, Consultant, Eclectic Software, sun!hoptoad!tim
"What's bad? What's the use of turning?
 In Hell I'll be there a-burning!
 Meanwhile, think of what I'm earning!
 All on account of my name." - Bill Sykes, "Oliver"