Re: [WinMac] mini din 8 to db9 cable

Tom Roth(tomroth[at]wfubmc.edu)
Tue, 24 Aug 1999 16:14:57 -0500

> > Tom Roth wrote:
> > I've got an Apple Personal LaserWriter 320 that I've been using with my
> > PowerMac 6100 but now I'd like to be able to connect this printer to a
> > Dell OptiPlex.
>
> Darron Spohn replied:
> A search of the Apple Tech Info Library turned up article number #15348.
> Go to http://til.info.apple.com/ and search by the article number. I
> used "Personal LaserWriter 320" and "Windows" as my search criteria.
>
> **************************************************
> The Personal LaserWriter 320 and LaserWriter 4/600 were designed to meet
> the needs of home and small office customers, so cross-platform support
> was not included or intended. Including this type of support would have
> added unnecessary complexity and cost to the printer. Customers who are
> looking for a printer to support both Macintosh and DOS/Windows
> computers need to look at our other printers that provide this type of
> support.
>
> Since the Personal LaserWriter 320 does not have PCL4 capability or
> Diablo 630 ECS emulation, customers with PCs who wish to print using the
> Personal LaserWriter 320, need to use AppleTalk as the Protocol, and
> PostScript as the page description language. Products such as CopsTalk
> by Thursby Software Systems, Inc., and PCMacLAN for Windows by Miramar
> Systems, Inc., provide the AppleTalk stack. Microsoft ships PostScript
> print drivers with their operating systems.
>
> In addition to necessary software, the printer must be connected to the
> network. Ethernet is generally the network of choice, and a bridge
> device is required to connect the LocalTalk printer to an Ethernet
> network. Bridge products include iPrint adaptor by Farallon
> Communications, Inc., and AsantePrint by Asante Technologies, Inc.
>
> At this point, printing from Windows 95/98 via the Ethernet network
> should be possible.
> **************************************

I can install the MS AppleTalk protocol that comes with Windows NT which
will make it speak AppleTalk to printers only. The question now is one
of physical connection. An etherprint adapter from Asante could make it
network ready but that's $200 and then I could use a hub or an ethernet
crossover cable to make the physical connection. However, a serial
cable would be the easiest route and even a custom would would be less
then $200. Printing PostScript is what I would want to do on the NT
side there's no problem there.

Apple is making this sound nearly impossible or at best more difficult
then necessary. It's a perfectly good PostScript printer that simply
has serial connectivity only.

Thanks for checking with Apple though Darron. I actually hadn't
thought to look there!

  ______________________________________________________________________
  Tom Roth Wake Forest University School of Medicine
  tomroth@wfubmc.edu Dept of Biomedical Communications
  http://www.wfubmc.edu/biomed/ Medical Center Blvd
  Tel 336.716.4493 Winston-Salem, NC 27157-1011
  ______________________________________________________________________

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