Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site gargoyle.UChicago.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!seismo!hao!hplabs!tektronix!uw-beaver!cornell!vax135!houxm!ihnp4!gargoyle!toby From: toby@gargoyle.UChicago.UUCP (Toby Harness) Newsgroups: net.periphs Subject: Re: HP LaserJet, a quick look Message-ID: <217@gargoyle.UChicago.UUCP> Date: Thu, 11-Oct-84 15:45:19 EDT Article-I.D.: gargoyle.217 Posted: Thu Oct 11 15:45:19 1984 Date-Received: Sat, 13-Oct-84 03:39:43 EDT References: <4434@utzoo.UUCP> Organization: U. Chicago - Computer Science Lines: 65 > From: henry@utzoo.UUCP (Henry Spencer) > The built-in fonts are, uh, limited, and we have yet to see real > information on what font cartridges are available. We have the two currently availble font cartridges ($225 each) - Name orient pitch point (part number 92286A): Courier Bold port 10 12 Courier Italic port 10 12 Line Printer land 16.66 8.5 (part number 92286B): Helv Bold port prop 14.4 Tms Roman port prop 10 Tms Roman Bold port prop 10 Tms Roman Ital port prop 10 Tms Roman port prop 8.0 Line Printer land 16.66 8.5 > There are mumbles about math fonts, and we're > prodding the local HP man about 12-pitch fonts, but no details yet. I also have heard little more than mumbles about the math font. > Also, note that you can plug in *one* font cartridge at a time, and each of > them holds about 3 fonts maximum. As above, the limt appears to be 6, plus the two that are built in, for a total of 8. Plus, with some effort, you can feed it in-line raster-graphics. An entire font would be a lot of work (for the programer, cpu, and laserjet), but a few 'extensions' to a standard font would be no real problem. > A pseudo-typesetter it's not, but with a few more fonts it looks like it > would make a *dandy* daisywheel replacement. There is a lot of interest > hereabouts. I am sure this is HP`s intention. Most of the adds I have seen have it pictured next to an IBM PC. > The LaserJet *must* have a full 8-bit > path. If you can manage to get all the top bits zero, then the only > major effect will be that the top half of the font will be inaccessible > and the raster-graphics sequences won't work (they need 8-bit binary data). > But if your hardware or software insists on using that top bit for parity, > then you simply can't talk to the LaserJet... > before you sign a PO, make very > very sure that your Unix can give you a full 8-bit output path without > resorting to raw mode (which deprives you of flow control). But not, of course, with SYS III and later. (Note that HP`s HP-UX is SYS III/V.) However, HP did not come up with this to sell to unix sites, but to offices with a pc or two. As much as a replacement for dasiywheels, it is a replacement for dot-matrix, and many of those require 8 bit data. In any case, the laserjet has a 56k buffer, and prints at a very constant 8 ppm, so it should be easy enough to spoon feed it through the printer daemon if you had to. > ...Our $400 Geminis will do this, but the $4k LaserJet won't! Talk to your HP rep; we paid little more than $2K. Toby Harness Ogburn/Stouffer Center, University of Chicago ...ihnp4!gargoyle!toby