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From: laser-lovers@uw-beaver
Newsgroups: fa.laser-lovers
Subject: Re: LaserWriter for IBM PC/XT/AT?
Message-ID: <1491@uw-beaver>
Date: Wed, 14-Aug-85 15:07:23 EDT
Article-I.D.: uw-beave.1491
Posted: Wed Aug 14 15:07:23 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 18-Aug-85 01:31:38 EDT
Sender: daemon@uw-beaver
Organization: U of Washington Computer Science
Lines: 32

From: adobe!shore@Glacier (Andrew Shore)

Ann Robinson, Adobe Systems' Marketing Support Manager, has
the most experience with LaserWriters connected to PCs. She
offers the following information:


We've been using a LaserWriter with an IBM-XT and Compaq, and
I know of others using LaserWriters with IBM-ATs.  It can run
from any computer with a 9600 baud RS-232 port. The only
problem I've had is that the LaserWriter uses an XON/XOFF
protocol which is not standardly supported in DOS, but many
software packages will do the XON/XOFF if you print to COM1:
instead of LPT1:  If I just want to print an ascii file to the
printer I use the SUPERSPOOL spooler that came with my AST
card because it will do XON/XOFF properly.  To make the
connection from a 25-pin connector you need a cable with a
"null modem".  To connect an AT, you can get a 9-pin to 25-pin
adapter and then the null modem.  

Once connected, you can send any PostScript file to the
printer.  If you are looking for applications that produce
PostScript, there is a growing number of packages that run on
IBMs that support PostScript printers. Since Adobe doesn't
sell any of them, I'll take the liberty of listing some of
them:  Microsoft Word 2.0, Scenic Writer from Scenic Software,
GEM (new release scheduled this month) from DRI, DO-IT from
Studio Software, Microsoft Chart 2.0 (to be released next
month), TeX from Personal TeX (to be released soon).  

[Appropriate trademark notices apply.]
Adobe Systems Incorporated