Path: utzoo!utgpu!water!watmath!clyde!att!ttrdc!ttrde!ttrdf!fjo
From: fjo@ttrdf.UUCP (Frank Owen )
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac
Subject: Re: HP DeskJet Drivers?
Message-ID: <694@ttrdf.UUCP>
Date: 8 Jul 88 17:35:11 GMT
References: <46100177@uxe.cso.uiuc.edu>
Organization: AT&T, Skokie, IL
Lines: 37

in article <46100177@uxe.cso.uiuc.edu>, leonardr@uxe.cso.uiuc.edu says:
> 	I had the pleasure to see at the recent MacHack '88 a DeskJet working with
> Orange Micro's GrapplerLQ.  The grappler is a hardware interface that works
> along with some INITs and the standard Apple ImageWriter LQ driver to driver
> the DeskJet.  

   It sounds to me that since it uses the Apple Imagewriter LQ driver,
that the Grappler simply converts Imagewriter LQ code to compatible
DeskJet codes.  Basically, it makes the DeskJet "look" like an Imagewriter LQ.
This is an O.K. solution, but not the best one. The Imagewriter LQ has
resolution of 216x216 dpi, while the DeskJet does 300 dpi. Asside from
the possible scaling problems, it would be nice if you could get
true 300 dpi output on the DeskJet.  The Grappler is also a piece of
hardware, ( extra $) which is really not necessary.
   The correct solution is to write a DeskJet driver that gets
"Choosen" like the Apple drivers.  I have begun working on such a 
beast, but have been discouraged by the lack of documentation from Apple
on how to do it.  Then, as soon as I thought I had it all figured out, and
actually went out and bought a DeskJet, I find out that Cricket software will 
be coming out with a driver Real Soon Now.   HP is endorsing their driver
for the PaintJet, and so will probably do the same for the DeskJet.
From the article I have read, Cricket's drivers apparently 
extend QuickDraw to do some PostScript-type operations like text 
rotation.  Sounds like this will be a good product when it comes out.
The output quality should be at least as good as the LaserWrite SC.
Oh well, perhaps my driver will end up in the public domain.

   As an aside, the DeskJet is really a nice printer. HP should be
commended on their design. The only gripe I have is it's relatively
slow speed at drawing graphics. Since this is the way it will be driven in
a Mac environment, it's really too bad.  

-- 
Frank Owen (fjo@ttrdf)  312-982-2182
AT&T Information Systems
Computer Systems Division, 5555 Touhy Ave., Skokie, IL  60077
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