Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!ginosko!gem.mps.ohio-state.edu!wuarchive!decwrl!hplabs!hp-pcd!hpvcfs1!neff
From: neff@hpvcfs1.HP.COM (Dave Neff)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac
Subject: Re: HP DeskWriter Performance on a Plus
Message-ID: <780063@hpvcfs1.HP.COM>
Date: 27 Sep 89 19:29:17 GMT
References: <22051@cup.portal.com>
Organization: Hewlett Packard, Vancouver, WA
Lines: 39

>In article <780057@hpvcfs1.HP.COM> neff@hpvcfs1.HP.COM (Dave Neff) writes:
>>The DeskJet+ is mainly faster when the centronics port is used and when
>>dealing with graphics output (compressed or otherwise) and font downloads.
>> ... For centronics
>>graphics only output the DeskJet+ is really 5 times faster than a DeskJet.

>Why not make a SCSI->Centronics adaptor
>as an official supported HP product
>for Mac users?
>
> --dave yost

Because the DeskWriter is the official supported HP printer for Mac users.
Are we going around in circles yet :-).

Really, the issue is one of support, user satisfaction, and so forth.
Prior to the DeskWriter there was no "HP blessed" solution to using
DeskJets with the Mac.  The DeskWriter is specifically designed and
optimized for use with the Mac.  We don't want to confuse the issue
by providing alternatives.

Of course third party alternatives (chooser drivers with various
high speed serial or SCSI to centronics converter) are always possible,
but its up to the third party to support the DeskJets in that
configuration, not HP.

It wouldn't be too hard to convert the DeskWriter driver to work with
the DeskJet+ using 19.2K baud and mode 2 graphics.  This would give about
a 1/2 page per minute printer (compared to the 1 page per minute of
DeskWriter).  Certainly some sort of hardware converter could put
performance closer to the DeskWriter (the DeskWriter would still be a
bit faster due to bi-directional graphics and other enhancements).
We'd just have to support it.  Call our support line at
208-323-2551 and tell them you want such a supported driver.  If
enough people call maybe the right people would respond, you never
know.

Dave Neff
neff@hpvcfs1.HP.COM