Re: need a new printer, but how to configure?

["J. R. Fox" jr_fox@xxxxxxxxxx]

Robert Holmgren wrote:

> I didn't notice anybody exactly LEAP FORWARD to volunteer to maintain a printer
> compatibility list, per my (very good) suggestion the other day.

I'm happy to contribute what little I know on this issue, but it is very little,
and has probably been mentioned previously on the List, also likely by others. For
example, I know that my Lexmark inkjet can make use of some HP Deskjet PRN files.
How completely I'm not sure, because I haven't seriously tested it. You know,
you're in a hurry, and just happy to get some decent output, so you don't bother
attempting anything the least bit fancy. I know that the recent model Canon 850i
(a relative has one) supports OS/2, and still has a parallel port besides its USB
connection, so it very likely supports DOS also. No clue what Xy-4 driver may
operate this baby, but I bet there is one. If and when I get the chance, on some
future visit, I'll try some experiments with it. This printer handles text well,
and might be a match for my Epsons on the quality of photos, plus it is much faster
and quieter.

I know that my HP-4 is **way inferior** at doing envelopes than its predecessor, an
HP-2, so I've been doing those on whatever inkjet happens to be hooked up to LPT2.
There is something seriously deficient with the template for envelopes I've been
able to extract from Xy-4, so I've had to settle for nothing but the default
Courier 10. This could be a limitation of the inkjet printer. (At least it
doesn't mangle the envelope.) With the old HP-2, I used to do label sheets and
various sizes of envelope, with all kinds of different fonts -- including soft
fonts -- in various point sizes.

A good place for such anecdotes might be Brian's Xy site.

> We only know our own printer,

And that's why this is mostly going to be a matter of piecemeal anecdotes. I don't
know that we have anyone who is well-versed in printing issues, across a truly wide
range of makes and models. Except for minor adjustments here and there, tinkering
with the 4-series printer files has been a task somewhat out of reach for me. It
ain't XPL, but it's difficult enough if you're not of the right technical bent. I
used to be able to do more stuff with the 3-series drivers, but I think they were
relatively simpler, and that was a good long while ago.

> and it's probably three years old. Secondly, the safe XyRoute is
> Hewlett-Packard. I
> would NEVER buy any other printer. But I'm reluctant to say that because H-P
> is more expensive generally than, say, Epson -- and PCL machines are by
> definition not as cheap as WinPrinters. I hate to lose users simply because
> they impulsively buy a $79 InkJet instead of a $299 (or $599) LaserJet -- but
> that's what is happening, steadily. Legacy operations are becoming more, not
> less, expensive. All that money we've been saving from not buying the latest
> version of WinWord, is now going to go to Hewlett Packard. Somebody needs to
> say this aloud. We're headed into a manufacturer-conspired cul-de-sac

I'm not disagreeing with you here, and it won't be the solution for everyone, but
I've got to say it again: you CAN FIND good, classic model laser and inkjet
printers, in reasonably good condition, on the used market. Some even from
companies that specialize in refurbishing them, and will give you a warranty of at
least 30 days, in some cases a lot longer. I have bought 3 inkjet models and 1 HP
Laserjet this way, and have not regretted doing so. Two of these printers even
needed service once I got them, which was not unexpected, and I had this
possibility in mind when determining the price I was willing to pay for them. (It
helps that I have a more than competent multi-brand repair station in the
neighborhood, with very reasonable rates. If the ink has dried up in the inkjet
and the printhead assembly became gunked up, this shop can flush it out clean for
$25. That's a major deal ! The sort of inkjet printers I buy are hardly the
disposable type, so it would be worth triple that.)


Jordan