Re: printer file

[pjd pjd@xxxxxxxx]

At 10:13 AM 11/21/00 -0500, you wrote:

>Some useful tidbits from TTG: I've been trying to get XyDos to print from a
>new Espson 777 inkjet. Tried all the epson .prn files on the TTG website.
>Nothing works. Spoke to a TTG tech this a.m. who was extremely helpful and,
>I might add, did not ask for a credit card number. Told me that some of the
>new printers will not, repeat, will not print from dos. This means you have
>to translate the file to a win program. I'm not sure whether the 777 is in
>this category. I have to call Epson tech support. More dissonance for XyDos
>atavists.


Note that this problem is because of the *printers* not because of
XyWrite: some of the newer printers, to save money in manufacturing
and programming them, to not actually have drivers as such but use the
mapping from windows to print. This was especially true of some of the
early windows hybrid printers (I think the lexmark brand and the "led"
instead of laser based printers)

*No* dos programs can print to them. There was a similar move with
some of the early "document" systems, which were used as scanners,
copiers, printers, modem and fax combinations and would save, store,
retrieve, and send -- either by fax or by modem. The only thing they
really saved was space -- you could buy four machines for the
price of one. I bought one (marked down from $4000 to $300) about
three years ago at a closeout. It was then less than two years old
(made in 94) but had to return it -- not only wouldn't print from
DOS (even by copying to PRN) but it couldn't print from windows 95.

pjd