5 Apr
2005
5 Apr
'05
6:59 p.m.
Looking around the local salvation army, I spotted a LaserWriter plus.
I've searched the archives and discovered it's a PostScript enabled laser
printer with RS-442 interface. It seems. No disucssion of the "plus"
specifically. If it helps, there was a DB-25, a DE-9 and small (4? 6?)
dip switch on the back (that I remember, I don't remember any mini-DIN).
I'd be interested in having a "real" postscript printer. But I'd like
to
test it before buying.
- Is there a way to print a test page w/o pluging into a computer?
- Can this be interface to a straight PC? If the DB-25 is RS-232, I'd
assume so.
- Is toner readily available?
Also, there was an ImageWriter II if anyone wants one.
Thank you,
-Philip
5 Apr
5 Apr
7:17 p.m.
On Apr 5, 2005 9:59 PM, liste at artware.qc.ca <liste at artware.qc.ca> wrote:
Looking around the local salvation army, I spotted a
LaserWriter plus.
I've searched the archives and discovered it's a PostScript enabled laser
printer with RS-442 interface. It seems. No disucssion of the "plus"
specifically.
The 'plus' is a ROM upgrade from the plain-old Apple LaserWriter...
more fonts, and slightly different firmware.
If it helps, there was a DB-25, a DE-9 and small (4?
6?)
dip switch on the back (that I remember, I don't remember any mini-DIN).
Nope... no mini-DIN. The DE-9 is the AppleTalk interface (like 512K
Macs). The DB-25 is for ordinary serial devices so that, IIRC, one
can blow ASCII at it and the LW+ intereprets it as, I think, a Diablo
daisywheel printer, courier only, etc. I _think_ there's a way to
emit PostScript at the DB25, but it's not going to be a speedy
interface. The printer was primarily developed for Mac use on
AppleTalk/LocalTalk
I'd be interested in having a "real"
postscript printer. But I'd like to
test it before buying.
One could take a Palm and a travel cable and DE9-DB252 adapter and run
a VT100 app and blow chars at the DB25 port...
- Is there a way to print a test page w/o pluging into
a computer?
Does it not print a test page at power-on? I think what my mom used
to do at work was power hers on with the paper tray removed to _not_
get a test print (and waste the paper).
- Can this be interface to a straight PC? If the
DB-25 is RS-232, I'd
assume so.
Yes, the DB25 is RS-232, but there may be a protocol issue there (raw
ASCII vs PS).
- Is toner readily available?
Can't recall what engine it uses, but it's one of the older Canon(?) ones.
-ethan
6 Apr
6 Apr
2:57 p.m.
On Tue, 5 Apr 2005 liste at artware.qc.ca wrote:
I'd be interested in having a "real"
postscript printer.
The Laserwriter, or Laserwriter+ are a good way to go for Postscript.
Get a copy of the PrinterWorks CX engine catalog - exploded views, parts
lists, etc.
If this one doesn't work out, you can also get Postscript by plugging in a
Postscript cartridge into a Laserjet 2, 2p, 3, 3p, . . .
There are several different Postscript cartridges, not all are compatible
with all printers.
- Is there a way to print a test page w/o pluging into
a computer?
turn it on. by default it prin ts a test sheet during power up.
- Can this be interface to a straight PC? If the
DB-25 is RS-232, I'd
assume so.
yes.
- Is toner readily available?
yes, but getting harder to find. CX cartridge. same as Laserjet[-]
(just called "Laserjet", and HP prefers to call it classic, rather than
"-") and Laserjet+
4:35 p.m.
Looking around the local salvation army, I spotted a LaserWriter plus.
I've searched the archives and discovered it's a PostScript enabled laser
printer with RS-442 interface. It seems. No disucssion of the "plus"
specifically. If it helps, there was a DB-25, a DE-9 and small (4? 6?)
dip switch on the back (that I remember, I don't remember any mini-DIN).
I'd be interested in having a "real" postscript printer. But I'd like
to
test it before buying.
- Is there a way to print a test page w/o pluging into a computer?
IIRC it's based on the Canon CX engine. In which case there should be an
engine test button above the connector panel. Pressing that will get it
to print a page of vertical lines. That proves the mechanism is working,
and the 'DC controller board', but doesn't tekk you anything about the
state of the formatter board.
- Can this be interface to a straight PC? If the DB-25 is RS-232, I'd
assume so.
Yes.
- Is toner readily available?
If I'm right that it's a CX engine, the toner is next-to-impossible to
get. Canon stopped making toner cartridges for this machine about 6 years
ago. There were trade-in deals IIRC from Canon and HP, but they weren't a
lot of use if what you had was a CX-VDO (the formetter-less version,
direct interface to the DC controller, used on some workstations like the
PERQ).
I can tell you how to repair the CX engine should you decide to get it...
-tony
7201
days inactive
7201
days old
3 comments
4 participants
participants (4)
-
ard＠p850ug1.demon.co.uk -
cisin＠xenosoft.com -
ethan.dicks＠gmail.com -
liste＠artware.qc.ca