Conference 7.286::atarist

    Just wanted to add to what Chris said about the printer.
    
    I saw one demoed at Computer Hut in Nashua. I compared a page of
    output from it to a page generated from a laser printer. Only when
    I got my eyes to within about 4 inches from the page was I able
    to tell the difference. Then, the desk jet actually appeared a bit
    better than the laser output! Surprisingly, I didn't notice any
    ink dot spattering, which is often common with these printers, but
    I didn't use a magnifying glass either.
    
    But, for me, there were a few disadvantages this printer had. For
    one, the ink cost seemed rather high. Seemed like it was about $25
    for 500 pages, but I could easily be wrong on this. The other
    disadvantage is that it didn't take tractor-fed paper, so the printing
    of postcards and mailing labels (which I do a lot of on my Epson
    FX-85) was not possible. Maybe future models will correct this.
    If they do, and bring the cost down a bit, this printer could become
    extremely popular, possibly an industry standard.
    

    The rating on the ink cartridges is 200K characters in final mode
    and about 500K characters in draft mode.  I got the cartridges for
    $15 each.  - Chris

    The makers of EasyDraw (Migraph) supposedly have a GDOS driver for
    the HP DeskJet.  This means that you could also use full resolution
    and different fonts from any program that utilizes GDOS (EasyDraw
    & Microsoft Write).  I would also expect the makers of WordPerfect
    to support it in the future, if they don't already.
    
    							-Dave

	Hmm. Since this topic was written, DEC has been marketing the DeskJet
	under the name LJ250. This is one and the same. I don't know if this
	conference has it posted elsewhere, but the info fits here.

	the -252 is the parallel port version.

	fwiw

	/pjh

    I just looked up the LJ250/252 in the Sales Update (Vol 19 number
    4 - August 10,1987).
    
    The picture does not look at all like the HP DeskJet. The write-up
    says it prints at 180 by 180 dpi, and handles tractor-fed paper.
    It also claims compatibility with the HP PaintJet (HP3630A). They
    are called Companion Color Printers and the MLP is $1695.
    
    I'd say it's not a DeskJet.
    

    
    umm, well, it was one of those "jets" anyway. It speaks PCL not
    laser... silly me.
    

    It's definitly not a Deskjet.  The HP Deskjet is a 48 nozzle ink jet
    that prints on plain paper at 300dpi.  The LJ250 is a color companion
    printer that prints on clay coded paper.  If you were to use regular
    paper the bleed is terrible, not so on the Deskjet.
    

    My understanding is that the LJ250 is a "bought out" Paintjet with
    DEC firmware added.  I think the Paintjet only supports 16 colors,
    whereas the LJ250 in sixel mode can support 256 colors by using
    a 2x2 pixel size and dithering.  Of course you lose resultion when
    dithering, but it nice to not have to write the dithering algorithms.
    I think both the Paintjet and the Deskjet use similar algorithms
    for screen dumps.
    
    Note Deskjet is monochrome (bitonal), while the Paintjet provides
    color.
    
    There is a Deskjet + available now that can output in graphics mode
    at a much higher rate, as long as you have drivers that support
    the new compression protocols that HP is using.  The Deskjet + is
    also a bitonal printer.
    
    						-Dave

    Also the Deskjet+ has 56 nozzles. And now there is the DeskJet 500,
    with extra fonts. Trust me to buy mine 6 months before they introduce
    this one!
    
    Pete.

    
    Hi,
    
    Supposing I could get my hands on a LJ250 paintjet, IS it possible to
    drive it from any Atari based drivers, (I know that Deskjet drivers are
    around, how about Paintjet?)  
    
    The previous notes create an area of doubt exactly what is a LJ250!
    
    Answers gratefully received
    
    PJK

We have an HP Deskjet 500 printer.  What sort of driver do we need to use
it from the Atari for other than plain vanilla ascii fonts?  It works great
with the Adobe stuff on the Spectre Mac emulator.

Cheryl

    What Cheryl in .-1 means is that we fould like to find someone who has
    a driver file for 1stWordPlus for the DeskJet 500 or can help us how
    to make it. I tried with the information which comes with the program
    but didn't get anywhere.
    
    Thanks for any help.
    
    J�rgen
    

Hello there,

if you give me your e-mail address then

I send you a copy or the pointer for this 1stWordPlus-Driver

Niklaus

    Happy new owner of DECjet 1000 (I find it the ideal printer for home)
    I too am looking for the 1st word plus driver, and also the GDOS
    driver. Something like HPdesk.sys (?)
    
    I have sent mail to the author of .13 but I suppose he is on christmas 
    holiday and I'm a bit too impatient.
    
    If anybody can help with pointers... thanks in advance.
    
    
    					Ray.

    
    Take a look into the archives of
    UFRCS1::DISK$FS:[FALKENSTEIN.ATARI.NEW1]
    There are some HP-Utilities including a driver for Wordplus with 
    Graphics capabilities and GDOS drivers for HP...
    
    Bernd