Apple LaserWriter questions

From: Patrick Rigney <patrick_at_vintagecomputermarketplace.com>
Date: Thu Jun 10 15:17:02 2004

> > 1. Are all LaserWriters 100% pure PostScript printers, speaking
> > nothing but PS? I know the very original one was, but I'm not sure
> > about whatever happened later and whatever they make now.
>
> No. There are some of the Personal LW and Select series that
> speak Apple's proprietary QuickDraw (like the irritating
> Select 300, a printer which I hardly like to speak the name
> of). However, the vast majority speak PS and pretty much only PS.

I have and regularly use a LaserWriter Pro 630 that speaks fluent HP PCL in
addition to PostScript. It has a selector switch on the back that lets you
choose, for different combinations of the ports, which language is "native"
on each port. So, for example, you can configure it so the Ethertalk port
defaults to PostScript, but the Centronics port defaults to PCL. That's
helpful for mixed PC/Mac environments. It also has separate LocalTalk and
serial ports, and it uses the same engine and cartridge as the plain-vanilla
LaserJet 4 (easy to get). --Patrick
Received on Thu Jun 10 2004 - 15:17:02 BST