RE: [OT]Apple printer to PC parallel adaptor

["Crick, Steve (UK)" <steve.crick@xxxxxxx>]

Thanks for the feedback; I do have a Mac, but it died, which is why I
want to connect the printer to the PC.

The LaserWriter only has a Apple 8-pin serial connection, which I
assumed is using localtalk, though it _might_ be using serial.

I will take a note of the product model number, and lookup its
capabilities tonight.

The adapter I was racking my brains to remember (it has been years since
I was working in Mac support), plugged into the parallel port of the PC;
it was about the size of a large box of matches, and had some LED's on
it to show activity. The other end of the attached wire connected to a
LaserWriter. It worked; but I can't for the life of me remember who made
it.

Never mind, it was a long shot, and I am looking at getting another
printer anyway; a shame as the LaserWriter works fine.

Thanks - Steve


-----Original Message-----
From: Kevin Hawkins [mailto:lists@xxxxxxx]
Sent: Thursday, May 29, 2003 11:33 AM
To: ukha_d@xxxxxxx
Subject: RE: [ukha_d] [OT]Apple printer to PC parallel adaptor


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Your message/subject implies ' LocalTalk to parallel' - is that what you
want ? If so the rest of this message isn't going to help too much - I
don't think it is practical to bridge LocalTalk back to parallel and
then I assume connect the parallel back to a PC output. What was
possible was to add a parallel (output) port to Localtalk to attach
parallel printers to a LocalTalk network. Bridging the other way around
- a network protocol to a parlael I/O is not sensible. However if you
have Ethernet on your PC there was a suitable product.



There was a hardware card (ISA) that sat in a PC to give it a Localtalk
port
- I think it was called COPS I think or CoTalk - There was also a
Microchannel version and I am guessing a PCI but I never saw the latter
as LocalTalk was waning in popularity by then.



However I would not go this route - it would be better to perhaps
consider a Localtalk to Ethertalk bridge and then the printer would be
visible on the Ethernet network to the PC (and all other PC's too). I am
sure you should be able to pick up such a device on eBAY for almost
nothing - Shiva, Netopia & Kinetics among others made these.



Alternatively - if you have a Mac (which I assume you do) you could
connect the printer to the LocalTalk port and software bridge it to the
Ethernet port on that Mac which will effectively allow the printer to be
seen by connected PC's (inc Windows machines). But you will have to have
the Mac switched on whenever you want to use the printer. There are
several such software bridges and later Mac OS's have such a feature
included IIRR. There were also 'print server' applications available
that manage spooling and user authorisations - one such product was
LaserServe.



Bit of a caveat though. There is going to be some possibility that
Windows might not drive the printer too well - take a look in the list
of Apple printers that Windows lists in the 'add printer' control panel
and check the particular model is listed. I assume it is a Postscript
printer ??



Lastly - is Localtalk the only interface on the printer - does it not
have say a parallel interface or an option slot for an Ethernet card ?



Overall the effort to do this , along with the possibility it may not
work might sway me to look for a shiny new printer instead.



Kevin





-----Original Message-----
From: Crick, Steve (UK) [mailto:steve.crick@xxxxxxx]
Sent: 29 May 2003 09:59
To: ukha_d@xxxxxxx
Subject: [ukha_d] [OT]Apple printer to PC parallel adaptor




Long shot, but I will ask anyway.

Does anybody know of an adaptor that will allow me to connect my
(localtalk) Apple printer, to my PC?
I remember ages ago, that there was a product that I saw, but never got
one.

Seems a shame to trash it, as it works fine, prints nicely and it is a
laser printer.

Thanks - S

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