Wirt Atmar wrote:
> Doug Werth writes:
> > Now if we could just get the spooler to keep up with the latest PJL
> > of the newer printers this would be a very powerful setup.
>
> Let me add my wholehearted endorsements of Doug's comments.
>
> At the recent HP World CSY Management Roundtable ... The mumbo-jumbo
> given in response to this same comment was a mumbled excuse that "HP
> doesn't want to compete with its third-party suppliers."
>
> In fairness, it is entirely possible that no one on the dais
> understands the problem, simply because no one from management
> actually uses HP printers connected to an HP3000 on a daily basis.

If I recall correctly (being part of the customer group that provided
input on ARPA in general including network printing) the intent was to
provide an HP solution - HP printers, HP network cards, etc.  And that
was essentially what was delivered, with LaserJet 4's (or perhaps 5's)
as the design platform.  Didn't work worth crap with a C40D though
despite my complaints (I recall one labbie commenting they didn't have
one to test with).  It started breaking more widespread with the 4000.

> But there is no competitive issue here.

Agreed.  The biggest advantage of the "third party software" is being
able to communicate with nonstandard network cards/print servers, Novell
print queues, distributed printing, and so forth.  The 3000 could always
print to a serial LaserJet and should continue to be able to do so in a
network environment.

Jeff Kell <[log in to unmask]>