Richard Gambrell ([log in to unmask]) wrote:
 
> According to Jeff Lindberg:
> >
> > [log in to unmask] wrote:
> >
> > > I met with my HP Sales rep yesterday & learned that the new HP9X9
> > > series do not offer HPIB support.  He also mentioned that in order
> [deleted stuff]
> > > Does anyone else out there find this to be a problem?
> >
> [more deleted]
> >
> > As it stands, I presume in order to support a high-speed printer like this
> > on a 9x9 box one would have to (1) get some type of LAN <-> HPIB adapter
> > (if, in fact, one exists); (2) purchase a 3rd party software product to
> > provide LAN spooling.
[snip]
> In so far as migrating an existing line printer, I agree with these
> concerns, but to avoid misleading someone, I think it is fair to point out
> that there are SCSI interfaces for the large line printers, so you can
> connect a high speed printer to these new hp3000s with full support by the
> spooler, etc.
 
I certainly don't want to be unfair or misleading and if, indeed, there is
a SCSI interface available for 2567-class impact (not laser) printers then
I [sheepishly] withdraw my objection ...  ;-)  As long as there *is* and
HP-supported option.
 
Do you know what the max cable length is from the SPU with the SCSI
interface?
 
> If a new printer is considered, then one of the new, high speed
> laser-quality PCL printers might also be a good choice with SCSI
> connections.
 
Does HP have a "laser quality" impact printer on the market?
 
> Also, we need to consider that rs-232 connections can now be 38K with
> new DTCs.
 
Hmmm... I initially thought that a serial connection would still be a
bottleneck for the higher-speed (>600 LPM) printers but (according to my
calculator a 38.4k connection should be able to drive a printer up to
about 1,700 LPM (assuming full 132 character lines).
 
Most interesting....
 
> In so far as LAN based printing, I feel that HP should at least offer the
> same level of support on MPE that comes with HPUX - but it would be more
> in the sprit of MPE as a "value-added" O.S. to go beyond Unix even in
> remote spooling.
 
Exactly.  VMS (DEC VAX) provides for out-of-the-box LAN spooling as well.
As I said in an unrelated posting, if MPE/iX is going to be sold as a
"world class OS" then it needs to provide (where practical) the same
functionality as the systems it is expected to go up against.
 
  Jeff Lindberg, Data Processing Coordinator
 
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Mississippi Bend Area Education Agency     ([log in to unmask])
729 21st Street Bettendorf, IA  52722