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Does any printer mfr. supply Win3.1 drivers for current inkjet printers. A friend has a 3.1 machine and is looking for a new printer (would need parallel port option too).
Thanks
Hi Tugboat:
Your friend would be better to look for a used HP 550C for Win 3.1, still think you can download drivers for 3.1 at HP's web site. I tried an Epson 440c on my old 486 100 & it took a long time to print, the HP 550C was much faster. The HP 550C only prints 300 dpi but is much faster than later printers, newer printer need to use spool file to store data before printing.http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3421117272&category=14304
Good luck.
Z
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http://members.aol.com/sdmicro/locolpt.htm
These and other Appolo printers may still be available, they are old HP engines in a new case
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I donīt really know the exact definition of a "Postscript" printer, but it seems to me that this was some sort of standard (like the VESA standard for videoadapters) that would make seperate drivers obsolete.
So I suggest installing the "new printer" as a Postscript printer.
If anyone can tell if and how this can be achieved exactly please write it down here......
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Postscript is a page definition language. It would only be usable with a Postscript printer. I don't think there is any current moderately priced Postscript inkjet.
Might be easier to find an PCL compatitible inkjet.
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I have an HP Deskjet 842C. It came with Win 3.1/9X/NT drivers on the CD. It works fine for any of those systems.
Surprisingly HP Tech support even answered an email about how to set up the 842c on my network for Win 3.1.
Good luck
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In DOS I use hp 500 500c 550C or anything similar and usually have no trouble printing.
Same pretty much applies for Win3.x but if you can find drivers as DR did you can do more with your printer. I also have an old 9pin dot matrix printer that has outlasted a dozen hp's.
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I have a HP 950C hooked up to a Windows 3.1 PC and HP supply drivers and support for almost all the deskJet range. Check here for driver.
http://welcome.hp.com/country/us/eng/support.html
I have also as SkipCox says used modern HP DeskJets with 500 or 550C DOS Drivers in applications with no problems.
Epsom InkJets are also backwards compatable.
Postscript is used more by Laser Printers than DeskJet or InkJet Printers, but between these 3 system you should be able to find a new printer to meet your needs.
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I agree with the comment about the Apollo printers from HP. I have an Apollo P-2200 and have used it in DOS, Linux, and Windows. It was very inexpensive, a great value.
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To Fred:
Can you give some examples of Postscript printers which can be installed as such?
What is PCL?
Thanks
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First PCL - Printer Control Language - First Used in early HP LaserPrinters. Now I believe in Version 6. PCL is mostly used in better (non-braindead) printers. Mostly backward compatible. Which means DOS versions of software 15 years ago will get the same output with the newest printers. They are some inkjet printers which may use a subset of the PCL commands. Very difficult to find by reading inkjet printer specifications.
Postscript - by Adobe - The same people that brings you Acrobat Reader and PDF files. Actually the end purpose was the same. To have the output to be the same no matter what the computer and in Postscript's case the printer. Postscript is page definition language and the output is suppose to be the same no matter which postscript printer prints it. (Except for resolution and color)
I don't know of any current postscript inkjet printers. HP's 1200/ps and 1600/ps and IBM 4079 are the only ones I remember.
Most of the better laser printers have postscript or postscript-like capabilities. Lexmark laser printers, Upper level HP's and Xerox-Tektronics Phasers are the most common.
The beauty of postscript is that there are software emulators (Ghostscript) that allow other printers to have postscript output. You can output to dot-matrix, inkjet or laser and get similar output.
Postscript is what drives the 10,000 dpi photo typesetters. It was extensively used in early Apple/Mac desktop publishing (PageMaker). You could proof on you desktop laser and get the identical results in your commercial print job.
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Does Windows 3.1x have a standard Postscript driver and/or a PCL driver that works on all these (good) printers?
So one driver that works for all (like the VESA standard for videocards)?
Is it possible to give some examples of the DOS software you mentioned?
Does WP 5.1 have a universal Postscript/PCL driver?If I buy a printer now I will try to get one that supports either PostScript or PCL, thanks to your explanation.
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In most cases the generic Postscript driver will print to most printers. Most vendors supply optimized drivers for specific printer models (usually to support specific features, resolution, paper bins, paper sizes, fonts.) I believe Win3.1 had a generic Postscript driver.
WP 5.1 for DOS has both Postscript and PCL support. Also Lotus 123 has support for both.
Win 3.1 has PCL drivers for a variety of HP Laser Printers. Like Postscript, PCL has optimised drivers for various vendor models.
Actually many better printers do both Postscript and PCL, actually many of them will auto-switch between modes. If the printer driver starts with the proper preamble, the printer chooses the proper emulation. Mid to Upper HP's do it and I believe Lexmark's also do it.
Basically you got to read the specifications. Printers wanted will support DOS, Linux, Macintosh, Win 3.1, you don't Win9x and up only. Note - Some manufacturers have a Linux driver for a Win 9x type printers.
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hey,
i use a lexmark z11 printer its a little slow but it gets the job done u can use the cd or download the driver for win3.1 from their site
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