[ql-users] Re: [ql-users] Re: [ql-users] Re: [ql-users] Re: [ql-users] Re: [ql-users] £ 1000 to spend! (2nd attempt!)
On Thu, 18 Mar 2004 at 22:45:55, Roy wood wrote: (ref: [EMAIL PROTECTED]) Qliberator was another story but Ian Stewart, who was my only contact, had only a small part in writing it. The other author, whose name escapes me, Adrian Soundy had long since disappeared and the sources were not available. I have now no contact for Ian so when the last few copies I have are exhausted I cannot sell it. I have not sold a copy for some time so I am not too worried but I would have liked to get it updated. -- QBBS (QL fido BBS 2:252/67) +44(0)1442-828255 tony@surname.co.uk http://www.firshman.co.uk Voice: +44(0)1442-828254 Fax: +44(0)1442-828255 TF Services, 29 Longfield Road, TRING, Herts, HP23 4DG
[ql-users] Re: [ql-users] Re: [ql-users] Re: [ql-users] £ 1000 to spend! (2nd attempt!)
Does this fall into the parameters of what you were looking for Geoff - the possibility of paying someone to extend the SDUMP system. Of course, a small(ish) job, but one that could be incoporated into a lot of programs. Perhaps we should start thinking of what sort of routines we would like if someone were to write a new DIY toolkit. Umm, I don't think sdump_rext itself could (or should) be incorporated into software, for one thing programs would always be stuck with the version built in even if copyright etc allowed it. But if an enhanced version were available, whether freely or sold as an upgrade file, I'm sure many authors like myself would venture more into producing graphics programs if the screen dumps were there rather than having to write our own - screen dump writing effort could then be concentrated into specialist efforts such as minority printers, one could only expect sdump to support HP and Canon printers over and above the existing selection I'd have thought. Another possibility would be to pay someone to update EasyPtr. I doubt this, there's already been correspondence on this and I think the view might be that it would be too difficult for anyone other than the original author to update, plus TurboPTR is both available, up to date and supported and now has a degree of possibility of conversionof Easyptr files. This gives me yet another idea. What about Quanta trying to obtain the rights of some old software that is still extensively used? The two that spring to mind are QLiberator and Text87. Anyone with suggestions for other programs? People often complain that QLiberator is not being updated. Just think if Quanta could buy the rights and then find someone to do what George Gwilt has managed with Turbo. Text87 is even more interesting. There is still the incompatibilty with the Q60. Also no one seems to know anything about Text87 file formatting. If we did, the RTF/HTM filters could become quite sophisticated. Spell checking could be inproved and, dare I say it, Just Words! writing tools incorporated. Would it be possible to make the program more user friendly and put it in a nice PE jacket? I think if QLiberator and Text87 were achievable, I suspect Roy Wood and/or Jochen Merz would have secured them by now. We cannot expect 6 members of the Quanta committee to come up with ideas, if 300 members and many more non-members cannot! Exactly! There are plenty of lurkers on this list too, so let's see what we can come up with, would be great to hear from members on this list who don't write that often! -- Dilwyn Jones
[ql-users] Re: [ql-users] Re: [ql-users] Re: [ql-users] Re: [ql-users] Re: [ql-users] Re: [ql-users] Re: [ql-users] Re: [ql-users] RE: [ql-users] £ 1000 to spend!
On Wed, 10 Mar 2004 at 23:37:39, Roy wood wrote: (ref: [EMAIL PROTECTED]) In message [EMAIL PROTECTED], Tony Firshman [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes On Wed, 10 Mar 2004 at 20:00:03, Roy wood wrote: (ref: [EMAIL PROTECTED]) In message [EMAIL PROTECTED], Tony Firshman [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes SNIP The 1430 is particularly good value from www.novatech.co.uk at £118 or so including VAT. It is 117.30 at Novatech By the way, for those who are puzzled, this is just where I work during the daytime. It is not Q Branch or 'my' business. The thing is that the guy I work for is obsessed with being the cheapest. I will remember that (8-)# ... especially when I tried 'buying' that printer to find postal costs, and although it said £117.50, it then popped up as £200 in checkout!!! BTW the 1430 does not have expandable memory, so larger numbers (1250 to 1430) does _not_ mean better! ... not a problem for QL use. I will try it sometime for printing out my QL faxes. -- QBBS (QL fido BBS 2:252/67) +44(0)1442-828255 tony@surname.co.uk http://www.firshman.co.uk Voice: +44(0)1442-828254 Fax: +44(0)1442-828255 TF Services, 29 Longfield Road, TRING, Herts, HP23 4DG
[ql-users] Re: [ql-users] Re: [ql-users] Re: [ql-users] Re: [ql-users] RE: [ql-users] £ 1000 to spend!
On Mon, 8 Mar 2004 at 12:28:33, Jérôme Grimbert wrote: (ref: [EMAIL PROTECTED]) Only option so far is to be picky when buying the printer, checking that there is at least a parallel port (and one that does not need ECP/EPP, but plain good old parallel port, mono-directional... and no fancy mandatory cartridge management...) I just like my LX-800 and BJC-600... I think my Brother laser printers (HL-1250 and the newer HL-1430) might handle plain text, and they have parallel ports (as well as USB). The manual says it has an Epson FX-850 mode. It says it needs setting using a DOS utility. This suggests plain chr commands, so it may well be possible to emulate this. Interestingly, there is also an optional serial interface. The 1430 is particularly good value from www.novatech.co.uk at £118 or so including VAT. I bought the 1430 as I needed a new drum and toner for the old 1250. It was cheaper to buy a new printer! I thought this sort of economics only applied to inkjets. The 1250 is still perfectly good for text printing with the old consumables. In particular, I expect the drum is good for another 10,000 copies. It is only showing tiny blemishes on continuous graphics (and the drum warning LED is on). I don't have them connected direct to DOS (or QL) so can't be 100% sure that the windows driver is not converting. Does anyone have one set up outside windows to test? If not I will try with a QL. -- QBBS (QL fido BBS 2:252/67) +44(0)1442-828255 tony@surname.co.uk http://www.firshman.co.uk Voice: +44(0)1442-828254 Fax: +44(0)1442-828255 TF Services, 29 Longfield Road, TRING, Herts, HP23 4DG
[ql-users] Re: [ql-users] Re: [ql-users] Re: [ql-users] Re: [ql-users] Re: [ql-users] RE: [ql-users] £ 1000 to spend!
In message [EMAIL PROTECTED], Tony Firshman [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes SNIP The 1430 is particularly good value from www.novatech.co.uk at £118 or so including VAT. It is 117.30 at Novatech and at www.hamiltone.co.uk it is 113.50 Really, Tony, you not always sling money at these big organisations. I don't have them connected direct to DOS (or QL) so can't be 100% sure that the windows driver is not converting. Does anyone have one set up outside windows to test? Do you mean in the garden? If not I will try with a QL. On a more serious note the Kyocera FS-1010 has a similar emulation (although it is a little more expensive) but when you print it does have a few oddities. I would be interested to find out if Brother handles the emulation any better. If past experience is anything to go by then it should because Steve Hall used a Brother printer with his QL for years. There is also the Epson EPL-6200 (BW laser) which is also a bit expensive but has ESC/P2. -- Roy Wood Q Branch. 20 Locks Hill, Portslade, Sussex. Tel: +44 (0) 1273 386030fax: +44 (0) 1273 430501 web : www.qbranch.demon.co.uk
[ql-users] Re: [ql-users] Re: [ql-users] Re: [ql-users] Re: [ql-users] Re: [ql-users] Re: [ql-users] RE: [ql-users] £ 1000 to spend!
On Wed, 10 Mar 2004 at 20:00:03, Roy wood wrote: (ref: [EMAIL PROTECTED]) In message [EMAIL PROTECTED], Tony Firshman [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes SNIP The 1430 is particularly good value from www.novatech.co.uk at £118 or so including VAT. It is 117.30 at Novatech and at www.hamiltone.co.uk it is 113.50 Really, Tony, you not always sling money at these big organisations. Whoops sorry - I should have checked with you first. I not do this again (to reply in similar pidgeon E (8-)# ) Are you as cheap with carriage... They are _both_ though quite remarkable prices. It is really a _very_ good and reliable printer and handles _everything_ I throw at it with absolutely no problems. It is far more trouble free than the expensive HP Laserjet printers I have owned. It also takes std simms up to 36mb. Knuckles duly rapped (8-)# -- QBBS (QL fido BBS 2:252/67) +44(0)1442-828255 tony@surname.co.uk http://www.firshman.co.uk Voice: +44(0)1442-828254 Fax: +44(0)1442-828255 TF Services, 29 Longfield Road, TRING, Herts, HP23 4DG
[ql-users] Re: [ql-users] Re: [ql-users] Re: [ql-users] Re: [ql-users] Re: [ql-users] Re: [ql-users] Re: [ql-users] RE: [ql-users] £ 1000 to spend!
In message [EMAIL PROTECTED], Tony Firshman [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes On Wed, 10 Mar 2004 at 20:00:03, Roy wood wrote: (ref: [EMAIL PROTECTED]) In message [EMAIL PROTECTED], Tony Firshman [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes SNIP The 1430 is particularly good value from www.novatech.co.uk at £118 or so including VAT. It is 117.30 at Novatech and at www.hamiltone.co.uk it is 113.50 Really, Tony, you not always sling money at these big organisations. Whoops sorry - I should have checked with you first. I not do this again (to reply in similar pidgeon E (8-)# ) Are you as cheap with carriage... Yes. All our deliveries are next day if the article is in stock and we are about 40p cheaper! By the way, for those who are puzzled, this is just where I work during the daytime. It is not Q Branch or 'my' business. The thing is that the guy I work for is obsessed with being the cheapest. -- Roy Wood Q Branch. 20 Locks Hill, Portslade, Sussex. Tel: +44 (0) 1273 386030fax: +44 (0) 1273 430501 web : www.qbranch.demon.co.uk
Re: [ql-users] Re: [ql-users] Re: [ql-users] Re: [ql-users] RE: [ql-users] £ 1000 to spend!
My brother in law works for lexmark (senior sales director) and I asked him why Parallel has become extinct on cheap inkjets - he said ( as far as he knows) it is because the Parallel interface is copyrighted and owned by centronics, and royalties must be paid, whereas USB can be adopted for free - therefore an extra few pence profit in the cheaper range printers by adopting USB only. This is only part of the story. There is also a general move by the computer industry to have fewer interfaces and, by extension, fewer drivers on a system. USB II is much faster than Parallel - actually even USB 1.1 was. They also want to lose the PS/2 ports and use USB for keyboard and mouse as well. It is all part of the way that the physical makeup of the modern computer is being steered. As I have said before the floppy drive is going too!. Floppy drives have been on the out for a couple of years now - Apple started this off by dropping them from the Mac range. Now, here in Ireland at least, new DELL computers don't come with floppies as default, and they are a 15 euro additional extra. The push is now to use compact flash etc. as the removable easily transportable medium, or USB keyring drives (both of which work just fine with QPC!!) Darren. This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. If you have received this email in error please notify us immediately at [EMAIL PROTECTED] and delete this E-mail from your system. Thank you. It is possible for data transmitted by email to be deliberately or accidentally corrupted or intercepted. For this reason, where the communication is by email, the Bank of Ireland Group does not accept any responsibility for any breach of confidence which may arise through the use of this medium. This footnote also confirms that this email message has been swept for the presence of known computer viruses.
[ql-users] Re: [ql-users] Re: [ql-users] RE: [ql-users] £ 1000 to spend!
Prove me wrong but most of the documents would be a listing here and a small letter there. These can be printed without a problem using the small driver utilities we have for HP and Epson. Sorry - they cannot be printed with the small driver utilities which we have, unless you have specific printers - most modern, low cost printers (eg 99% of the EPSON range) will only print graphics !! They do not recognise a string of plain ASCII text sent to them - this is why we are faced with the problem! Exactly this is the problem - and even if some of them are able to print plain ASCII - this still does not help people with t87 documents etc ... we're NOT all using PC programs - my manuals are still printed from text87, and again - the text87patch shows that I'm not the only one having this problem. Printing is one of the biggest problems, as far as I can gather from customer emails and phone calls. You cannot imagine how many people just go out and buy a printer, and then wonder why QPC does not print anything anymore. Well, it has been written many times in QL Today and in the newsgroup etc. - but you just don't find a printer in the media stores anymore which is useable for us... There is also another problem: the interface. QPC prints, fortunately, to printers connected via USB, parallel port and serial port, PROVIDED they understand printing commands. Well, have a look at current printers and you see the problem: most of them come with USB only. There are adaptors USB to parallel and USB to serial, but the other way round...? I guess that non-QPC users will soon have a second problem in addition to the printer-language problem: how do I connect a printer with USB to the Aurora or Q40/Q60? Jochen
Re: [ql-users] Re: [ql-users] Re: [ql-users] RE: [ql-users] £ 1000 to spend!
My brother in law works for lexmark (senior sales director) and I asked him why Parallel has become extinct on cheap inkjets - he said ( as far as he knows) it is because the Parallel interface is copyrighted and owned by centronics, and royalties must be paid, whereas USB can be adopted for free - therefore an extra few pence profit in the cheaper range printers by adopting USB only. I have found it impossible to find a printer here with parallel for less than about 200 euro. Sad really, but there you go. It seems the real problem will be connecting the printer to your QL eventually - nevermind wether it works or not. cheers, Darren Branagh, Bank of Ireland - Cards And Loans Business, Nassau House, 33/35 Nassau Street, Dublin 2. Ireland. Tel: 01-6798230 Fax: 01-6706813. BOI Group Data Classification - SMSQ - Jochen Merz To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] cc: Sent by: Subject: [ql-users] Re: [ql-users] Re: [ql-users] RE: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [ql-users] £ 1000 to spend! g.uk 08/03/2004 11:13 Please respond to ql-users Prove me wrong but most of the documents would be a listing here and a small letter there. These can be printed without a problem using the small driver utilities we have for HP and Epson. Sorry - they cannot be printed with the small driver utilities which we have, unless you have specific printers - most modern, low cost printers (eg 99% of the EPSON range) will only print graphics !! They do not recognise a string of plain ASCII text sent to them - this is why we are faced with the problem! Exactly this is the problem - and even if some of them are able to print plain ASCII - this still does not help people with t87 documents etc ... we're NOT all using PC programs - my manuals are still printed from text87, and again - the text87patch shows that I'm not the only one having this problem. Printing is one of the biggest problems, as far as I can gather from customer emails and phone calls. You cannot imagine how many people just go out and buy a printer, and then wonder why QPC does not print anything anymore. Well, it has been written many times in QL Today and in the newsgroup etc. - but you just don't find a printer in the media stores anymore which is useable for us... There is also another problem: the interface. QPC prints, fortunately, to printers connected via USB, parallel port and serial port, PROVIDED they understand printing commands. Well, have a look at current printers and you see the problem: most of them come with USB only. There are adaptors USB to parallel and USB to serial, but the other way round...? I guess that non-QPC users will soon have a second problem in addition to the printer-language problem: how do I connect a printer with USB to the Aurora or Q40/Q60? Jochen This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. If you have received this email in error please notify us immediately at [EMAIL PROTECTED] and delete this E-mail from your system. Thank you. It is possible for data transmitted by email to be deliberately or accidentally corrupted or intercepted. For this reason, where the communication is by email, the Bank of Ireland Group does not accept any responsibility for any breach of confidence which may arise through the use of this medium. This footnote also confirms that this email message has been swept for the presence of known computer viruses.
[ql-users] Re: [ql-users] Re: [ql-users] Re: [ql-users] RE: [ql-users] £ 1000 to spend!
SMSQ - Jochen Merz wrote: Prove me wrong but most of the documents would be a listing here and a small letter there. These can be printed without a problem using the small driver utilities we have for HP and Epson. Sorry - they cannot be printed with the small driver utilities which we have, unless you have specific printers - most modern, low cost printers (eg 99% of the EPSON range) will only print graphics !! They do not recognise a string of plain ASCII text sent to them - this is why we are faced with the problem! Exactly this is the problem - and even if some of them are able to print plain ASCII - this still does not help people with t87 documents etc ... we're NOT all using PC programs - my manuals are still printed from text87, and again - the text87patch shows that I'm not the only one having this problem. Side-question: is the text87 patch available for Q40 ? (I read about it for QPC). I'm lacking text87 in 1024x512 so far... (And at which price... ) I guess that non-QPC users will soon have a second problem in addition to the printer-language problem: how do I connect a printer with USB to the Aurora or Q40/Q60? Only option so far is to be picky when buying the printer, checking that there is at least a parallel port (and one that does not need ECP/EPP, but plain good old parallel port, mono-directional... and no fancy mandatory cartridge management...) I just like my LX-800 and BJC-600...
[ql-users] Re: [ql-users] Re: [ql-users] Re: [ql-users] Re: [ql-users] RE: [ql-users] £ 1000 to spend!
Hi Jérôme, Side-question: is the text87 patch available for Q40 ? (I read about it for QPC). I'm lacking text87 in 1024x512 so far... (And at which price... ) I don't know how many inquiries have been passed on to Marcel and at which level he decides to invest more time... I guess that non-QPC users will soon have a second problem in addition to the printer-language problem: how do I connect a printer with USB to the Aurora or Q40/Q60? Only option so far is to be picky when buying the printer, checking that there is at least a parallel port (and one that does not need ECP/EPP, but plain good old parallel port, mono-directional... and no fancy mandatory cartridge management...) I just like my LX-800 and BJC-600... Hope that they last for a long time I would not know what to buy now if my EPSON Stylus Color 900/980 breakes down, or my nice small protable Canon BJC-85. There is probably nothing current available which could replace them... Regards Jochen
[ql-users] Re: [ql-users] Re: [ql-users] RE: [ql-users] 1000 to spend!
Sorry - they cannot be printed with the small driver utilities which we have, unless you have specific printers - most modern, low cost printers (eg 99% of the EPSON range) will only print graphics !! They do not recognise a string of plain ASCII text sent to them - this is why we are faced with the problem! OK, I don't know much about Epson printers, I admit, but as to HP printers, they all _still_ understand direct (HPPCL-) commands and you can print plain text to them without a problem from the QL. Wolfgang
[ql-users] Re: [ql-users] Re: [ql-users] Re: [ql-users] RE: [ql-users] £ 1000 to spend!
OK, I don't know much about Epson printers, I admit, but as to HP printers, they all _still_ understand direct (HPPCL-) commands and you can print plain text to them without a problem from the QL. I just checked the (German) HP homepage. I have not found a single printer where the technical datasheet states that it handles PCLx... Can it be assumed that all of them do? In case you buy one and it doesn't anymore - no real reason to complain as it is not a documented feature anymore. However, if they all do it - let's hope they continue to do it... as this will probably be the only solution then. Regards Jochen
[ql-users] Re: [ql-users] Re: [ql-users] Re: [ql-users] RE: [ql-users] £ 1000 to spend!
In message [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes My brother in law works for lexmark (senior sales director) and I asked him why Parallel has become extinct on cheap inkjets - he said ( as far as he knows) it is because the Parallel interface is copyrighted and owned by centronics, and royalties must be paid, whereas USB can be adopted for free - therefore an extra few pence profit in the cheaper range printers by adopting USB only. This is only part of the story. There is also a general move by the computer industry to have fewer interfaces and, by extension, fewer drivers on a system. USB II is much faster than Parallel - actually even USB 1.1 was. They also want to lose the PS/2 ports and use USB for keyboard and mouse as well. It is all part of the way that the physical makeup of the modern computer is being steered. As I have said before the floppy drive is going too!. -- Roy Wood Q Branch. 20 Locks Hill, Portslade, Sussex. Tel: +44 (0) 1273 386030fax: +44 (0) 1273 430501 web : www.qbranch.demon.co.uk
[ql-users] Re: [ql-users] Re: [ql-users] Re: [ql-users] Re: [ql-users] RE: [ql-users] £ 1000 to spend!
This is only part of the story. There is also a general move by the computer industry to have fewer interfaces and, by extension, fewer drivers on a system. USB II is much faster than Parallel - actually even USB 1.1 was. They also want to lose the PS/2 ports and use USB for keyboard and mouse as well. It is all part of the way that the physical makeup of the modern computer is being steered. As I have said before the floppy drive is going too!. Well, floppy may even bring us an improvement: I have seen USB floppy drives from Teac and Sony which claim to be 2x speed!! Has anyone tested them under QPC? Are they really twice the speed? I wouldn't mind that (with all the disk copying at the shows!) Jochen
