Re: [ql-users] What printers do people use with their QL??

["Phoebus R. Dokos (Φοίβος Ρ. Ντόκος)"]

On Fri, 10 Oct 2003 19:52:42 +0100, Dilwyn Jones <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> 
wrote:

Geoff Wicks wrote:
We have just buried our heads over the printer problem. Two years
ago it was
obvious that the parallel interface was on its way out, but people
are only
beginning to realise this now. What is the point of the Q60 if there
will
soon be no printers for it. Now people are suggesting that we should
turn to
the second hand market (assuming that ribbons and cartridges for
these
ancient beasts remain available).

Marcel has provided a solution to the printer problem for a large
number of
QL users, but instead we prefer to behave like a group of tramps
rooting in
dustbins for someone's discarded sandwiches.
Quite right.

There's a distinct possibility here for a hardware designer to come up
with a USB interface system for the QL, not necessarily to the full PC
spec, but either way would of course need the usual driver software
written, even if it's only to allow printers to be addressed, even if
it's only via the equivalent of USB_USE 'SER' or whatever.
The situation with printers is such that we have to take the decision.
As Geoff says, we've shied away enough from this problem and we have
to consider it now before it's too late.
What does designing a USB system involve - can anyone explain this in
terms I'd understand?
--
Dilwyn Jones


Actually I believe the reason for non-involvment is that either they have 
solved the problem or that they use QL software under QPC2 so even in that 
case their problems are already solved in one way or another. Do not 
forget that discussion in this list includes mostly people with access to 
PCs so the problem is not that big there.

Now regarding usb, there has been a USB host design even for a ZX spectrum 
(for c.s.s afficionados) but as Nasta will surely explain there are 
several problems that will made the cost of manufacturing a unit 
prohibiting. To create a USB host adapter for a QL machine is not that big 
a challenge if the appropriate hardware is secured but these things change 
everyday. The even greater challenge is who's going to write the software. 
On top of the USB driver you will also need  a printer driver that can 
generate the appropriate output for these usb only dumb printers and 
that's totally prohibiting for both the OS and the processing power (and 
time involved). It is much better to concentrating on other printing 
solutions (ie TCP printing) or invest in a better printer that does have a 
parallel port and will work properly.

Phoebus
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