🚀 go-pugleaf

I just spoke with someone in Orange Micro's tech-support department
concerning the Grappler LS printer-driver;  I got enough information to
draw some meaningful contrasts between the Grappler LS and the DataPak
driver for the DeskJet.

BASIC METHOD OF OPERATION

-  The Grappler LS isn't a complete, standalone driver.  Instead, it
   uses the Apple-supplied ImageWriter LQ driver, installs a bunch of
   nonstandard hooks, and adds a proprietary printer-spooling
   capability.

   The LS software convinces the ImageWriter LQ driver that an LQ is
   attached, and alters the IW/LQ driver's imaging parameters so that a
   true 300 dot/inch image is created by QuickDraw (rather than the 216
   dot/inch image normally created for the IW/LQ).  4x-oversize fonts
   will be used, if available.  The LS software then transmits the 300
   dot/inch bitmap to the DeskJet at 19.2 kbits/sec;  it does perform
   DeskJet data compression.

-  The DataPak driver is a stand-alone driver which does not require
   the services of the ImageWriter LQ driver.  It also creates a 300
   DPI bitmap, and sends it at either 9600 or 19200 bits/sec, with data
   compression as applicable.  4x-oversize fonts are used if
   available.

HARDWARE INTERFACES

-  Both the Grappler LS, and the DataPak drivers, are software-only
   drivers that work via the printer's serial port.  Neither includes a
   serial-to-parallel converter, such as was included in the Grappler
   LQ.  [This probably accounts for the fact that the LS has a
   street-price of somewhat less than the LQ.]

RESOLUTIONS

-  The Grappler LS supports "faster" printing (75 dots/inch) and "best"
   printing (300 dots/inch), as well as "draft" (text-only) mode.

-  The DataPak driver supports "draft graphics" (75 DPI), "normal
   graphics" (150 DPI) and "best graphics" (300 DPI), as well as a
   "text only" draft mode.

PAGE TYPES

-  The Grappler LS will (I infer) support all of the page-sizes and
   orientations supported by the ImageWriter LQ driver.

-  The DataPak driver supports several paper sizes, but only in
   portrait mode;  it doesn't currently support landscape mode.
   Landscape support will be provided in the next version, I'm told.

USE OF PRINTER FONTS

-  The Grappler LS can use the built-in Courier 12 font in "draft"
   mode, as long as no fancy headers, footers, etc. are being used.  It
   cannot use the built-in font, or any HP font cartridges, in "faster"
   or "best" modes;  it's entirely dependent on the Mac-resident screen
   fonts.

-  The DataPak driver can use the built-in Courier 12 font in "text
   only" mode.  It can use the Courier 12 built-in font, as well as the
   Times and Helvetica lookalikes in HP font cartridges, in all 3
   graphics modes if the "Use HP fonts" option is selected.  This can
   greatly increase the speed with which a page can be printed,
   although the HP fonts are not entirely identical to the Apple/Adobe
   fonts and may produce subtly-different output.  A "Precision
   placement" option can be used to ensure that each HP-font character
   is placed at exactly the correct location on the page;  this
   compensates for the slight differences between the spacings of the
   HP and Apple/Adobe fonts, but slows down printing somewhat.

SPOOLING

-  The Grappler LS comes with a proprietary print-spooling package,
   which works with all applications that follow the rules-for-printing
   in Inside Macintosh ("We haven't found any with which it didn't
   work.")

-  The DataPak driver does not include a print-spooler.

SPEED

-  The Grappler LS can print the MS Word "Overview" sample document in
   "best" mode at a rate of about 6 minutes/page on a floppy-based Mac
   Plus.  Faster machines, and those equipped with hard disks will
   print somewhat faster;  a figure of 4-5 minutes/page was quoted as
   being typical.  The best-possible printing time for documents of
   this sort (in 300 DPI "best" mode) was stated to be in the
   neighborhood of 3 minutes;  the bottleneck is apparently the 19200
   bits/sec serial connection to the printer.  Printing in "faster" (75
   dots/inch) and "draft" modes is of course a good deal faster.

-  The DataPak driver prints pages in "best graphics" mode at roughly
   the same speed (I don't have access to data using the same sample)
   when Mac fonts are used.  The DataPak's "draft graphics" (75 DPI)
   mode appears roughly speed-equivalent to the Grappler LS's "faster"
   mode.  The DataPak driver can print an average page of 300 DPI text
   _much_ faster (1-2 minutes) when the "Use HP fonts" option is
   selected and a suitable font cartridge is installed.

SYSTEM COMPATIBILITY

-  Both drivers are compatible with System 6.0[.2], and [I infer] with
   System 4.2 as well.  Both are dependent on the current Mac printing
   architecture; the Grappler LS depends on the ImageWriter LQ driver's
   internals to a significant extent, and the DataPak driver is
   dependent on the existing (poorly-documented) printer-driver
   interface.

-  Both drivers will probably "break" when Apple changes the printing
   architecture, as they've pretty much promised they'll be doing one
   of these days.

APPLICATION COMPATIBILITY

-  The Grappler LS will work, apparently, with any application that
   works correctly with the ImageWriter LQ driver.  It won't work with
   PostScript-dependent applications such as Adobe Illustrator.

-  The DataPak driver works with most applications.  It's known to have
   compatibility problems with MacWrite (cause uncertain, being
   investigated) and with HyperCard and Microsoft Excel (both of which
   break some of the rules).  It won't work with PostScript applications.

COMPATIBILITY WITH OTHER PRINTERS

-  The Grappler LS includes configuration files for the HP DeskJet, the
   HP LaserJet, and other HP-compatible printers as well.  If used with
   a LaserJet, the printer must be equipped with 1 meg of memory, and
   must be configured to use its serial port at 19200 bits/sec.

-  The DataPak driver is designed for use with the DeskJet;  it might
   work with the LaserJet, but that's uncertain at this time.  I
   believe they're working on a version tailored to the LaserJet.

PRICES

-  The Grappler LS lists for $125 (I believe) and seems to have a
   street- price of under $100.

-  The DataPak driver lists for $125;  I haven't seen it discounted.

SUMMARY

The Grappler LS is somewhat less expensive, comes with a print spooler,
and appears to be compatible with more applications.

The DataPak driver is more flexible: it supports a compromise (150 DPI)
mode that's faster than 300 DPI and much more readable than 75 DPI.  It
also can make intelligent use of the HP font cartridges;  when a
printer is so equipped, the DataPak driver can print 300 DPI documents
2-3 times faster than the Grappler LS.

Both drivers are compatible with the current System software.  Both
will probably break when Apple rearchitects the Print Manager and the
driver interface.  Both vendors have told me that they'll update their
software when the new architecture is defined.

MY CONCLUSIONS

I'll probably buy the DataPak driver rather than the Grappler LS, due
primarily to its ability to use the HP font cartridges.  The higher
price of the driver, plus the $125 or so for the Times ASCII cartridge,
will add about 20% to the total price of the DeskJet-plus-whatever
printing package, but will probably double the throughput in 300 DPI
text mode.  For me, it's worth it.