Subject: Info-Mac Digest V19 #21 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/mixed; boundary="Info-Mac-Digest" --Info-Mac-Digest Info-Mac Digest Thu, 07 Mar 02 Volume 19 : Issue 21 Today's Topics: [*] TidBITS#617/18-Feb-02 [*] TidBITS#618/25-Feb-02 [*] TidBITS#619/04-Mar-02 [*] Aquatint.dmg.gz.hqx [*] CircularSlider.dmg.gz.hqx [*] CopyPaste-X 1.1 - Multiple Clipboards for Mac OS X [*] Crystalball D&D Utility for MAC [*] logo-sender-102.hqx Sending logos and SMS to Nokia mobile phones. [*] Paragon Poker Suite 3.1 [*] Seagull Video Player 2 - Create video playlists and play them full screen. [*] Sniffles v2.0 for MacOS X [*] Starcraft Guide 3.41 [*] TechTool Lite 3.0.2 [*] TechTool Pro 3.0.6 Updater [*] XBall v1.2.1 [A?] can't get laserwriter to work [A] G4 audio in/out? [A] USB to Serial, or Parallel? can't get laserwriter to work G4 audio in/out? Info-Mac Digest V19 #20 iTunes and MP3s on a Newton? Third Party Lack of Support USB to Serial, or Parallel? USB to Serial, or Parallel? The Info-Mac Network is a volunteer organization that publishes the Info-Mac Digest and operates the Info-Mac Archive, a large network of FTP sites containing gigabytes of freely distributable Macintosh software. Working with the Info-Mac Digest: * To submit articles to the digest, email . * To subscribe, send email to with the words subscribe info-mac in the message. * To unsubscribe, send email to with the words unsubscribe info-mac in the message. * To change your address, unsubscribe from the old address, then subscribe from the new address. * Please send administrative queries to . Downloading and Submitting Files from the Info-Mac Archive: * A full list of Info-Mac mirror sites is available at: * Search the archive via the MIT HyperArchive at: . * To submit files for the archive, email the binhexed file with a description to . Submissions must be made by the author or with permission of the author. It may take up to a week to process; check mirror sites for the status of new uploads. * To submit files larger than 2 MB, email a description to and then use an FTP client to upload the binhexed file to info-mac.org, using the userid "macgifts" and the password "macgifts". Or, click . Info-Mac volunteers include Adam C. Engst, Demitri Muna, Hugh Lewis, Tom Coradeschi, Shawn Bunn, Christopher Li, Patrik Montgomery, Ed Chambers, and Chris Pepper. America Online donated the main Info-Mac machine . ---------------------------------------------------------------------- --Info-Mac-Digest Content-Type: multipart/digest; boundary="----------------------------" Content-Disposition: attachment; filename="Info-Mac Digest V19 #21" ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 18 Feb 2002 21:00:00 -0800 From: TidBITS Editors To: digest@info-mac.org, mac-l@sparky.listmoms.net, Subject: [*] TidBITS#617/18-Feb-02 TidBITS#617/18-Feb-02 Which of the online photo services offers the best quality prints from digital pictures? Read on for the conclusion of Alex Hoffman's comparison of a number of online photo labs. Taking a break from the intensely practical, Adam looks at some cool concepts, including a free license generator, a research project into number associations, and a test of online advertising's efficacy. In the news, we cover the release of Default Folder X and PayPal's IPO. Topics: MailBITS/18-Feb-02 A Couple of Cool Concepts Printing Digital Photos, Part 2 [Archived as /info-mac/per/tb/tidbits-617.etx; 30K] ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2002 21:00:00 -0800 From: TidBITS Editors To: digest@info-mac.org, mac-l@sparky.listmoms.net, Subject: [*] TidBITS#618/25-Feb-02 TidBITS#618/25-Feb-02 Challenges to the intellectual property establishment are coming fast and furious; read on for Adam's take on the shenanigans. Plus, Chris Pepper closes out his coverage of breeds of programs in Mac OS X with a look at Java. In the news, along with a free ebook offer for TidBITS readers, we cover a slew of releases, including Mac OS X 10.1.3, Adobe GoLive 6, Adobe LiveMotion 2, ConceptDraw 1.7.5, IPNetTuner 1.5, and the announcement of Photoshop 7. Topics: MailBITS/25-Feb-02 Copyright: Who Should Benefit? Mac OS X: Breeds of Programs, Part 3 [Archived as /info-mac/per/tb/tidbits-618.etx; 33K] ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 4 Mar 2002 21:00:00 -0800 From: TidBITS Editors To: digest@info-mac.org, mac-l@sparky.listmoms.net, Subject: [*] TidBITS#619/04-Mar-02 TidBITS#619/04-Mar-02 Want to use a FireWire webcam in Mac OS X? Adam scans the topic, focusing on the FireWire WebCam Driver from IOXperts and glancing at the available video camera software. Switching gears, he also looks at managing DNS information with easyDNS, something anyone who wants their own domain can use. Updates this week include Palm m515 and m130 handhelds, Mac OS X's Java implementation, WebSTAR 5.1, Synchronize Pro X, and the PowerMate 1.0 driver. Topics: MailBITS/04-Mar-02 Make DNS Easy with easyDNS Driving FireWire Webcams in Mac OS X [Archived as /info-mac/per/tb/tidbits-619.etx; 33K] ------------------------------ Date: 15 Feb 2002 From: bhaller@mac.com To: Subject: [*] Aquatint.dmg.gz.hqx Apple's Aqua interface looks great, but it creates a problem for users and developers, because it's hard to make glossy, "liquid" images that go with Aqua. Aquatint solves this problem by allowing you to create your own Aqua images based upon easy-to-make stencils. No artistic ability required. This is version 1.0.1 of Aquatint. Aquatint is a Stick Software shareware product. A web page describing Aquatint may be found at http://www.sticksoftware.com/software/Aquatint.html. A company page for Stick Software may be found at http://www.sticksoftware.com/. Aquatint may be included on CD-ROM archives. [Archived as /info-mac/dev/aquatint-101.hqx; 253 K] ------------------------------ Date: 15 Feb 2002 From: bhaller@sticksoftware.com To: Subject: [*] CircularSlider.dmg.gz.hqx Circular Slider is an open source Objective-C / Cocoa class that implements a circular angle/distance control. It looks like a slider knob that can move freely on a circular base. It has a nice Aqua appearance (courtesy of Aquatint), and is quite configurable, and fully documented. Copyright terms, manual, screenshots, etc. are at http://www.sticksoftware.com/software/CircularSlider.html. This is version 1.0 of Circular Slider. Circular Slider is a Stick Software freeware product. A web page describing Circular Slider may be found at http://www.sticksoftware.com/software/CircularSlider.html. A company page for Stick Software may be found at http://www.sticksoftware.com/. Circular Slider may be included on CD-ROM archives. [Archived as /info-mac/dev/circular-slider.hqx; 224 K] ------------------------------ Date: 15 Feb 2002 From: ChrisLi@Bridge1.com To: Subject: [*] CopyPaste-X 1.1 - Multiple Clipboards for Mac OS X This version of CopyPaste-X is internationalized. It runs native in English, French, German, and Japanese, with online documentation in each language. The original built in Macintosh clipboard can only copy one item at a time. CopyPaste-X is a natural software evolution which augments the original clipboard with supernormal clipboard abilities. The 4 main features of CopyPaste-X 1. Clipboard Extender: 10 clipboards, easily accessed via palette, drag & drop, Dock-menu or keyboard. 2. Clip Sets: Any number of sets of ten clipboards can be created and accessed easily via the Clip Sets menu at the bottom of the Clipboard Extender palette. 3. Clipboard Recorder: Remembers the last 10 clips copied via the standard cmd+C. 4. Clipboard Editor: Edit the clipboard contents. Open and edit any text file. Double click any clipboard to open the editor. Each clipboard can be remembered through restarts. CopyPaste-X is the clipboard the way it should be and is hundreds of times more useful. CopyPaste also has many other features that help eliminate tedious, repetitive work and increase your ability to get the job done. Change in version 1.1: Bugfixes: *Many problems with the display of Japanese text have been solved. Improvements: *The palettes for the Extender and the Recorder are resizable now. *If you select the format "Plain" on a selection of text in the Editor, the color will return to black and sub- or superscript formating will return to the baseline. *the "Statistics" function now works on selected text. If nothing is selected, it shows information about the entire text. New features: *The palettes for the Extender and the Recorder show a preview of a copied picture when you point your mouse to a clipboard. *You can now create as many Clip Sets you like. They get listed in the "Clip Set" menu located at the bottom of the Clipboard Extender Palette. You can create rename or delete any Clip Set. *The editor now supports tabs, currently set to a default width *The Special menu in the Editor has two new commands, "Insert Long Date" and "Insert Bahai Date" [Archived as /info-mac/gui/copy-paste-x-11.hqx; 1656 K] ------------------------------ Date: 16 Feb 2002 From: CrystalBall To: Subject: [*] Crystalball D&D Utility for MAC A MAC only 3rd Edition Dungeons and Dragons DM Utility. NOW VERSION 3.0.5 : Random Treasure Generator based on Encounter Level, Experience Award Calculator, and several bug fixes from 3.0.4. Quickly create any character class (3rd editon) from the Players Handbook, Monster Manual, Psionics Handbook, and Oriental Adventures. Generate you own Monsters to throw at your players. Combat utility for DM's to keep combat simple and moving quickly. Generate literally millions of random names for People and Places. A must for any MAC Dungeon Master. Crystalball is compatible with any PowerPC based MAC. OS 8-9 and OS X (go to http://www.geocities.com/crystalballmac to DL the Carbonized version.) [Archived as /info-mac/game/adv/crystal-ball-305.hqx; 2305 K] ------------------------------ Date: 15 Feb 2002 From: info To: Subject: [*] logo-sender-102.hqx Sending logos and SMS to Nokia mobile phones. LogoSender can send operator logo, picture SMS, and text SMS to another (or your own) Nokia mobile phone from the phone connected to your computer. Bigger operator logos (78 x 21 pixels, for Nokia 71xx, 62xx, 63xx), smaller logos (72 x 14 pixels, for Nokia 32xx, 33xx, 51xx, 61xx, 82xx, 83xx, 88xx) and picture SMS (72 x 28 pixels for almost all Nokias) are supported. A picture of required size and black&white bitmap format must be prepared in a standard graphic editor (GraphicConverter, Adobe Photoshop or similar) or downloaded from the Internet and then opened in LogoSender. After entering the recipient phone number the connected mobile phone will send the logo or SMS. Graphics can be sent to Nokia phones only, text messages can be sent to any phone. Requirements: MacOS PPC computer MacOS 7.5 - 9.x Nokia 71xx, 62xx, 63xx, 82xx, 83xx, 88xx mobile phone Shareware $15. New in 1.0.2 version: - added mobile network code in phone info and system info window - added phone capabilities information in system info window - Mac OS X support (available at http://www.macmedia.sk/logosender10x.sit ) MacMedia Csl. armady 8 040 01 Kosice Slovak Republic www.macmedia.sk info@macmedia.sk [Archived as /info-mac/comm/logo-sender-102.hqx; 765 K] ------------------------------ Date: 15 Feb 2002 From: "Nick Trout" To: Subject: [*] Paragon Poker Suite 3.1 Paragon Poker Suite is a complete suite of popular poker games such as 5 Card Draw, Texas Hold 'Em and 7 Card Stud. The suite also features a high speed Poker Calculator to provide odds and statistics on any starting poker hand over up to a million deals and with up to six players. Also includes player speech and sound effects. Paragon Poker Suite truly fills a much needed gap in the Macintosh Poker games market which is mainly dominated by video poker type games. REQUIREMENTS: System 7 or later. Minimum 600x800 color display. Minimum 2MB RAM. [Archived as /info-mac/game/crd/paragon-poker-suite-31.hqx; 989 K] ------------------------------ Date: 16 Feb 2002 From: Trinfinity Software To: Subject: [*] Seagull Video Player 2 - Create video playlists and play them full screen. Seagull Video Player is the only Macintosh application available today for easily creating video playlists. That means that you can select a group of videos and Seagull Video Player will play them all, one after another. Seagull Video Player 2 now supports multiple playlists! AUTHOR: Trinfinity Software AUTHOR URL: http://www.trinfinitysoftware.com HOME PAGE URL: http://www.trinfinitysoftware.com/seagull.shtml EMAIL: info@trinfinitysoftware.com LICENSE: Shareware COST: $19.95 [Archived as /info-mac/gst/grf/seagull-video-player-2.hqx; 1564 K] ------------------------------ Date: 16 Feb 2002 From: ShaqDieselInc@aol.com To: Subject: [*] Sniffles v2.0 for MacOS X Sniffles is a free, general purpose network traffic monitor and packet capture program for MacOSX. It is capable of monitoring and logging all network traffic on ethernet and ppp network interfaces. ICMP, UDP and TCP message payloads can be viewed directly in the program's hex-editor view. New with version 2.0 is expanded viewing of packet headers and real time graphing of network traffic. Sniffles is a very useful network monitoring tool, and it's free! Requires MacOSX. Version History: 2.0 expanded features, UI update 1.1 renamed to Sniffles 1.0 initial release URL: http://members.aol.com/ShaqDieselInc/ email: ShaqDieselInc@aol.com [Archived as /info-mac/comm/sniffles-20.hqx; 110 K] ------------------------------ Date: 16 Feb 2002 From: Ben Sharvy To: Subject: [*] Starcraft Guide 3.41 Starcraft/BW Guide is a Hypercard stack. It requires Hypercard 2.4.1 but may tolerate 2.4. Hypercard Player is free from Apple. If it isn't on your harddrive, it is probably on your installation disk(s). Look in a folder named "Apple Extras." You can also download it from Apple's Web site. The Starcraft Guides are made partly out of interest in Starcraft, and partly out of interest in testing Infodex. Infodex is a stack format that allows for easy collection and searching of data. You can make a database like Starcraft Guide, by choosing "New Infodex..." from the menu. Use it for notes, journal writing, etc. New to Infodex, and hence to Starcraft Guide, is linking to pictures, movies, and URLs. I've include some examples to demo these features. Movies and URLs require HC 2.4, and Quicktime. Another new feature with Infodex 3.0 is exporting to HTML (Web pages). You may have to show Hypercard the path to a file once, before it can open the file automatically. All pictures for Starcraft Guide, including "Specs" and "Huh?" are in the the images folder. You should have at least 2000K of memory allocated to Hypercard. The following functions add to the amount of memory Hypercard requires: displaying pictures or movies, speech synthesis, and increasing window size. If you try to do several of these at once, and nothing happens, try increasing Hypercard's RAM allocation (in the Finder's "Get Info..." box). Hypercard doesn't always give you a helpful message when it runs out of RAM. There is a bug with Hypercard 2.4.1 and System 9, which slows card transtions on some Macintoshes. The free upgrade to MacOS 9.04 may fix the problem. I've added information about Brood War, the Starcraft expansion. Starcraft/BW Guide is free to use and distribute. [Archived as /info-mac/game/com/starcraft-guide-341.hqx; 1610 K] ------------------------------ Date: 16 Feb 2002 From: Christian Pickman To: Subject: [*] TechTool Lite 3.0.2 Originally known as the "freeware" version of TechTool. TechTool is the acclaimed utility that solves those incurable problems which elude other utilities. With TechTool you can: * Analyze your system and finder for damage. * Alter file and folder information with File Lab. * Zap the entire PRAM chip. * Delete the desktop file, the better alternative to rebuilding. * Clean your floppy drive (use with drive cleaning disk). * View, print and save a multitude of information about your Mac. What's new in this version: * Added support up to Mac OS 9.2.2. * Fixed issues reported with File Lab. [Archived as /info-mac/disk/tech-tool-lite-302.hqx; 2622 K] ------------------------------ Date: 16 Feb 2002 From: Christian Pickman To: Subject: [*] TechTool Pro 3.0.6 Updater TechTool Pro allows users to test their computers like a professional, without the need for years of experience or a computer degree. The user can repair many Macintosh problems, verify system configurations, optimize performance of their media, check the integrity of crucial System software and enablers, make sure that the machine is running its fastest, and reveal the hidden culprits that cause the computer to slow, freeze or crash. What's new in this version: * Updates repair and detection. * Added support for Mac OS 9.2.2. * Fixed memory issue with File Lab. * Fixed Directory Maintenance window bug. * Global updates for Winter 2002 machines. * Added more conflicts to conflict database. * This will be the final version of TechTool Pro that supports 68K machines. [Archived as /info-mac/disk/tech-tool-pro-update-306.hqx; 4677 K] ------------------------------ Date: 16 Feb 2002 From: David Beck To: Subject: [*] XBall v1.2.1 X Ball is a next generation brick-out style game. Anyone who has ever enjoyed playing brick-out could love this game. You begin the game with 1000 dollars in funding which slowly ticks down as you play the game. When your funding runs out the game is over, so the faster you beat the levels and the more funding you collect the better. Powerups can be bought with your funding and stored for later use, make timing and powerup combinations a key aspect of game play. There are many other original ideas, including a powerup to place explosions, a powerup that makes your palette magnetically attract balls, exploding bricks, falling bricks, and an army of enemies to get in your way. X Ball has 20 default levels with over 15 different types of bricks and over 80 levels in the fast growing library of user contributed worlds. The full version could keep you entertained for days. This is a demo version of X Ball. Playing time is limited to 2 hours. Contact email: davethebrv@mac.com Web site: www.crystalpiersw.com Requirements: Mac OS 7.1 or later. [Archived as /info-mac/game/x-ball-121.hqx; 1331 K] ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 14 Feb 2002 20:23:38 -0800 From: Mike McNeil To: Ezra Nathan , Info-Mac Subject: [A?] can't get laserwriter to work On 2/12/02 10:22 AM, "Ezra Nathan" wrote: > I recently bought a LaserWriter IINT via e-bay and can't seem to install the > driver. I am running OS9.04. I downloaded the driver from the Apple site and > followed all the installation instructions. I got the message that it > installed properly. When I then go to the chooser and click on the > LaserWriter8 icon there are no printer descriptions displayed in the box on > the left hand side. Any guidance please. Hmmmm, it sounds to me like your computer is not recognizing the LW. How do you have it connected? It has been awhile, but I believe the IINT was AppleTalk. Do you have an AppleTalk connecter? Do you have AppleTalk on? What machine are you running? Sent using the Entourage X Test Drive. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 14 Feb 2002 20:28:24 -0800 From: Mike McNeil To: Chris McVay , Info-Mac Subject: [A] G4 audio in/out? On 2/13/02 9:24 AM, "Chris McVay" wrote: > Hi, > I have a G4 QS 733 which did not come with audio in/out capability. Is there > a card I can purchase for this? And is it simple to install? My installation > experience is limited to adding RAM to my old G3. Actually, the answer is USB - there are USB input/output devices, in fact I was just reading about an input device in the local paper that included both Mic and Linein. As far as output, I was just in the Apple Store (very cool place) and they have two USB speaker sets, both include a sub-woofer. Sent using the Entourage X Test Drive. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 14 Feb 2002 20:34:56 -0800 From: Mike McNeil To: Paul Koch , Info-Mac Subject: [A] USB to Serial, or Parallel? On 2/12/02 8:03 AM, "Paul Koch" wrote: > I'm moving my Mac life over to a Powerbook that has built-in USB ports but > lacks a serial port. I'd like to keep printing to my trusty DEClaser 1152, > which has both serial and parallel ports. I've checked out the catalog info > about USB-to-serial adapters, but have had no success in getting useful > answers from the manufacturers about their compatibility with my printer. > > Is it any easier to use a USB-to-parallel adapter? I'm not sure whether I > need just the cable, or extra software as well. If I already have the > printer drivers, will my Mac automagically see the printer? I have used powerprint successfully, it requires a software install and was a little temperamental on a PB or iMac, but worked. Look at Amazon.com, the company doesn't seem to be very supportive at the moment, but it was available last time I looked a few weeks ago. Another option is $99 (or less with a rebate) for an Epson - I have a 777 and it works beautifully including photo prints. The current model is a C60 I think, $69 with rebate. Sent using the Entourage X Test Drive. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 15 Feb 2002 17:17:45 -0500 From: Neal Blank To: Subject: can't get laserwriter to work The Info-Mac Network wrote: >I recently bought a LaserWriter IINT via e-bay and can't seem to install the >driver. I am running OS9.04. I downloaded the driver from the Apple site and >followed all the installation instructions. I got the message that it >installed properly. When I then go to the chooser and click on the >LaserWriter8 icon there are no printer descriptions displayed in the box on >the left hand side. Any guidance please. Do you have the printer turned on when you go to the Chooser? If it's not on, the Chooser won't see it. At least, that's way it works with my LaserWriter 4/600PS, under OS 8.6. HTH Neal ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 14 Feb 2002 18:18:05 -0800 From: Paul Brians To: digest@info-mac.org Subject: G4 audio in/out? The iMic allows you to convert line-level audio signals to a USB stream digestible by the G4. The output was too high from my amp on some recordings, so I bought a cheap attenuator from Radio Shack designed for use with a Walkman. The combination works fine, is cheap, and doesn't require that you crack the computer's case. >Date: Wed, 13 Feb 2002 09:24:08 -0800 >From: Chris McVay >To: >Subject: G4 audio in/out? > >Hi, >I have a G4 QS 733 which did not come with audio in/out capability. Is there >a card I can purchase for this? And is it simple to install? My installation >experience is limited to adding RAM to my old G3. >Thanks! >Chris -- Paul Brians, Department of English Washington State University Pullman, WA 99164-5020 brians@wsu.edu http://www.wsu.edu/~brians ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 15 Feb 2002 09:28:42 -0500 From: "Roger S. Cohen" To: digest@info-mac.org, Ezra Nathan Subject: Info-Mac Digest V19 #20 The Info-Mac Network said on 2/14/02 2:30 PM >Date: Tue, 12 Feb 2002 18:22:08 +0000 >From: Ezra Nathan >Subject: can't get laserwriter to work > > >Hi> > >I recently bought a LaserWriter IINT via e-bay and can't seem to install the >driver. I am running OS9.04. I downloaded the driver from the Apple site and >followed all the installation instructions. I got the message that it >installed properly. When I then go to the chooser and click on the >LaserWriter8 icon there are no printer descriptions displayed in the box on >the left hand side. Any guidance please. We don't know to which computer your are connecting, and to which port on that computer you are connecting. One method of connecting an IINT to an older Mac (such as an 8500 or a PowerBook G3 Wallstreet) is to use old-style AppleTalk with LocalTalk boxes, connected the two LocalTalk boxes by phone cord. If you use that, setup AppleTalk to connect to your printer port. Farallon used to call these "PhoneNet" connectors. However, if you are connecting the IINT to the Mac by Ethernet, you'll need to convert LocalTalk to Ethernet with a converter box. Set AppleTalk to use Ethernet. Then you will need to select the proper Ethernet cable. Use a cross-over cable if the IINT is connecting via LocalTalk-to-Ethernet converter-to-Mac, or use a straight-through if you are connecting LocalTalk-to-Ethernet converter-to-Ethernet Hub-to-Mac. A third method is to use a direct serial connection. Use a serial cable, just like an old Imagewriter or non-AppleTalk StyleWriter would have used. Connect to the Printer Port. I think you'll then have to go to the Chooser and turn AppleTalk off. If you are connecting the IINT to a USB port, well, I don't know. You'll have to find some Serial-to-USB converter. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Roger S. Cohen, President, Cohen International roger@rogercohen.com http://www.rogercohen.com Voice: +1 (845) 358-8936 Fax: +1 (845) 358-8937 ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 15 Feb 2002 09:53:08 -0500 From: rminton@commscope.com To: digest@info-mac.org Subject: iTunes and MP3s on a Newton? ...and you thought the Newt was dead technology? There's a lot of users still doing cutting-edge developement work on what still appears to be an incredibly expandable platform. The newest thing to show up is an iTunes/MP3 program that lets you load and play MP3's on MP 2000's and 2100's. Admittedly they're in mono due to hardware limitations but this is working on a platform that was discontinued four years ago before MP3's really even took off. Check it out at and and start thinking about trading out that handicapped PDA for a Newt.. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 15 Feb 2002 11:27:09 -0700 From: Neil Fiertel To: digest@info-mac.org Subject: Third Party Lack of Support Just to let info-mac subscribers know that they best beware of products from QPS (Que!). Having had difficulty with an expensive CD RW burner from them I wrote and wrote via email to their various addresses and never received a reply or advise on how to get it repaired. I spent a month on this and finally bought an ADS firewire box to replace the ugly and undependable trash that they used as a firewire/power supply interface to the Plextor drive that came with my Que! unit. This cost me time and money. As the expression goes..Caveat Emptor...let the buyer beware. Clearly, I suggest that you keep this incident in mind when you are about to spend a bundle on a peripheral. nfiertel@ualberta.ca ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 15 Feb 2002 01:07:22 -0500 From: Allan Hunter To: Paul Koch , Subject: USB to Serial, or Parallel? I have the old PowerPrint manual here that came with my serial-to-parallel adapter, from back when Infowave owned PowerPrint, and the DEClaser 1150 is supported (you use the supplied Canon LBP driver). It is decently likely that the same driver would work with the 1152, since it works for DEClaser models 1100, 1150, 2100, 2100 Plus, 2150, 2150 Plus, 2200, 2200 Plus, 2250, and 2250 Plus. Infowave either changed their name or sold their assets, but the PowerPrint product is now being sold by Strydent. http://www.strydent.com/products/index.htm At 11:03 AM -0500 2/12/02, Paul Koch wrote: >I'm moving my Mac life over to a Powerbook that has built-in USB ports but >lacks a serial port. I'd like to keep printing to my trusty DEClaser 1152, >which has both serial and parallel ports. I've checked out the catalog info >about USB-to-serial adapters, but have had no success in getting useful >answers from the manufacturers about their compatibility with my printer. > >Is it any easier to use a USB-to-parallel adapter? I'm not sure whether I >need just the cable, or extra software as well. If I already have the >printer drivers, will my Mac automagically see the printer? > >Many thanks in advance. Kindly reply to the address shown below. > >-- Paul Koch >pkoch@alum.mit.edu -- Allan Hunter ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 16 Feb 2002 08:47:22 -0800 From: "Cyrus Roton" To: "info-mac letters" Subject: USB to Serial, or Parallel? Paul Koch wrote: > I'm moving my Mac life over to a Powerbook that has built-in USB ports but > lacks a serial port. I'd like to keep printing to my trusty DEClaser 1152, > which has both serial and parallel ports. I've checked out the catalog info > about USB-to-serial adapters, but have had no success in getting useful > answers from the manufacturers about their compatibility with my printer. > Is it any easier to use a USB-to-parallel adapter? I'm not sure whether I > need just the cable, or extra software as well. If I already have the > printer drivers, will my Mac automagically see the printer? It is equally easy to use USB-serial or USB-parallel. The problem is that you may need a USB driver for the specific printer. Epson offers USB drivers for many of their serial and parallel printers to be used with adapters. HP offers some. Other printer manufacturers may or may not. I am driving an Epson Stylus 640 through a USB-parallel adapter, and had to download the appropriate driver. A couple of USB-serial adapters, I have seen, come with a driver on CD. This enables the adapter for some printers, but not for all. For example, you can run a StyleWriter 2400 through it, but not a StyleWriter II. The "iDoc" adapter appears to be set up so that the printer (or modem) "sees" a serial port, and does not require USB printer drivers. That might be your best bet. Also note that some of these adapters do not work well through some USB hubs. So, you may have to connect the adapter to a USB port on the computer. -- Cyrus W. Roton MITA tech, Co-WebMaster Chairman, Ridgecrest Apple User Group -------------------------------- --Info-Mac-Digest-- End of Info-Mac Digest ******************************