What do I need to connect an iBook to an HP 2100? (2nd try)

[Norman]

Sorry if you're seeing this twice, but it hasn't shown up on my server.


Hello,

Just want to check what's needed to get an iBook talking to an HP2100.

I've already downloaded the Mac driver from HP, but I'm not too sure about the
cabling. The printer has a localtalk port, but I believe the iBook has an
Ethernet port. Is there some adapter available that will allow me to connect
these two?

Is there anything else I need? I'm assuming that I'll need to fiddle with the
printer settings too.

I presume the printer will allow sharing between the LT port and the parallel
port?

Regards,
Norman

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Norman
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[Henry]

Just want to check what's needed to get an iBook talking to an HP2100.

I've already downloaded the Mac driver from HP, but I'm not too sure about the
cabling. The printer has a localtalk port, but I believe the iBook has an
Ethernet port. Is there some adapter available that will allow me to connect
these two?

Is there anything else I need? I'm assuming that I'll need to fiddle with the
printer settings too.

I presume the printer will allow sharing between the LT port and the parallel
port?

Since you say you have LocalTalk, I'm thinking it must be a 2100M. You
have several options.

You can get a localtalk-ethernet bridge such as the one made by Asante
to connect the HP to the ethernet port on the iBook (or, to your
ethernet LAN if you have one). For about the same money (check on eBay),
you can get HP's internal JetDirect ethernet server for the 2100. I had
the AsanteTalk for a while and it was OK, but I replaced it with the
JetDirect.

You could also get the cable + software solution of PowerPrint, which is
probably available nowadays in both ethernet and USB varieties; that
will connect to the parallel port on the printer. The wife had a
straight 2100 (i.e., without LocalTalk) at work and we got the
PowerPrint cable so she could take her Wallstreet into the office and
print from it. (That was an earlier version of PowerPrint, with the
DIN-8 serial plug.) Works OK, but some 'advanced' features aren't
available.

Finally, does the iBook have an IR eye? The 2100 does. We can print from
our Wallstreet to the 2100M at home wirelessly, but we don't because
it's a pain in the arse compared to the LAN.

cheers,

Henry