Re: eBay purchased legacy printer - Troubleshooting help

neon_bikini@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
 wrote:
> I purchased a legacy HP 4M+ to tem****arily replace my old Apple
> LaserWriter. Ok. Its old and I don't have a manual (HP doesn't have the
> user manual online anymore :( I needed a quick replacement and couldn't
> afford a new laser printer. I probably should have held out for a newer
> model, but I was in a hurry. The printer prints text, browsers, and
> email fine.
>
> It chokes on Adobe Illustrator. I searched groups and found out  down
> rezing from 600 to 300 dpi will help. It eliminated some errors, but
> I'm still having trouble with the fonts. Will someone explain the deal
> with downloading fonts to the 4M Plus? If I change fonts frequently,
> what do I need to do to keep postscript printing? Can I convert the PS
> output w/o creating a PDF? The 4M Plus has another language called
> PCL-- what is this?
>
> I know its a lot of questions. If you print from a postscript
> application you'll likely have the real questions that I need to be
> asking. ehehe.
>
> NB
>
> PS. I x-posted with the comp.sys.hp.periperals. None of those guys are
> gonna read a mac group anyway. ehehe

I see you received a lot of replies already.

I have experience with the HP 4Mv in a graphics department.

This was originally used for the graphics department when Illustrator 8
was the bomb but it could not keep pace with the department.
I was relegated to the sales department and did a fair job as a
do***ent printer until it's fuser unit died. (I am sorry to say with an
old laser that is looming over you now.)

When we did have to use it as a backup printer it choked allot on the
new illustrator files. THERE IS NO CURE. It is what it is. More memory
will always help but all the other comments about the Postscript
emulation are correct. There is a firmware update for some of these.
There was for the 4Mv. It is a real pain to deal with without a PC and
even with a PC I had to do a lot of work.
=B7 Make PDF files and print those is one option. Ex****t as a pixel
graphic and print that. Save a for print version of your file and
flatten transparencies or advanced effects.

Rule #1 The problem with paying the cheapest amount for a printer is it
WILL cost you more money than buying a better printer. If you are doing
this for a business where you bill out for your time. Slow equipment
costs you money. Now granted you will not be working 24/7 but the more
time you can give yourself for the rest of your life is extremely
valuable.

Even some of these cheaper new printers can be a little slow with
graphics but they usually can handle the job.

It is how I have gotten my employers to buy the right equipment. I
showed them what the labor and time for jobs costs them if they don't
purchase the right equipment for the job. Usually does the trick and
they stop throwing labor at every problem.

It may cost me a little more and I will scrimp and save but I apply
this to my own purchasing. My time is very valuable I hate wasting it
on slow equipment.

Getting down off of soap box.
Sorry no real answers for you.
Michael