-=PCTechTalk=- Re: Electronic Print Buffer
- From: Jim <n1jmm@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: pctechtalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Sat, 07 Aug 2004 12:28:08 -0400
Robert, this is a fine task for an old PC, just set up an old machine
with all the printers you want, use a large enough hdd, put in a fair
amount of memory, load up windows98(se if you need USB support), put it
on the network and let it run, turn off the monitor and leave it run. If
you are on dialup you might as well give it the dialup function too and
let it serve the internet for you, just install ICS on it. I know you
said multiple printers, you can easily get 3 parallel ports on a pc, I
know in the old days you could buy interface cards with 4, 8, 12, or 16
parallel ports, and now you can add more by using USB to centronics
adapters just be careful to get adapters that handle bi-directional
comm's for the printers that need that.
Another option is to attach all printers through a network interface
device, simple enough just more costly.
Of course you ARE using the print spooler built into windows, right?
I wonder if there is a windows power off feature to shut the machine off
when done spooling to the printers. You might try a search using your
favorite search engine for this.
Granted a small printer buffer box might be quieter and use less
electricity, however they are harder to find for a resonable price.
-Jim-
Robert Carneal wrote:
>Years ago, I had a electronic print buffer, and it was an author's dream. I
>could send a LARGE document (by large, I mean several hundred pages)
>document, and the print buffer would store all (or nearly all) of it so
>that the PC was freed up sooner. What I loved about it was I could send a
>238 page document to Printer A, 150 page document to Printer B, and a 400
>page document to Printer C. It had its own memory, and I filled it to the
>max, and was designed to finish printing the documents so long as at least
>the printer and buffer are powered ON. You could turn your PC off and go to
>bed and let it finish printing. This was a feature I really liked. The next
>day I would get up and bind the books.
>
>It was nice that I could break a book up for printing- say print the 1st
>100 on Printer A, 2nd 100 on Printer B, and last 100 on Printer C. The next
>morning I just stacked them in the correct order and let Kinko's bind it.
>
>I seem to remember it had the capability of going up to eight printers- but
>I only used for three. I would like to use for five if I can find it again,
>or someone who makes a similar one. Do any of you know where I can go for
>this please?
>
>Thank you.
>
>Robert
>
>
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