Subject: 9 and 24 pin printers for use with Apple II series,
Laser 128's and Macintoshes and a review of the Superwriter
924, Panasonic KX-P1124, and KX-P4455 postscript laser
printer.

March 12, 1991

Dear Online America Users,

I have noticed that there have been questions on how to connect
9 and 24 Pin Parallel Printers to Laser 128's, Apple IIGS's,
IIc's, IIC+'s and all Mac's.  One of the solution's that we
have successfully used is the Superwriter 924 (however, other
options are available) intelligent serial to parallel
converter "cable" made by Xetec, 2804 Arnold Rd., Salina, KS
67401 (913) 827-0685.  The interface first of all converts
serial format information that is sent out of the earlier
mentioned computers into parallel format information that many
9 and 24 pin printers require.  The connector on one end of
the "cable" is a Mini Din 8, and an included adapter cable
turns this end into a Din 5 connector for Laser 128's and
IIc's (an adapter for DB-9 connectors for old Mac's is also
available from Xetec).  On the other end of the "cable" is a
standard Centronics connector.

However, the conversion from serial to parallel information
often is not the compatibility problem many users run into.
The problem usually is a lack of software support from
software vendors for a particular printer, and by printer
manufactures that have come up with so many different
standards.  The second function that the Superwriter 924 can
perform is the ability to convert Apple Imagewriter,
Imagewriter II and Imagewriter LQ code, that is widely
supported in Apple software, into code that a particular 9 or
24 pin parallel printer may require.  The Superwriter 924
therefore addresses the two major reasons for printer
incompatibility.  An incomplete list of Printers that the
Superwriter 924 supports is: Blue Chip, C-Itoh 8510, 8510S,
and ProWriter JR plus, Epson MX, RX, FX, JX, and LQ-1500
series, Fujitsu DL and DX, IBM, NEC 8023, Okidata 192, and
292, Panasonic KXP- 1124, 1524, 1624, 1180, 1191, 1192, 1080,
1091, and 1092, Prowriter, Star Micronics (old), NB24-10/15,
NX1000, NX1000R, XB2410/2415, and XR1000/1500.

I have tested the Panasonic KX-P1124 24 pin printer and
Superwriter 924 with GSOS 5.02 and Appleworks GS 1.1,
Appleworks 3.0, 2.1, Print Shop, Print Shop GS and haven't
incurred any difficulties.  Xetec the manufactures of the
Superwriter 924 are considering discontinuing the product so
it may be a good decision to purchase your Superwriter 924 and
printer soon.  Depending on the printer, CPU, and software you
are using, there are several other printer related products
that we also offer from Applied Engineering, Apricorn,
Cirtech, GDT Softworks, Orange Micro, Practical Peripherals,
Sequental Systems, Thirdware, Vitesse and others that may meet
your needs.  However, some of the features of the Superwriter
924 are unique and not available elsewhere.  As for Laser
printing the Panasonic KX-P4455 Postscript Laser printer is
our favorite and the printer we use to print the text for our
catalog along with Appleworks GS.  I am most familiar with the
Panasonic line of printers because we offer this line of
printers and others to our customers.

If you have any further questions or if you are interested in
a purchase, you can reach me at:

Alan Hansen
Standard Peripherals
PO Box 65187
West Des Moines, IA 50265-0187

Phone # (515) 225-7033
9am-9pm (CST) Monday thru Saturday