HP Deskwriter 550C

  • Thread starter Thread starter Adele
  • Start date Start date
A

Adele

Hi,

I have an old HP Deskwriter 550c in great shape that I'd like to hook up to
my PC; however, it says it is for a MAC.

I'm guessing the cable is different as would be the drivers.

Any idea on converting it?

Thanks

Adele
 
[This followup was posted to comp.periphs.printers and a copy was sent
to the cited author.]

I have an old HP Deskwriter 550c in great shape that I'd like to hook up to
my PC; however, it says it is for a MAC.

I'm guessing the cable is different as would be the drivers.

Any idea on converting it?
Click to expand...

The default Windows drivers would work, but I think the Mac version
was designed for serial (the old serial, not USB), not parallel. I think
Mac's used small DIN connectors? I think there are some USB-to-serial
adapters out there, but they probably cost more than a new printer! The
new printer would also have MUCH higher quality output. Making a serial
port cable from your computer to the printer would also be rather
expensive.
 
The default Windows drivers would work, but I think the Mac version
was designed for serial (the old serial, not USB), not parallel. I think
Mac's used small DIN connectors?
Click to expand...

Right. It only has a mini-DIN 8 serial connection.
I think there are some USB-to-serial
adapters out there, but they probably cost more than a new printer!
Click to expand...

There are indeed mini-DIN 8 serial to USB adapters, but I do not know of
any that have Windows drivers.

By the way, this printer still works fine in Mac OS X (10.2 and higher)
with serial to USB adapters.
<http://webpages.charter.net/mbroughtn/serial_printing.html>
 
Matt said:
Right. It only has a mini-DIN 8 serial connection.




There are indeed mini-DIN 8 serial to USB adapters, but I do not know of
any that have Windows drivers.
Click to expand...

I HAVE ONE WITH THE WIN DRIVER. I WILL SELL IT TO YOU FOR $500.00
 
There are indeed mini-DIN 8 serial to USB adapters, but I do not know of
any that have Windows drivers.
Click to expand...

Why not use the serial port?

Mini-8 to DB-25m http://www.cablesdirect.com/prodimages/CC505-06_LR.jpg
DB-9f to DB-25f
http://www.cables4computer.com/products/individualItem.asp?groupcode=G0262

My memory is so vague about printers from this time period. Some HPs
supported mac by going serial over the centronics port via a mini-8 to
centronics-36 cable. Still others offered only a mini-8 connection on
the printer. The mini-8 printers were a pain because DB-9 to mini-8
was a rare thing, and the db-9 side was always the wrong gender for
hooking up a PC to a mac printer, so you either needed two cables or a
cable and an adapter.
 
Why not use the serial port?

Mini-8 to DB-25m http://www.cablesdirect.com/prodimages/CC505-06_LR.jpg
DB-9f to DB-25f
http://www.cables4computer.com/products/individualItem.asp?groupcode=G0262

My memory is so vague about printers from this time period. Some HPs
supported mac by going serial over the centronics port via a mini-8 to
centronics-36 cable. Still others offered only a mini-8 connection on
the printer. The mini-8 printers were a pain because DB-9 to mini-8
was a rare thing, and the db-9 side was always the wrong gender for
hooking up a PC to a mac printer, so you either needed two cables or a
cable and an adapter.
Click to expand...

Problem is, for nearly the same amount, you can buy a brand new
'throw-away' printer with full Windows support and higher-quality
output, and probably faster speed, too.
 
Problem is, for nearly the same amount, you can buy a brand new
'throw-away' printer with full Windows support and higher-quality
output, and probably faster speed, too.
Click to expand...

First of all, the drivers are listed in windows xp. If talking windows
95/98 and you didn't have the drivers you had to order them from HP for
a small fee. I can't say I've ever tried hooking up a 550c mac edition
to the PC, so I don't know if these drivers will work.

Cost more than another printer? Depends on where you buy your cables,
and if we are talking about a modern PC with USB. I know it sounds
silly but some pentium I class systems had odd usb issues.

The problem with a new 'throw-away' unit is the economy in most cases.
There are some cool printers from that time period that offered
cartridges with huge yields and low prices.

---
The 550 takes the #26 black which costs $30/800ish pages. 3.75c/page.
Not super duper but not horrible.
The hp 5440 takes the #92 black with an listed yeild of 210p for $14.99
or 7.1c/page.
The canon ip1600 takes the PG-40 @ $20/500p or 4c/page. Street might
even cost less.
---

Worth the time and money for the 300x300dpi 6ppm inkjet? Well i'd
personaly sell it on e-bay for $15 and use that money to get something
newer. After all someone might really desire printing on their very
old mac. But I am willing to say it is possible to hookup a serial
mini8 to the PC with the proper cable, but the needed cable is so rare
you'd end up having to buy two cables.
 
zakezuke said:
First of all, the drivers are listed in windows xp. If talking windows
95/98 and you didn't have the drivers you had to order them from HP for
a small fee. I can't say I've ever tried hooking up a 550c mac edition
to the PC, so I don't know if these drivers will work.
Click to expand...

I think the DeskWriter xxx printers are the same printers as the DeskJet
xxx printers. I do know that in OS X we have successfully used the
DeskJet 550 Gimp-Print or HPIJS drivers for the DeskWriter 550.
 
I think the DeskWriter xxx printers are the same printers as the DeskJet
xxx printers. I do know that in OS X we have successfully used the
DeskJet 550 Gimp-Print or HPIJS drivers for the DeskWriter 550
Click to expand...

I think the major difference between the mac edition and the PC edition
was the font compliment, whatever the standard on the 68xxx at the time
i'd imagine. I don't know this for a fact and one could typicaly hit a
button sequence and find out what fonts were stock on that printer.
 
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