Specifications

modes, such as EPP and ECP. Autosensing switchboxes that support IEEE-1284 modes work with most
modern laser and inkjet printers, and they also enable sharing of peripherals, such as scanners, tape
backups, and other parallel-port devices. IEEE-1284–compliant autosensing switchboxes are available
from Hewlett-Packard, Belkin, and many other vendors. Many of these devices are reversible, enabling
a single computer to access multiple printers from a single parallel port.
Other Options for Sharing Printers
For sharing a printer among more than four users or for long-distance printing (more than 25 feet
between printer and computer), a variety of solutions are available that use a special type of tele-
phone-style cable. Following are a few of the products available, all of which will print more slowly
than the previously mentioned switchboxes because they convert short-distance parallel ports into
long-distance serial communications.
Products that plug into the MIO port found on many HP LaserJet models include Excellink’s JetCard
for up to 10 users and BayTech’s LaserShare for up to 8 users. Products that create a “mini-LAN” that
can daisy-chain many computers together to any parallel printer (except host-based) include the fol-
lowing: DataDocs’s Max-A-Laser, which provides for up to 30 users at distances up to 2,000 feet away,
and Linksys’s MultiShare for up to eight printers and up to 24 computers at distances up to 1,200 feet.
Support for Other Operating Systems
If your office contains a mixture of Macintoshes and PCs, make sure the printer offers Macintosh sup-
port. Many “personal” printers are basically host based, requiring Windows 9x/Me or NT/2000 to
function. Users of the increasingly popular Linux operating system also must shop carefully because
Linux support is still primarily provided by the Linux software vendors, not by the printer makers
themselves. For example, Red Hat’s popular version of Linux supports PostScript printers natively but
uses a PostScript-type interpreter called Ghostscript to support certain non-PostScript models. Look for
the hardware compatibility list at Red Hat’s Web site. Also, see Upgrading and Repairing PCs, Linux
Edition, published by Que.
Preventative Maintenance
Printers are traditionally one of the most annoying devices to troubleshoot for computer professionals
because they are prone to many mechanical problems that PCs and other networking devices are not.
Variability in the quality of consumables and improper handling by users can exacerbate these prob-
lems, resulting in printers that require more attention and maintenance than other devices.
As with PCs, preventative maintenance for printers is largely based on common sense. If you keep the
unit clean and treat it properly, it will last longer and produce better quality output than if you don’t.
Keep the exterior of your printer clean and free of smudges by wiping it with a soft cloth dampened
with water.
Laser and Inkjet Printers
For laser printers, the best preventative maintenance regimen results from purchasing a printer that
uses toner cartridges with photoreceptor and developer assemblies. These components regularly come
in contact with the toner, so replacing them on a regular basis ensures that these vital parts are clean
and undamaged. If your printer does not use this type of cartridge, you should take extra care to clean
the inside of the printer whenever you replenish the toner, following the manufacturer’s recommen-
dations. Some printers include a special brush or other tool for this purpose.