Thinking of Switch to Mac

[Anonymous]

Currently I have a Windows Dell Precision 340 and it is connected to a HP DesignJet 430, there is a parallel cable between them and it has plotted beautiful sheets for years.

New in the office is a Mac G5, and I am considering the switch, but I can't even consider it unless there is a good solution for the plotter. What do you use for your Mac connection?

Thanks in advance.

Mark Burginger
San Diego, CA

[Anonymous]

I also wish to migrate to a G5 but I need to be sure i can find drivers for a HPdesignJet 500 C7769B (not a post script model) so does anyone have any info or advice.
Appreciated

[Anonymous]

Try this: http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/DriverDownload.jsp?pnameOID=20987&locale=en_US&task...

Also the Gimp Print drivers should work, too.
http://gimp-print.sourceforge.net/MacOSX.php3

Cheers,

[Anonymous]

Thanks eric
I have the hp Printing on my NEW G5
I am also wondering why i have no option of paper orientation in Archicad/Plotmaker to A2 landscape 594 Wide x 420 H
I only get a choice of portrait & 2 directions of rotation of the print direction Only (left/right)
Or have i missed something
By the way (Gen Info) the HP driver works but the one from gimp print wont.
Thanks Again

[Anonymous]

Which way did you go for the connection? The reason I ask is because I have been trying the Serial-USB cable connection and the Gimp driver for a HP 430 DesignJet Plotter. It works, but it needs to be used as a printer and it is painfully slow. The speed is useless, 30 minutes for a print?

Mark

[Anonymous]

Hi I went with usb direct no problems with the Hp Driver at all
Prints at equal speed as it did in Windowz No More than 1 Min for A2/A1 Line drawing.

[Anonymous]

I can see the HP OSX print driver you are using for the DesignJet 500, but I don't see one for the DesignJet 430.

I can try the driver for the 500, but I don't know if it will work.

Please advise.

[Anonymous]

Joseph wrote:
I switched to Mac also, and VERY happy about it. I have HP450C, all I needed to do was in Plot Setup>Connection and TCP/IP>Setup put the IP address of the plotter and for the port input 9100
Welcome to more designing and less computering!
Joseph Harouni

Thanks Joseph, you got me up and running. I ended up using a Pricom 3100 Print Server, $150 from FRY'S ELECTRONICS. Input the TCP/IP Address into the Archicad plot setup along with the port input number of 9100 = BINGO! This way the plotter is on the network and it is useful from a number of machines. I grant you the Tip-of-the-Week.

[Anonymous]

All i can say is try it
I dont know much about computing either
No idea what you are talking about (ip address of the ploter) USB-Yes
I only have one Problem Now which is i can't change the orientation of the drawing on the paper. No matter which of the three choices i select in Print setup it prints the same Direction Portrait
A3 prints @ 297w & 420L on (roll) paper 594wx420L
A2 prints @ 420w & 594L on (roll) paper 594wx420L
Other than this i already appreciate the change to Mac & looking forward to seeing Archicad 9 when released here.

[Anonymous]

mbwolf, I ended up going with a Ethernet adapter device connected to the printer. Now I access the plotter thru the PLOT SETUP menu in ArchiCAD via the TCP/IP. That's where you enter the printer IP Address and Port. I feel this is the best solution. I think I remember a Point-CounterPoint regarding printing versus plotting.

With this setup you can locate your plotter anywhere on the network.

[Anonymous]

Thanks Burginge I am Going to check this out. I have to upgrade it from a non PS Printer to a plotter With networking I think.
So does plotting perform better than printing & are there any other differences/advantages?