Thanks in part to the popularity and cross-platform ease of the USB interface, Mac users now have a wide array of printers to choose from compared to just a few years ago. Even so, the number of printers equipped with only a parallel port, especially in the installed base, is still quite high. Infowave's PowerPrint has long been the product of choice for Mac users needing a connection to such "incompatible" printers.
PowerPrint allows your Mac to connect to over 1600 parallel port-based printers by using a number of different drivers. The included USB to parallel (or serial to parallel, if you opt for that version) cable then connects the printer directly to your Mac. Setting up PowerPrint is a breeze, requiring you to simply locate your printer in the list of supported printers followed by a quick installation of the appropriate driver.
But for all the magic that PowerPrint seemingly performs, there are a few pitfalls. Mac users used to hearing their printer warming up the moment they press the Print button will be frustrated by the 30-second wait it generally takes PowerPrint before any printer activity begins. Likewise, the printer's top speed will never be achieved, although with today's fast and inexpensive printers that's not as big an issue as it was a few years ago.
Finally, some printers, especially laser, will be unable to print at their full dpi. One of our test printers, an NEC SuperScript 870, boasts sharp 600 dpi printing. In order to use this printer with PowerPrint, the HP LaserJet IIP driver must be used, but that driver is limited to printing at a maximum resolution of 300 dpi. Infowave tells us that the SuperScript 870 does indeed use an equivalent version of the LaserJet IIP driver on PCs (although rebranded as an NEC driver), but that it's able to achieve double the resolution due to software techniques that PowerPrint is unable to duplicate. Unfortunately Infowave does not tell you which printers are affected by this anomaly.
PowerPrint 5.0 adds the ability to use both the scanning and printing features of Hewlett-Packard's R series and Cannon's MultiPass multifunction peripherals; a real boon if you desire that feature and have access to such a printer. Version 5.0 also adds improved print speed for Cannon's BJC 80, 1000, and 2000 printers. Suffice it to say, if you're using an earlier version of PowerPrint and don't plan on using the scanning feature of the aforementioned multifunction peripherals and don't own one of the three BJC printers, there's no reason to upgrade.
The Bottom Line
Infowave accurately bills PowerPrint as a printing solution, not an alternative. As such, if you have access to a Mac-compatible printer or are planning a printer purchase, you'll be better off sticking with something native to the Mac platform that will allow you to take full advantage of the printer's features. However, if you find yourself running into parallel-port-based printers or wish to protect your investment in a previous purchase, PowerPrint is the key for unlocking your cross-platform printing woes.
