LaserWriter IIf and IIg: Support Issues

This article discusses some of the support issues for the LaserWriter IIf and IIg
Driver and Level 2 Support

The driver shipped with LaserWriter IIf and IIg is the LaserWriter driver version 7.0, which doesn't support PostScript Level 2 operators. Access to new Level 2 features is limited to downloaded PostScript programs. The next LaserWriter driver will add Level 2 functionality. The IIf and IIg operate more efficiently even without the new driver because of improved memory management and high speed cache.

Missing Type 1 Fonts In ROM

Due to extremely limited ROM space, the ITC Zapf Dingbats Type 1 font was removed from LaserWriter IIf and IIg ROMs, and included, as a downloadable font, on the font disk.

Legal Size Printing

The standard LaserWriter IIf and IIg configurations don't support full legal size printing. At the standard RAM configurations, the LaserWriter IIf can't print full legal pages and the LaserWriter IIg can't print grayscale legal pages. If you want to use legal size paper with full printing capability, upgrade the RAM from 2MB to 4MB on a LaserWriter IIf, and from 5MB to 8MB on a LaserWriter IIg.

Don't Use Refilled Toner Cartridges

Refilled cartridges performed poorly during LaserWriter IIg gray-scale testing, and aren't recommended.

Kanji Support

The LaserWriter IIg has composite font support, but due to the HFS disk structure, there is no copy protection for the Kanji fonts. Kanji will be fully supported in the LaserWriter 1.1 ROMs.

No Diablo 630 Emulation

LaserWriter IIg ROMs don't provide Diablo 630 emulation.
Published Date: Feb 18, 2012