How to use a parallel printer with the HP Portable Plus

[Klaus Overhage]

The ThinkJet HP-2225C is a parallel printer, so it has a Centronics interface. Together with an HP-82165A HP-IL/GPIO interface, it can be used as an HP-IL printer. Its special advantage is that it can print graphics as well as text.

The HP Portable Plus allows to print a screenshot by using the key combination Shift-Print. After running my program PRT@GPIO.COM once, I can print the contents of the LCD screen at any time. This also works fine in the middle of a running application, which is then paused during printing. The printout on the HP-2225C is fast and clean, with the help of a magnifying glass every pixel can be recognized.