So I have recently had my laptop and signlab software stolen so need to replace and have a few questions that maybe some of you guys can help with. I have a roland cm-24 with parallel port and serial ports what is the best way to hook up to a new laptop which do not have the parallel ports anymore? Can the new signlab (version 8 or 9) be run on a mac? with boot camp or similar? Thanks Jason
Posted by Tim Barrow (Member # 576) on :
dunno about the mac issues but the best way to hook up a plotter to one of the new laptops is a usb to serial adapter linked with the same serial cable you use to drive the plotter normally. The adapter will not be a null modem cable so you need to use it with the normal plotter cable so the computer and the plotter can handshake,....mac null modem cables are wired differently than pc null modem cables,....I do not know how running windows programs on a mac may affect this issue,....
Posted by Bill Modzel (Member # 22) on :
I'm running my Window's RIP via Parallels/Windows XP. My HP9000s is a USB connection and seems to work pretty well. I say this having never run Windows on anything the last 20 years so I'm honestly ignorant as to what's normal and what's not on that platform.
I also have my Graphtec hooked up to my old mac G4 using a Keyspan USB-Serial adapter. My GsxPlus is also plugged into it for cutting my Edge jobs.
So, my first impression would be that like Tim said, it should be possible with the correct Serial cable and an adapter.
Posted by Jason Bryant (Member # 3150) on :
Thanks guys I will look into getting it sorted and hopefully get it working.
Posted by Bill Modzel (Member # 22) on :
Remember that Bootcamp requires a restart into Windows but Parallels and Fusion can operate at the same time. Dual OS's running multiple apps. It is pretty cool I must admit.
Posted by Donna in BC (Member # 130) on :
I've been messing around with this exact issue, except not on a laptop.
Lab will run on a mac in a windows environment. I run Parallels in order to do so, so rebooting isn't required.
You will lose keyboard shortcuts which is unfortunate. Still deciding if I can live with that or not.
What Timi says on the cables is very true. Mac won't read reg parallel to usb connections UNLESS you're using them on the windows side for an older printer for example. I was able to get my old HP 4P ancient laser jet to run perfectly on the windows side. But it will not read on the mac side. But there is a fix.. **see below.
For your plotter, your original cable to usb will work but your ports will read differently than prior. Took me a few hours to figure out the right configuration that the computer was finally happy with.
**Or if you desire to bypass the old frumpy cable and get all modern, you need something fancy called a Keyspan USB. They have a little card embedded that the other cables don't have. I haven't been able to locate one as yet.
Signlab also won't commit to support lab run on a mac because they can't determine if issues that come up are mac related or not.
Posted by Tim Barrow (Member # 576) on :
Here ya go Donna,.... keyspan usb adapter Posted by Jason Bryant (Member # 3150) on :
Thanks for all the info. I have one question that I am sure someone on here will be able to answer.
I did use signlab ES 4.95 ( I know old but it worked) what is the equivalent in the current signlab lineup? cut Pro ($500 approx) or signlab pro ($1600approx)
