Ink Jet Printer Technical BriefPage 5Flexibility ConnectivityEpson ink jet printers support a variety of interfaces, network, and wireless communication devices, andprinters support WindowsRand MacintoshR, although not all print features are currently supported with OS X.1. Interfaces:Most Epson printers have a USB interface; many are USB 1.1 but are compatible withcomputer ports; some printers have the faster USB 2.0 interface. A few printers also feature a paralleland a few select models have built-in FireWire, a high speed interface that improves printing performanceMacintosh users (but is also PC compatible). Finally, one model includes an internal interface slotoptional Epson interface cards and network adapters. For wireless printing, Epson offers a Bluetooth adapter, allowing you to print from a Bluetooth-enabled(such as a PDA, cell phone, or laptop) to a supported Epson printer without cables. Bluetooth is acable replacement technology that allows printing via a low-power, short-range radio frequency at aup to 33 feet. Bluetooth does not allow printer sharing (like is allowed with a wireless printserver), but simply allows point-to-point wireless printing. The Bluetooth Photo Print Adapterconnects to the USB host port of supported Epsonphoto printers. Bluetooth is intended for short-range communications and is ideal for text documentsand lower resolution photos. 2. Wired and Wireless Networking:Some Epson ink jet printers can be connected directly to an Ethernetnetwork using a wired or wireless print server. These devices allow you to attach the printer directlynetwork without using a dedicated computer as a print server and to share the printer among allthe network. Epson offers one print server for wired Ethernet networks and one device for wireless 802.11b networks:External Ethernet Print Server:Many Epson printer models support theEpsonNet 10/100Base-TX External Print Server. This device is an affordablesolution that connects directly to the printer?fs parallel port and supports Ethernetand Fast Ethernet networks. A local computer can be connected to the printer?fsUSB port while the printer is also connected to a LAN.Wireless Ethernet Print Server:With this solution, networked 802.11b-compatible computers can wirelessly access the printer, up to a distance of300 feet (depending on environmental conditions such as thickness of walls,electrical interference, etc.). The device is based on Wi-Fi technology andis compatible with any 802.11b wireless network, including Apple?fs Airport. Aswith the EpsonNet external print server, a local computer can be connected tothe printer?fs USB port while the printer is also connected to a wireless network.3. Built-in Macintosh Printer Sharing with USB:Many of Epson?fs ink jet printers can be shared over aMacintosh Ethernet network, without using a printer network interface. Here?fs how to use this feature:q Connect the printer to a Macintoshcomputer on the networkq Select the printer in the Chooserand enable printer sharingq Install the printer driver on any orall computers on the networkq Select Shared Epson Printer fromthe ChooserPrinter sharing is not currentlysupported by OSX 10.1.Epson printer locally attachedto one Macintosh computer viaa USB connectionEthernet network
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