Arkview USB 2.0 10/100 Ethernet USB 2.0 Print Server (1 Port) PC/MAC Review

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(More customer reviews)I read all the good an bad reviews on this topic. Basically, it seemed that if people had a popular printer it supported, they were very happy. If not, it didn't work and they were unhappy.
I went through the process of trying to make it work with an unsupported Lexmark Laser printer. The setup software could see the printer (through my wireless network and the printer USB port, it could see which model it was) But it didn't want to install.
About to give up, I pulled out my old AirLink APSUSB2 printer server instructions. The process worked, but I believe you will have to set up a fixed IP address to go through this process. Make sure the fixed ip is above your router allowed HTPS list of address, and that it is a trusted IP on your home router/firewall.
After you have configured a fixed IP through Arknet's "Networking USB Server setup software," you do these basic steps for Windows XP:
In "Printers and Faxes" window, select Add Printer. Click Next
In the local or network printer window, select local printer, but don't select "automatically detect and install....". Click Next
In "select a printer port" select create a new port. In the pulldown, select Standard TCP/IP port. Click Next
A Standard TCP/IP port wizard comes up. Click next
In the "Add Port" window, Enter the IP address you have set the server to as discussed above, for example 192.168.150.254
Put in a port name. I overrode what defaulted tere and used port1. Click next
Under the "Additional Port Information Required" window, select the "custom" choice and hit settings
In the "port Settings" box brought up, leave the port and ip as is, change the radial button from "raw" to "lpr", and put your port name (port1) in the Queue name entry box. Select OK
You will be be brought back to the additional port information reqd screen. Hit next. Then Click Finish, to finish the port wizard.
Next, you will get the install printer software window. Hopefully you printer is already there and available through Windows XP (mine was). Otherwise you might have to access some driver files. Click next
I the "use existing driver" box, I selected existing driver and clicked next.
Under name your printer, you can change the name and choose whether you want it to be the default printer. Next
Then you can print a test page, and complete the installation. If the test page doesn't work, try it one more time after the installation completes.
I have little/no experience with later windows products, and so don't know if all these steps are easily doable in these products.
But it worked on XP and surprised me when it did. Thanks, Airlink, for providing the instructions for this workaround that Arkview didn't.


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Arkview-Feets palm sized 1-port USB 2.0 Print Server allows any networked computer to share a USB printer. It complies with USB 2.0 specifications (backward compatible with USB 1.1 spec.), and provides users with an auto-sensing Ethernet port that works with either 10Base-T or 100Base-T networks. This unit also supports multiple protocols and multiple operating systems, ; ; The built-in web management feature provides more convenience by allowing the user to configure, monitor and even reset the print server via a web browser. This eliminates the need to place the printer right next to the computer. Print jobs can be sent to a printer in the same office. ; ; Features; Easily connect your USB printer to a network; Allows multiple computers to share one USB printer on the network; Print from any computer on your network; Supports DHCP Client and multiple network protocols; 10Base-T / 100Base-T auto-sensing; Supports Telnet and Web Management software; ; Specifications; Network Cable Length; 6 Feet; Network Protocol; IPX, TCP/IP, NETBUEI, APPLETALK, LPR, smb (Over IP); Cable Type; CAT5; Network Interface; 10/100Mbps RJ45; Printer Connection; USB 2.0, USB 1.1; Standards; IEEE 802.3 10Base-T; IEEE 802.3u 100Base-T; USB 2.0; Management; Web Based-UI, Networking USB Utility; ; Requirements; Windows 2000/XP/2003/Vista; Mac OS X; Printer with USB connection; Printers:; ; Most printers with USB connections are supported; Network environment:; ; 802.11b/b or 802.11n Wireless networks; 10/100Mbps networks; ; Package Content; 1 x 1-Port USB 2.0 Print Server; 1 x CAT5 Patch Cable; 1 x Power Adapter ; 1 x Installation CD; 1 x User Manual;

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IOGear USB 2.0 Print Server, 1-Port GPSU21 (Silver) Review

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(More customer reviews)The print server hardware worked fine, but the setup software
caused a few problems as a result of oversimplication.

I was able to get the server going with a Brother HL-5150D USB
printer on a home network with 4 computers (3 wireless, 1
ethernet), an all-in-one networked device and the USB
printer itself. This is using a mixture of computers with
different flavours of Windows XP. The print server is wired to
a router using DHCP. I did not chose to put the print server on
a static address (as the manual prefers) since that does not
reflect my network setup (home networks are usually DHCP).
I encountered problems because:
(a) My software firewall first caused the installer to crash.
I wanted to avoid turning it off entirely, but
to no avail. I was able to leave my router's hardware
firewall on but had to turn off my software firewall
for the installation. The manual asks that firewall
be turned off at installation, but I find that drastic.
I guess I should have cut off my internet connection when
I did this.
(b) I installed my printer drivers and print server back-to-back
without rebooting the computer in between. The manual
allows for this but I was not able to avoid the "the
segment of the print server is different from your
computer" error no matter what I tried. So I rebooted
and started the print server install a second time over.
Worked fine. The manual's guidance for this error was
incorrect in my case.
So, if what I've learned applies:
(i) install the printer driver as a normal USB
printer on your computers first.
(ii) reboot the computers
(iii) install the print server software.

Did this for all computers on the network, and
now I can print from anywhere (note that I did not
reconfigure the print server hardware each time, only
on the 1st computer, but I don't see the harm if one
does it for each computer as long as one is consistent
in placing the same settings each time).
(c) The installation of the print server software caused
my printer settings to go from "Use Printer Online"
to "Use Printer Offline". My printer swallowed all
my jobs because of that and no pages were coming out.
To remediate this go to the "Control Panel", "Printers",
"Viewed my installed printers",
right click the printer and select "Use Printer Online".
Did this for all computers.
Everything worked after that, with all firewalls reenabled.
Some day in the future, the network will go down
(power outage or other), and DHCP router might
assign a different dynamic IP address for the print server.
If that is the case, I'll have to point my computers to the
new IP address. To findout what your computer thinks the
printer address is: "Control Panel", "Printers",
"View installed printers", right click the printer and
select "Properties". Select the "Ports" tab,
then "Configure Port". Then compare the IP against the
new address your router gave to the print server
(go to your router's web page to find out). If they don't
match then you'll need to reconfigure. That said, I tested
a new IP address on the print server by power cycling it.
I then rebooted the computers and found that the new print
server address had been matched automatically on my
PCs. So things can fix themselves even if the network goes
down (the name of the port was still had the old address,
but the actual address it used was the new one...)
I've not tried this with IPP printing (remote location
printing, not did I test it under Linux or Mac).
The print server's web access is rather primitive.
But it has all I need. I intend to use this with Linux too.
The device worked as advertised and I am satisfied with it.


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Brother PT9500PC P-touch Desktop Label Maker Review

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(More customer reviews)I've had numerous P-Touch models over the years, and I think the output they produce is superb. The software for the Mac, on the other hand, has lagged far behind its Windows counterpart. Older versions of the software, in particular, had problems with anything except TrueType fonts.
Now I see that Brother finally released version 5 of the software for OS X. I downloaded it and was pleasantly surprised to see that it had an entirely different, more Mac-like interface, and it handled all of my fonts just fine. I was quite pleased until I tried to use some of my OTHER programs.
It seems that if you uninstall the older version of the software before installing this one--something Brother tells you to do in the instructions--IT WILL WIPE OUT FILES USED BY OTHER PROGRAMS! So far the uninstaller has trashed Office 2008, Acrobat Pro, Adobe Reader, iWork '08, Adobe Creative Suite CS3 and OmniOutliner. It's hard to tell what others might be affected as well. I ended up having to do a clean reinstall of my system, which was NOT a small task.
So, buy the printer if you like, but BEWARE the uninstaller!

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BRTPT9500PCCreating professional looking laminated labels is as easy as 1-2-3 pre-design your labels with your company logo or other graphics, import your database and print! Connects to your PC or Macand uses Standard and Extra-Strength laminated TZ tapes in multiple sizes so you can make labels in a variety of fonts and styles. PT-Editor software includes 16 industry-standard bar codes and pre-designed templates; also saves and recalls frequently used label designs, imports graphics and databases; provides auto-incrementing and repeat printing features. High-resolution 360 dpi printhead prints in 64 styles and TrueTypefonts. Automatic tape cutter. Compatible with Windows2000 Professional, 95, Me, XP and MacOS 8.6 to 9.x, OS X10.1 to 10.2.6. Includes 1 1/2'' black-on-white TZ tape, AC adapter, software, USB and serial cables. Manufacturer's one-year limited warranty. Global Product Type: Label Makers-Dual Operation (Stand Alone/PC Connectable) Thermal Transfer; Label Maker Type: Dual Operation (Stand Alone/PC Connectable) Thermal Transfer; Number of Printed Lines: 16.000; Tape Size: 1/4'' - 1 1/2''.PRODUCT DETAILS: -Number of Font Styles: Computer Dependant. -Operating System Compatibility: MacOS 8.6 to 9.x, MacOS X10.1 to 10.2.6, Windows2000 Professional, Windows95, WindowsMe, WindowsXP. -Number of Printed Lines : 16.000. -Machine Depth : 5 in. -Post-Consumer Recycled Content Percent : 0 pct. -Tape Type: Laminated. -Connectivity: USB. -Pre-Consumer Recycled Content Percent : 0 pct. -Number of Fonts: Computer Dependant. -Label Maker Type: Dual Operation (Stand Alone/PC Connectable) Thermal Transfer. -Memory: Computer Dependant. -Machine Height : 7 1/2 in. -Power Source(s): AC Adapter (Included). -Global Product Type: Label Makers-Dual Operation (Stand Alone/PC Connectable) Thermal Transfer. -Tape Size: 1/4'' - 1 1/2''. -Machine Width : 5 in. -Total Recycled Content Percent : 0 pct. Package: Includes label maker, 1 1/2'' black-on-white TZ tape,

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