Is it possible to print a hard copy from the Iliad?

Boris · 09-17-2007, 09:28 AM

I've just bought an Iliad and while waiting for it to turn up I've been having a look at what I can get it to do for me. The job I do requires large amounts of paperwork, manuals and the like. Some of which needs to be in hard copy form, so the question I have is, can I print directly from the Iliad to a USB printer?

Cheers Boris

HarryT · 09-17-2007, 09:50 AM

I don't believe the iLiad supports printing, although I'm sure that someone will correct me if I'm wrong.

Adam B. · 09-17-2007, 09:56 AM

The iLiad does not support printing.

CUPS could probably be ported, but I'm not sure what all would be involved. I'm pretty sure it would be a pretty involved task. Especially since there aren't any stock iLiad apps that include print functions.

yvanleterrible · 09-17-2007, 09:58 AM

That could be quite interesting, would it mean a lot of programming to achieve?

nekokami · 09-17-2007, 11:15 AM

I was wondering about CUPS myself. I was thinking the USB port wouldn't work, but then I realized I was thinking of the OTHER USB port, the one in the "travel hub." As Adam says, though, the software that comes with the iLiad doesn't support printing. Maybe Abiword could use it. But it sort of begs the question... if you have a reader like the iLiad, why do you want to print? Forms you have to fill out, or something?

Boris · 09-17-2007, 11:55 AM

Yeah, unfortunately due to the nature of the work it's a legal requirment to have a 'hard copy' The majority of the day to day work can be done using digital copies and as I get all the info from a single source it would be quicker to stick it to the Iliad and then print a copy as and when it's needed.

It's a shame it's not a feature, but as with most devices, the Iliad is designed and built for a general market not personalised for me and my wish list.

Thanks for the answers,

Boris

NatCh · 09-17-2007, 12:05 PM

Not to be a smart-aleck -- genuinely trying to be helpful here: would photocopies of the iLiad work for what you need? My Reader photocopies nicely.

Antartica · 09-17-2007, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boris

I've just bought an Iliad and while waiting for it to turn up I've been having a look at what I can get it to do for me. The job I do requires large amounts of paperwork, manuals and the like. Some of which needs to be in hard copy form, so the question I have is, can I print directly from the Iliad to a USB printer?

Printing to an USB printer could be quite hard (i.e. untested, at least for the part of using the USB for "other things" that mounting usb-storage devices).

OTOH, if you want to print to a network printer that supports postscript (for example a modern LasterJet with a JetDirect adapter, or a Networked Laserjet), it could be doable, at least for PDFs.

Nevertheless, some way to get a print dialog for ipdf would be needed (the old xpdf had it), and a script for printing would also be needed. The easiest way to print is using the perl implementation of lpr that comes with lprng's sources.

So, for it to work:

1. We would need perl for the iliad (AFAICT, nobody has ported it; perhaps microperl is sufficient for those scripts, but that would have to be tested)
2. Modify ipdf or recompile xpdf for the iliad (I think the latter is easier)
3. Do some scripts to print using the perl lpr implementation to a network printer of your choice (being connected to the network, of course, but for that we have scripts now).

Just information for thought...

Boris · 09-20-2007, 10:29 AM

Thanks again for all the replies, when it turns up (hopefully tomorrow

) I'm gonna see if photocopying the documents does the job. Genius idea NatCh

Adam B. · 09-20-2007, 10:36 AM

Well, I was curious, so I just tried to make a photocopy (B&W) of my iLiad.

It could be worse, but it could also be a lot better. The buttons on the iLiad show up as white on the copy, the screen is a very dark grey and has some lines through it. The text is readable, but not ideal. Maybe with some tweaking it could be better...

NatCh · 09-20-2007, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boris

Genius idea NatCh

Yes, it is, but I don't think it was my idea origianally.

The Sony copies pretty well, just a bit dark but totally readable -- a little tweaking the lightness would probably do it for that device.

pdam · 09-21-2007, 06:29 AM

..of course if you're working in PDF you can always merge the files onto a PC and print from the PC ...

yvanleterrible · 09-21-2007, 05:06 PM

Or photocopy your computer screen!

NatCh · 09-21-2007, 05:19 PM

Nah, the refresh rate means it doesn't photocopy well.

DigiDirk · 09-23-2007, 06:14 AM

Phew... just in time!

I was just about to carry my 21" monitor to the photocopier...

Dirk

09-17-2007, 09:28 AM	#1
Boris Enthusiast Posts: 33 Karma: 23 Join Date: Aug 2007 Device: Tablet PC, a broken Iliad V2	Is it possible to print a hard copy from the Iliad? I've just bought an Iliad and while waiting for it to turn up I've been having a look at what I can get it to do for me. The job I do requires large amounts of paperwork, manuals and the like. Some of which needs to be in hard copy form, so the question I have is, can I print directly from the Iliad to a USB printer? Cheers Boris

09-20-2007, 10:29 AM	#9
Boris Enthusiast Posts: 33 Karma: 23 Join Date: Aug 2007 Device: Tablet PC, a broken Iliad V2	Thanks again for all the replies, when it turns up (hopefully tomorrow) I'm gonna see if photocopying the documents does the job. Genius idea NatCh

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09-17-2007, 09:50 AM	#2
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	I don't believe the iLiad supports printing, although I'm sure that someone will correct me if I'm wrong.

09-17-2007, 09:56 AM	#3
Adam B. Addicted to Porting Posts: 1,697 Karma: 7194 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Indianapolis, IN Device: iRex iLiad, Nokia 770, Samsung i760	The iLiad does not support printing. CUPS could probably be ported, but I'm not sure what all would be involved. I'm pretty sure it would be a pretty involved task. Especially since there aren't any stock iLiad apps that include print functions.

09-17-2007, 09:58 AM	#4
yvanleterrible Reborn Paper User Posts: 8,616 Karma: 15446734 Join Date: May 2006 Location: Que Nada Device: iPhone8, iPad Air	That could be quite interesting, would it mean a lot of programming to achieve?

09-17-2007, 11:15 AM	#5
nekokami fruminous edugeek Posts: 6,745 Karma: 551260 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Northeast US Device: iPad, eBw 1150	I was wondering about CUPS myself. I was thinking the USB port wouldn't work, but then I realized I was thinking of the OTHER USB port, the one in the "travel hub." As Adam says, though, the software that comes with the iLiad doesn't support printing. Maybe Abiword could use it. But it sort of begs the question... if you have a reader like the iLiad, why do you want to print? Forms you have to fill out, or something?

09-17-2007, 11:55 AM	#6
Boris Enthusiast Posts: 33 Karma: 23 Join Date: Aug 2007 Device: Tablet PC, a broken Iliad V2	Yeah, unfortunately due to the nature of the work it's a legal requirment to have a 'hard copy' The majority of the day to day work can be done using digital copies and as I get all the info from a single source it would be quicker to stick it to the Iliad and then print a copy as and when it's needed. It's a shame it's not a feature, but as with most devices, the Iliad is designed and built for a general market not personalised for me and my wish list. Thanks for the answers, Boris

09-17-2007, 12:05 PM	#7
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,615 Karma: 929550 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3	Not to be a smart-aleck -- genuinely trying to be helpful here: would photocopies of the iLiad work for what you need? My Reader photocopies nicely.

09-20-2007, 10:36 AM	#10
Adam B. Addicted to Porting Posts: 1,697 Karma: 7194 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Indianapolis, IN Device: iRex iLiad, Nokia 770, Samsung i760	Well, I was curious, so I just tried to make a photocopy (B&W) of my iLiad. It could be worse, but it could also be a lot better. The buttons on the iLiad show up as white on the copy, the screen is a very dark grey and has some lines through it. The text is readable, but not ideal. Maybe with some tweaking it could be better...

09-21-2007, 06:29 AM	#12
pdam Groupie Posts: 199 Karma: 100 Join Date: Aug 2006 Device: iLiad, iPaq, Psion5&7, Blackberry	..of course if you're working in PDF you can always merge the files onto a PC and print from the PC ...

09-21-2007, 05:06 PM	#13
yvanleterrible Reborn Paper User Posts: 8,616 Karma: 15446734 Join Date: May 2006 Location: Que Nada Device: iPhone8, iPad Air	Or photocopy your computer screen!

09-21-2007, 05:19 PM	#14
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,615 Karma: 929550 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3	Nah, the refresh rate means it doesn't photocopy well.

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09-23-2007, 06:14 AM	#15
DigiDirk Connoisseur Posts: 73 Karma: 156 Join Date: Dec 2006 Device: iLiad	Phew... just in time! I was just about to carry my 21" monitor to the photocopier... Dirk