Hewlett-Packard Co has introduced three network-peripheral interface boards designed to slot into its LaserJet printers, enabling them to be connected directly to a Unix Ethernet network, and eliminating the need for connection via serial and parallel ports. The JetDirect boards, says Hewlett, enable peripherals to be distributed anywhere on the network, and cut out performance problems associated with external boxes and additional client workstation software – the LaserJet II, for example, can accept data at 160Kbytes-per-second. Also, server loading is supposedly reduced because data is transferred in a block rather than in single bytes. The boards are linked to TCP/IP networks running HP-UX, SunOS (Sparc only) or Santa Cruz Unix. Hewlett-Packard is licensing the product to Digital Equipment Corp, among others, and hopes to have the interface board available for personal computers as well. Price is $900 or $1,000 for HP-UX and SunOS because they require a cartridge or digital audio tape.
