Digital BW, The Print

Hey!

Still on my search here in Japan for setting up a digital darkroom.

Yesterday I went to the showroom at the Epson Plaza in Shinjuku, Tokyo
and chatted with a rep there. He was very helpful (unlike the Epson rep
in Epson's Epsite Gallery in another part of Shinjuku). I wanted to know
if my English language computer plus Epson's English language software
(downloaded from the US site) would drive the Japanese PM-4000PX (aka 2200).

I don't really understand computer stuff, but I'm told that that "...the
problem, if there is one, would arise because the character-generator
PROM would put things in different places, so you might get moji-bake
(illegal characters) for some  so-called "high ASCII." "

When I asked about using the English OS and drivers, the rep told me
"Not recommended." I told him I had my friend's laptop with me with the
drivers on it, and he instantly turned into a bundle of energy and
whipped out the printer and we set it up.

It printed the test page okay, and we tried a colour image on it.
Unfortunately the image was only a poor shot from a lower end digital
P&S (so much for being prepared - everything but a good image). It
printed okay, but at a rather poor quality, I guess cos the guy hit
"scale to fit media" and I think that stretched the photo out a bit, and
he printed at only 1440 dpi.

About then I got a call from work with an emergency, so I was distracted
a bit and didn't really think about what was happening at the time.

Anyway, the rep seemed to think all this was evidence enough that the
English driver would work the Japanese printer. I still have some
reservations as, while nothing looked outrageously wrong with the
print, it is not really proof of any fine printing capabilities.

Anyone have any ideas on this? Does it sound like I have enough evidence
that the driver will work?

Thanks.

Sooner,
Dean