Rating: 
Summary: Work for me
Review: After reading the product reviews, especially some of the early ones, I was a bit concerned about buying this product. As noted by most reviewers, the documentation is several notches below bad. And as noted by some reviewers, the product works as advertised.I installed this product on a home network. I preformed the initial configuration, as described on the FAQ (website), from a Linux box. I have tested the server with HP LaserJet 4 (parallel) and an HP DeskJet 990Cxi (USB). Host systems configured and tested include Linux (RedHat 7.3, 8.0 and 9, Debian), Windows XP Pro, Windows 2000 and OpenBSD. After testing all these platforms, I upgraded the firmware to the latest release available from the web site. I can't comment on the tech support, but the web site is not all that great. I have used the server for a week, and I am very pleased with the performance.
Rating: 
Summary: Works great - setup pretty quick
Review: Although another reviewer suggested "throw away the manual", I wasted 10 minutes trying to set up the Print Server without it. But after I followed the directions in the manual, I had it set up in another 10 minutes, and it's worked perfectly from several different PC's (Win2000 and WinXP) since then. It took me about 5 minutes to set up from a Mac (OS9.2) using the Appletalk window - it saw the Printer right away. I agree the DHCP can't work with the PC setup - you have to enter an IP address to set up the printer at each PC, and if you used DHCP you would be constantly changing the IP address. Perhaps there is another way to identify the Print Server besides IP address, but I don't know what that would be. It's a great Print Server, and the old print server PC is now a boat anchor under my desk. I haven't tried the USB port, so no comment on that.
Rating: 
Summary: Not bi-directional is an issue
Review: Although setup wasn't difficult if you know what you're doing, instructions were ambiguous at best. Once set up, the bi-directional communication required by some printers (like my Canon BJC-2100 and i950) is not available; this produces error messages to the originating pc for each print job sent ("printer not responding" in the case of the Canons, although the print job had already started), and caused more serious problems when the printers stopped printing to communicate a low ink condition. In addition, sending jobs from a second PC while the first is printing causes a crash of the original job. Email to the manufacturer requesting assistance was ignored.
Rating:
Summary: Forget the Directions ....
Review: Based on reviews I read on this product, I made the following determination: Great product, horrible directions. With that in mind, I threw away the instrcutions, took the Print server out of the box, hooked it to my network and plugged in my printer. I then installed the software on the disk. The disk installs a print server admin. utility that I found to be simple to use. If you are have experience with TCP/IP or IPX/SPX protocols, you won't have any trouble using this product. It works great. I don't recommend throwing away your instructions, but if you don't have experience with networking, get on the phone with tech support immediately and don't waste your time. I installed it on Windows XP, 2000, & 98 OS's & it works great on all 3!
Rating:
Summary: Non-Robust
Review: Box says connect any printer to the internet, and after three hours and a call to tech support It only works with post-script printers
Rating:
Summary: Works, but the documentation really is awful
Review: Even by the very low standards of the commodity Wintel world, the documentation is poor. I don't know if it's any better in the source language. The Hawking web site documentation was little better. Don't try this device unless you are either a tech nerd or have access to one. (I'm the former.) They really should have spent a bit more money and engaged someone who's knowledgeable and can write english. HOWEVER, depending on your network configuration, you might be able to ignore the documentation, just plug this in, install the client printing software on a Windows machine, and JUST PRINT. The Hawking Windows client print sofware will work even if the device is not configured with an IP address. That said, the device is working quite well for me. I print to an ancient and very reliable Apple LaserWriter Select 360 that has a parallel port connection from both my iBook (over a WAP) and my Win2K machines. I configured the Hawking using their software on a Win2K machine; you can configure it from a Mac or Linux client (I'm told) but it's not easy. The problem is that the device ships without an IP address and with DHCP disabled. Once you connect with it using the Windows client you can assign it an IP address and use the web interface. The latter is not as useful as the Windows configuration client. I print via IP printing (lpr) from my OS X iBook, using the Hawking print client software from one of my Win2K machines, and using the IPP protocol from another Win2K machine. I also tested the Win2K LPR setup, which I think is fundamentally very similar to the Win2K IPP printing. They all worked, I was experimenting. I tried AppleShare printing as well from my iBook. That did work, but OS X is not optimized for AppleShare so switched back to IP printing. I've not yet tested the USB ports. Printing from OS X to a non-PostScript USB printer is not supported by this device and is a bit tricky at the best of times. I may try that sometime when I'm bored.
Rating:
Summary: Great product, excellent value & standards-compliant
Review: I am pleased with this print server for a number of reasons: - administration is web-based and set-up is simple and straightforward if you're experienced - the documentation is a bit too terse for the non-technical (home) user who needs detailed guidance. - you get two USB ports and one parallel port, making this both flexible and an added value if you plan to locate all of your printers in the same space. The added value stems from the fact that most single-port print servers are in the same price range, and almost all of them only support printers with parallel ports. - it works in network environments based on Microsoft Windows, Netware, Macintosh, UNIX, or any combination, making it standards-compliant and open. I especially like the step-by-step instructions on the manufacturer's web site for integrating this device into Linux-based LANs. It can also be queried and managed via SNMP in an enterprise network. I am less pleased with the supporting web site. Although it is rich in useful content and has up-to-date driver downloads, well written FAQs and a wealth of technical information for Linux and UNIX users, the pages do not display properly in Netscape 4x. Considering the excellent UNIX and Linux support for the product and in the FAQs this was a surprise since most of those users will be using Netscape 4x as their browser. This is more of an inconvenience than a problem however. Overall, this is one of those rare products that does exactly what the manufacturer claims it will do, and it works flawlessly.
Rating:
Summary: Easy setup, not so descriptive manual
Review: I am very satisfied with this product. It's easy to setup,
and works fine with my brother MFC-6800 (with USB)
and canon BJC-1000 (with Parallel) (although, I can't use
scanner and fax function of MFC-6800 through this gudget). As far as I know, this is the only print server that has
both parallel and USB port. I hope that other manufactures
also create ones like this. If you have set up a network printer before, it would be
a lot easier to set up this print server. Assign a static IP
address to the print server, create a standard TCP/IP port
as a local port on your Windows PC, and configure the TCP/IP
port as it speaks LPR. Even if you are new to network printer, the manual shows how
to do this, step by step, although it doesn't explain what
you are doing, or is not so descriptive. ...
Rating:
Summary: Easy setup, not so descriptive manual
Review: I am very satisfied with this product. It's easy to setup,
and works fine with my brother MFC-6800 and canon BJC-1000
(although, I can't use scanner and fax function of MFC-6800
through this gudget). As far as I know, this is the only print server that has
both parallel and USB port. I hope that other manufactures
also create ones like this. If you have set up a network printer before, it would be
a lot easier to set up this print server. Assign a static IP
address to the print server, create a standard TCP/IP port
as a local port on your Windows PC, and configure the TCP/IP
port as it speaks LPR. Even if you are new to network printer, the manual shows how
to do this, step by step, although it doesn't explain what
you are doing, or is not so descriptive. You may want to
download the manual from the manufacture's website
(http://www.hawkingtech.com/) before you decide whether to buy.
Rating:
Summary: Great little product!
Review: I bought this because I wanted to move my Canon BJC 4400 off a specific machine and make it accessible to my whole home network without having to turn on a specific machine.
The reason I picked this device is because the 4400 is a parralel port printer.... but I have been THINKING of upgrading to a USB printer once I have the spare change. I didn't want to invest in a parallel server only to have to replace it down the line. This looked like the perfect solution!
I ordered it, and right out of the box I was pleased with its compact size, as well as the fact that all of the inputs are on one side to make wires neater. Configuration was pretty straightforward, though it took some flipping back and forth through the manual to find the instructions for XP. They should group all of the instructions by OS, not by step like they have. Would make instalation much faster if you can flip right to your OS and have it all right there. The only problem I had in setup was that it decided to switch from port .101 to .102 which threw me for a small loop, but I was able to figure it out. I was printing less than 30 minutes after opening the box. I'd say this is a great little server if you have some basic networking skills. Highly recommended.
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