My client would like to know if it is possible to connect his very old parallel HP LaserJet 6P printer to his MacBook Pros since inkjet printers' inks are expensive compared to old reliable and cheaper laser. I assume it would require an USB+parallel adapter to physically connect. Also, there are HP drivers for Mac OS X 10.5.x and older, but none for the newer ones like 10.8.2. :(
Thank you in advance. :)
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In article <BI2dnW0DCvEIkhvNnZ2dnUVZ_tGdn...@earthlink.com>,
Ant <a...@zimage.comANT> wrote:
> My client would like to know if it is possible to connect his very old > parallel HP LaserJet 6P printer to his MacBook Pros since inkjet > printers' inks are expensive compared to old reliable and cheaper laser. > I assume it would require an USB+parallel adapter to physically connect. > Also, there are HP drivers for Mac OS X 10.5.x and older, but none for > the newer ones like 10.8.2. :(
I think I did that once with a LaserJet 6 MP (which is the Mac editionof the 6P) and a d-link DPR-1061. Idea was then offer the printer to several computers in the network.
HP PPDs (or "printer drivers") are either already built into newer MacOSs or will be installed (downloaded) from Apple when needed.
Cheers
Andreas
-- MacAndreas Rutishauser, <http://www.MacAndreas.ch> EDV-Dienstleistungen, Hard- und Software, Internet und Netzwerk
Beratung, Unterstuetzung und Schulung
<mailto:andr...@MacAndreas.ch>, Fon: 044 / 721 36 47
> My client would like to know if it is possible to connect his very old > parallel HP LaserJet 6P printer to his MacBook Pros since inkjet > printers' inks are expensive compared to old reliable and cheaper laser. > I assume it would require an USB+parallel adapter to physically connect. > Also, there are HP drivers for Mac OS X 10.5.x and older, but none for > the newer ones like 10.8.2. :(
> Thank you in advance. :)
I looked into this same situation for a client a few years ago (for a
LaserJet 5P from memory). You can get an ethernet add-on (or at least used
to be able to) from HP that plus inside the printer, but it's damn
expensive. You could also probably find a third-party Parallel->USB or
Parallel->Ethernet adaptor, but again it's not likely to be cheap. Either
way, as you mention, you may also have issues with not having a proper
printer driver. As Lewis says, it's simply cheaper and easier to just buy
a new printer.
On 10/22/2012 10:26 PM PT, Andreas Rutishauser typed:
>> My client would like to know if it is possible to connect his very old
>> parallel HP LaserJet 6P printer to his MacBook Pros since inkjet
>> printers' inks are expensive compared to old reliable and cheaper laser.
>> I assume it would require an USB+parallel adapter to physically connect.
>> Also, there are HP drivers for Mac OS X 10.5.x and older, but none for
>> the newer ones like 10.8.2. :(
> I think I did that once with a LaserJet 6 MP (which is the Mac editionof
> the 6P) and a d-link DPR-1061. Idea was then offer the printer to
> several computers in the network.
> HP PPDs (or "printer drivers") are either already built into newer
> MacOSs or will be installed (downloaded) from Apple when needed.
This one doesn't have network features. It does have InfraRed. :D
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> In article <BI2dnW0DCvEIkhvNnZ2dnUVZ_tGdn...@earthlink.com>, Ant
> <a...@zimage.comANT> wrote:
> > Hello.
> > My client would like to know if it is possible to connect his very old > > parallel HP LaserJet 6P printer to his MacBook Pros since inkjet > > printers' inks are expensive compared to old reliable and cheaper laser. > > I assume it would require an USB+parallel adapter to physically connect. > > Also, there are HP drivers for Mac OS X 10.5.x and older, but none for > > the newer ones like 10.8.2. :(
> > Thank you in advance. :)
> I looked into this same situation for a client a few years ago (for a
> LaserJet 5P from memory). You can get an ethernet add-on (or at least used
> to be able to) from HP that plus inside the printer, but it's damn
> expensive. You could also probably find a third-party Parallel->USB or
> Parallel->Ethernet adaptor, but again it's not likely to be cheap. Either
> way, as you mention, you may also have issues with not having a proper
> printer driver. As Lewis says, it's simply cheaper and easier to just buy
> a new printer.
The HP printer network cards are shockingly expensive.
A parallel port to ethernet adaptor, known as a "Print Server" is much cheaper.
Ant <a...@zimage.comANT> wrote:
> My client would like to know if it is possible to connect his very old
> parallel HP LaserJet 6P printer to his MacBook Pros since inkjet > printers' inks are expensive compared to old reliable and cheaper laser.
> I assume it would require an USB+parallel adapter to physically connect.
The only way I'd recommend bothering with this would be if you can lay
your hands on an HP JetDirect EX Plus, HP JetDirect EX Plus 3 or HP
JetDirect 300X for next to no money. They are external Ethernet print
servers with a parallel connection to the printer. (The EX Plus 3 has
three parallel ports.) There may be other brands which operate similarly
to these and are Mac compatible, but I haven't gone looking for them.
I have a HP JetDirect EX Plus attached to my HP LaserJet 6MP, and the
printer has continued to work through every version of Mac OS X up to
and including 10.8.2. After I upgraded from 10.5 to 10.6 I had to stop
using AppleTalk and switched to the "JetDirect Socket" protocol.
USB to parallel adapters are generally problematic, due to lack of Mac
drivers or compatibility issues.
The other option for Mac OS X 10.5.8 (but not later verisons) is an
Ethernet to LocalTalk adapter (made by Farallon?), which would plug into
the serial port on the LaserJet 6MP. These only support the AppleTalk
printing protocol, and AppleTalk was dropped by Mac OS X 10.6. They are
also much slower than connecting to the parallel port.
If you can't find a cheap external HP JetDirect, your client would be
better to buy a more modern laser printer which doesn't require a
conversion to interface to a modern Mac. I know a growing number of
people using Brother laser printers, and I have a mid-range Brother
model with built-in networking and duplexing (HL-5380DN).
The Brother is substantially faster than my old 6MP, plus its duplexing
unit saves paper and time for certain print jobs.
My LaserJet 6MP has been demoted to a backup printer which I keep in my
office at work (so I don't need to use work's printer for personal
stuff).
> Also, there are HP drivers for Mac OS X 10.5.x and older, but none for
> the newer ones like 10.8.2. :(
You are looking in the wrong place. Printer manufacturers supply the
printer drivers for Mac OS X 10.5.8 and earlier, but starting with Mac
OS X 10.6, drivers for most printers and scanners are distributed
through Apple, typically installed on demand via Software Update.
Apple has a page listing all the printer and scanner models supported by
the drivers they supply in Mac OS X 10.6 and later:
Lewis <g.kr...@gmail.com.dontsendmecopies> wrote:
> In message <BI2dnW0DCvEIkhvNnZ2dnUVZ_tGdn...@earthlink.com> > Ant <a...@zimage.comANT> wrote:
> > Hello.
> > My client would like to know if it is possible to connect his very old > > parallel HP LaserJet 6P printer to his MacBook Pros since inkjet > > printers' inks are expensive compared to old reliable and cheaper laser. > > I assume it would require an USB+parallel adapter to physically connect.
> It would be cheaper to buy a decent laser printer, and you'd get a
> scanner and duplex and faxing <spit> in the bargin. Oh, and it would be
> faster.
> I recommend Brother. I think my MFC was under $200.
You can get a parallel to ethernet printer server on Amazon for about 37USD. I've used USB versions in the past with good results.
>> I looked into this same situation for a client a few years ago (for a
>> LaserJet 5P from memory). You can get an ethernet add-on (or at least used
>> to be able to) from HP that plus inside the printer, but it's damn
>> expensive. You could also probably find a third-party Parallel->USB or
>> Parallel->Ethernet adaptor, but again it's not likely to be cheap. Either
>> way, as you mention, you may also have issues with not having a proper
>> printer driver. As Lewis says, it's simply cheaper and easier to just buy
>> a new printer.
> The HP printer network cards are shockingly expensive.
Like how much? I can tell my client to make him buy a new USB laser printer. Heh heh!
> A parallel port to ethernet adaptor, known as a "Print Server" is much
> cheaper.
Interesting. Is there a wireless version since the router/switch is far away from the old printer? What about Infrared?
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> The only way I'd recommend bothering with this would be if you can lay
> your hands on an HP JetDirect EX Plus, HP JetDirect EX Plus 3 or HP
> JetDirect 300X for next to no money. They are external Ethernet print
> servers with a parallel connection to the printer. (The EX Plus 3 has
> three parallel ports.) There may be other brands which operate similarly
> to these and are Mac compatible, but I haven't gone looking for them.
One parallel port is enough. Who knows how long this printer will last. Yes, they are like tanks but this is one is over a decade old or so.
> I have a HP JetDirect EX Plus attached to my HP LaserJet 6MP, and the
> printer has continued to work through every version of Mac OS X up to
> and including 10.8.2. After I upgraded from 10.5 to 10.6 I had to stop
> using AppleTalk and switched to the "JetDirect Socket" protocol.
> USB to parallel adapters are generally problematic, due to lack of Mac
> drivers or compatibility issues.
> The other option for Mac OS X 10.5.8 (but not later verisons) is an
> Ethernet to LocalTalk adapter (made by Farallon?), which would plug into
> the serial port on the LaserJet 6MP. These only support the AppleTalk
> printing protocol, and AppleTalk was dropped by Mac OS X 10.6. They are
> also much slower than connecting to the parallel port.
Yeah, but that requires leaving a computer on which we don't want to do. Hence, the direct cable connections.
> If you can't find a cheap external HP JetDirect, your client would be
> better to buy a more modern laser printer which doesn't require a
> conversion to interface to a modern Mac. I know a growing number of
> people using Brother laser printers, and I have a mid-range Brother
> model with built-in networking and duplexing (HL-5380DN).
> The Brother is substantially faster than my old 6MP, plus its duplexing
> unit saves paper and time for certain print jobs.
> My LaserJet 6MP has been demoted to a backup printer which I keep in my
> office at work (so I don't need to use work's printer for personal
> stuff).
>> Also, there are HP drivers for Mac OS X 10.5.x and older, but none for
>> the newer ones like 10.8.2. :(
> You are looking in the wrong place. Printer manufacturers supply the
> printer drivers for Mac OS X 10.5.8 and earlier, but starting with Mac
> OS X 10.6, drivers for most printers and scanners are distributed
> through Apple, typically installed on demand via Software Update.
Ah.
> Apple has a page listing all the printer and scanner models supported by
> the drivers they supply in Mac OS X 10.6 and later:
> The HP LaserJet 6MP is supported via the Apple-supplied drivers.
Ah cool, it says "HP LaserJet 6P/6MP" which is perfect. Now, the hard part is to connect to it. Darn, he would have to get a power AC (running out of outlets even though multiple strips!) big addon to connect instead of a basic adapter for USB and parallel cables. :(
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> You can get a parallel to ethernet printer server on Amazon for about
> 37USD. I've used USB versions in the past with good results.
Which ones did you used? Do they all require power AC outlets since my client is running low on power outlets even with multiple power strips. Heh. Or is running off a powered USB ports enough?
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>> You can get a parallel to ethernet printer server on Amazon for about
>> 37USD. I've used USB versions in the past with good results.
> Which ones did you used? Do they all require power AC outlets since my
> client is running low on power outlets even with multiple power strips.
> Heh. Or is running off a powered USB ports enough?
Also, is there a wireless service type? This old printer is far away from the router and switch.
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Ant <a...@zimage.comANT> wrote:
> On 10/22/2012 11:14 PM PT, Paul Sture typed:
> >> I looked into this same situation for a client a few years ago (for a
> >> LaserJet 5P from memory). You can get an ethernet add-on (or at least used
> >> to be able to) from HP that plus inside the printer, but it's damn
> >> expensive. You could also probably find a third-party Parallel->USB or
> >> Parallel->Ethernet adaptor, but again it's not likely to be cheap. Either
> >> way, as you mention, you may also have issues with not having a proper
> >> printer driver. As Lewis says, it's simply cheaper and easier to just buy
> >> a new printer.
> > The HP printer network cards are shockingly expensive.
> Like how much? I can tell my client to make him buy a new USB laser > printer. Heh heh!
I can see plenty on ebay, but when I was looking a few years ago, the proper HP JetDirect card for my printer was 250-300 USD (estimate because exchange rates have changed - it was certainly a sticker shock price for me).
> > A parallel port to ethernet adaptor, known as a "Print Server" is much
> > cheaper.
Lewis <g.kr...@gmail.com.dontsendmecopies> wrote:
> In message <mstorkamp-88A0A7.08225623102...@news.eternal-september.org> > Mark Storkamp <mstork...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> > In article <slrnk8c4a2.2u04.g.kr...@mbp55.local>,
> > Lewis <g.kr...@gmail.com.dontsendmecopies> wrote:
> >> In message <BI2dnW0DCvEIkhvNnZ2dnUVZ_tGdn...@earthlink.com> > >> Ant <a...@zimage.comANT> wrote:
> >> > Hello.
> >> > My client would like to know if it is possible to connect his very old > >> > parallel HP LaserJet 6P printer to his MacBook Pros since inkjet > >> > printers' inks are expensive compared to old reliable and cheaper laser. > >> > I assume it would require an USB+parallel adapter to physically connect.
> >> It would be cheaper to buy a decent laser printer, and you'd get a
> >> scanner and duplex and faxing <spit> in the bargin. Oh, and it would be
> >> faster.
> >> I recommend Brother. I think my MFC was under $200.
> > You can get a parallel to ethernet printer server on Amazon for about > > 37USD.
> For an HP printer? The last time I tried to get an ethernet thingy for
> an HP printer is was well over $150, and I think over $250.
Yep. Over $250 when I looked. Too much.
> Still, a modern MFC is a great deal. The duplex printing alone saves me
> a ton of money.
My Brother probably saves a lot of power over my old HP LaserJet. It doesn't have the huge power brick that the HP had and goes into a deep sleep when not in use.
Ant <a...@zimage.comANT> wrote:
> On 10/22/2012 10:26 PM PT, Andreas Rutishauser typed:
> >> My client would like to know if it is possible to connect his very old
> >> parallel HP LaserJet 6P printer to his MacBook Pros since inkjet
> >> printers' inks are expensive compared to old reliable and cheaper laser.
> >> I assume it would require an USB+parallel adapter to physically connect.
> >> Also, there are HP drivers for Mac OS X 10.5.x and older, but none for
> >> the newer ones like 10.8.2. :(
> > I think I did that once with a LaserJet 6 MP (which is the Mac editionof
> > the 6P) and a d-link DPR-1061. Idea was then offer the printer to
> > several computers in the network.
> > HP PPDs (or "printer drivers") are either already built into newer
> > MacOSs or will be installed (downloaded) from Apple when needed.
> This one doesn't have network features. It does have InfraRed. :D
I know, that is what the d-link was for, or the JetDirects et al that are mentioned in other posts.
Infrared requires that feature on both sides. If I remember correctly Apple discontinued support of features other than Apple Remote with the introduction of the Apple Remote...
Cheers
Andreas
-- MacAndreas Rutishauser, <http://www.MacAndreas.ch> EDV-Dienstleistungen, Hard- und Software, Internet und Netzwerk
Beratung, Unterstuetzung und Schulung
<mailto:andr...@MacAndreas.ch>, Fon: 044 / 721 36 47
Rutishauser <andr...@macandreas.ch> wrote:
> In article <Zcydnf7p1_aNqBvNnZ2dnUVZ_j-dn...@earthlink.com>,
> Ant <a...@zimage.comANT> wrote:
> > On 10/22/2012 10:26 PM PT, Andreas Rutishauser typed:
> > >> My client would like to know if it is possible to connect his very old
> > >> parallel HP LaserJet 6P printer to his MacBook Pros since inkjet
> > >> printers' inks are expensive compared to old reliable and cheaper laser.
> > >> I assume it would require an USB+parallel adapter to physically connect.
> > >> Also, there are HP drivers for Mac OS X 10.5.x and older, but none for
> > >> the newer ones like 10.8.2. :(
> > > I think I did that once with a LaserJet 6 MP (which is the Mac editionof
> > > the 6P) and a d-link DPR-1061. Idea was then offer the printer to
> > > several computers in the network.
> > > HP PPDs (or "printer drivers") are either already built into newer
> > > MacOSs or will be installed (downloaded) from Apple when needed.
> > This one doesn't have network features. It does have InfraRed. :D
> I know, that is what the d-link was for, or the JetDirects et al that > are mentioned in other posts.
> Infrared requires that feature on both sides. If I remember correctly > Apple discontinued support of features other than Apple Remote with the > introduction of the Apple Remote...
The brief fad of infrared printing disappeared (mostly on HP printers).
It's been superceeded by wireless protocols. Infrared needs line-of-sight,
which always made it rather a clumsy, silly system.
Could be I am a bit eccentric but I do pretty much exactly this with a VM.
I installed Fusion and Windows 98 (or whatever you prefer) under it.
Then I install the printer with an USB to parallel converter which everyone here knows wont work with any later flavour of OSX but which WILL work with Windows 98.
You just open up 98 in a VM, plug in the converter and install the driver for it. there arent any newer drivers but you dont want a new driver, you want the OLD driver!
Then plug in the printer and Hey Presto!
BTW Those old HP laserjets were built like rocks but had a fault: The rubber rollers decompose over time and start to break down. this was worse when I last checked a few years ago on a 6MP than the 5MP. I suppose they went over to using cheaper rubber at that time.
BTW remember, you will have to install (for example) Office 97 and re-save all your documents in the correct format and print from there. But you may well save a ton of money before the printer gives out.
And those huge toner cartridges are dirt cheap, aren't they!
On 2012-10-23, Paul Sture <nos...@sture.ch> wrote:
> In article <slrnk8dac9.31hs.g.kr...@mbp55.local>,
> Lewis <g.kr...@gmail.com.dontsendmecopies> wrote:
>> In message <mstorkamp-88A0A7.08225623102...@news.eternal-september.org> >> Mark Storkamp <mstork...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>> > You can get a parallel to ethernet printer server on Amazon for about >> > 37USD.
>> For an HP printer? The last time I tried to get an ethernet thingy for
>> an HP printer is was well over $150, and I think over $250.
> Yep. Over $250 when I looked. Too much.
He was talking about a generic ethernet<->parallel interface, not
a printer-specific JetDirect card. The former are a lot cheaper
since they are much more of a commodity item. The Netgear PS-101
is probably the most famous example but there are others usch as
this one:
> Could be I am a bit eccentric but I do pretty much exactly this with a VM.
> I installed Fusion and Windows 98 (or whatever you prefer) under it.
> Then I install the printer with an USB to parallel converter which everyone here knows wont work with any later flavour of OSX but which WILL work with Windows 98.
> You just open up 98 in a VM, plug in the converter and install the driver for it. there arent any newer drivers but you dont want a new driver, you want the OLD driver!
> Then plug in the printer and Hey Presto!
> BTW Those old HP laserjets were built like rocks but had a fault: The rubber rollers decompose over time and start to break down. this was worse when I last checked a few years ago on a 6MP than the 5MP. I suppose they went over to using cheaper rubber at that time.
> BTW remember, you will have to install (for example) Office 97 and re-save all your documents in the correct format and print from there. But you may well save a ton of money before the printer gives out.
> And those huge toner cartridges are dirt cheap, aren't they!
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> USB to parallel adapters are generally problematic, due to lack of Mac
> drivers or compatibility issues.
So, no USB to parallel adapters work well under Mac OS X with old parallel printers? Interesting. http://www.amazon.com/Sabrent-SBT-UPPC-Parallel-6-Foot-Printer/dp/B00... says it works with Macs, but how well?
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I don't know about this cable, but I have been using an Epson cable (USB to parallel) with a Stylus Photo 700 printer for years. It has moved from G4 to G5 to 2011 iMac with no problems.
Devices are created in /dev to point to serial ports. OS-X has drivers
to talk to serial devices, but CUPS (the printing subsystem) did not.
"foomatic" came to the rescue (thanks to this newsgroup). It allows one
to specify a serial device in the printer destination (which includes
baud rates etc).
so in CUPS, the Connection can be set to:
Connection: serial:/dev2/matrix?baud=9600+bits=8+parity=none+flow=soft
( /dev2/matrix is an alias that points to the cryptic /dev serial port name)
Based on quick read, it shoudl also support parallel: URIs for printer
destinations.
Basically, you create a .PPD file that describes your printer and either
specify a ghostscript command (complete with all switches etc) to be
executed, or some built-in raster support for your printer.
When you print, the system the looks up the .PPD and feeds foomatic with
the postcript file and foomatic then invokes the config within the .PPD
to convert your postscript file to the printer's native format and then
spools it to the specified device.
I believe that for serial and parallel printers, the communication is
unidirectional. (for instance it won't interrogate your printer to find
what fonts are pre-loaded on it - thsi is something you can specify in
the .PPD for instance)
> Buy it and try it. It's only $11.59 with shipping. Report back on how
> well it works on what systems you tried it on. Don't know how this will
> jive with the control signals and the rest. If you print something to a
> parallel printer, the data comes over strobed at a certain rate or
> there's likely a "stop/start" sending data line. Serial printers used
> XON/XOFF character protocol to do this. I don't know how USB printers
> work but if it's just an extension of parallel printer, you might be
> half way there. Inside MacOS X, the printing system just sends print
> file to a device. If it's a USB printer, then it's a different sort of
> file than if it's a laser printer that uses Postscript or an emulator.
> Ultimately, inside MacOS X, you'd need a parallel port printer 'driver'
> to create the proper type of output to send to the device.
> You may end up sending this back, but try it and report to us.
OK, so we tried a GearHead parallel+USB adapter cable (http://pcgearhead.com/iFrame/usb-hubs.php?PrdID=1217 ) from a local retail store to replace the old parallel printer cable on two different MacBook Pros (15" 2008 model with Mac OS X 10.5.8 and 13.3" mid-2012 model with Mac OS X 10.8.2). Both of them detected the printer correctly (10.5.8 didn't even ask to download; 10.8.2 asked me to download HP drivers first).
Print Tests in Mac OS X:
V10.5.8 seems to sit forever even though the printer was waiting. Here's a screen shot/capture of it in action: http://i.imgur.com/ws9tRys.gif ...
V10.8.2 actually prints, but it's all printer/computer codes or whatever and nonstop even though it was only ONE page with one line ("test 123" in Office's Word!). We had to shut the printer off to stop since Mac OS X's printer options and disconnecting USB cable could stop it.
So, does this mean this won't work at all or something else? Thank you in advance. :)
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> This is what I suspected. The printing system doesn't know how to
> create the proper output for the printer. The 'drivers' work for serial
> or network attached printers but not parallel printers.
> The serial-to-parallel conversion boxes for UNIX boxes were more
> elaborate than a mere cable. Since there's no more 'serial' ports on
> Mac, the ability to generate the proper output and send it to the
> printer seems to be limited to network transfer or direct transfer over
> USB.
So, the USB+parallel adapter description is false/inaccurate/misleading to support old parallel printers?
> It's your call on how much time you want to spend to get this printer
> working. Can you even still get parts for it? At best, you might have
> to buy a PC with a parallel port, setup a print server in an older
> version of Windows that has remote printing features, and use that as a
> print server to use this machine.
> Or you could just recycle this printer and buy one that 'just works'.
Yeah, I told my client that others and I say using this printer isn't worth it anymore since it is from the 1990s/90s. Yeah, it works like a tank but it is time move on! He didn't want to do a print server either. He just wanted a direct hookup to his MBPs. Whatever. Here, we proved it that it failed on two MBPs with it.
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> In article <1p-dnZUdYLpzp2PNnZ2dnUVZ_rKdn...@earthlink.com>,
> Ant <a...@zimage.comANT> wrote:
> > OK, so we tried a GearHead parallel+USB adapter cable > > (http://pcgearhead.com/iFrame/usb-hubs.php?PrdID=1217 ) from a local > > retail store to replace the old parallel printer cable on two different > > MacBook Pros (15" 2008 model with Mac OS X 10.5.8 and 13.3" mid-2012 > > model with Mac OS X 10.8.2). Both of them detected the printer correctly > > (10.5.8 didn't even ask to download; 10.8.2 asked me to download HP > > drivers first).
> > Print Tests in Mac OS X:
> > V10.5.8 seems to sit forever even though the printer was waiting. Here's > > a screen shot/capture of it in action: http://i.imgur.com/ws9tRys.gif ...
> > V10.8.2 actually prints, but it's all printer/computer codes or whatever > > and nonstop even though it was only ONE page with one line ("test 123" > > in Office's Word!). We had to shut the printer off to stop since Mac OS > > X's printer options and disconnecting USB cable could stop it.
> > So, does this mean this won't work at all or something else? Thank you > > in advance. :)
> This is what I suspected. The printing system doesn't know how to > create the proper output for the printer. The 'drivers' work for serial > or network attached printers but not parallel printers.
I doubt that's the problem. A printer driver shouldn't know or care whether the printer is serial, parallel, USB, or ethernet. It only has to translate the output into the printer's special language.
My old HP 5MP is connected to a Windows PC. I have no problem printing to it from my Mac (OS 10.6.8) -- EXCEPT when I try to print from Photoshop CS3, it spits out pages and pages with a few lines of nonsense, like Ant reported getting from Mac OS 10.8.2.
Michael Vilain <vil...@NOspamcop.net> writes:
> It's your call on how much time you want to spend to get this printer > working. Can you even still get parts for it? At best, you might have > to buy a PC with a parallel port, setup a print server in an older > version of Windows that has remote printing features, and use that as a > print server to use this machine.
You can buy dedicated network print servers for under $50. I used to
use a D-Link model that could be configured through an HTTP interface.
I had to set it up manually in CUPS but otherwise it worked well enough.
