Can OS X print to a LaserWriter IINT?
Thomas Reed
wondering if I can print to it from OS X, or if OS X will refuse to
talk to hardware this old. Also, is there a possibility of instaling
an Ethernet card in the LW IINT? I've got three computers with
Ethernet and a 5-port hub, so it would be nice if I could put the LW on
the hub and make it available to all three machines.
Tony Lawrence
I dunno if that ever took a nic or if you could find one now, but all
you would need is a print server with an appropriate port. If that only
has serial and not parallel like the old LW I have here then it's a
little harder to find a print server, but I'm sure they are still available.
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Doug Brown
Thomas Reed <thoma...@earthlink.net> wrote:
The IINT is PostScript Level 1. OS X is going to require PostScript
Level 2 or newer. You basically have two options:
1) Install a LaserWriter IIg board into it. This will give it ethernet
and also make it compatible with OS X, because the IIg is PostScript
Level 2. You could look on eBay for info about that.
2) Put an Ethernet to LocalTalk converter on the IINT, and connect that
to the hub. This will give it ethernet, but not enable OS X support.
However, there is a package available for OS X that will enable
PostScript Level 1, and includes support for five printers, including
the IINT. It's available here:
http://www.linuxprinting.org/macosx/pslevel1/
I tried it with my LaserWriter Plus and it seemed to work okay, but only
for easy things such as text pages. Trying to print a web page made it
stall and never finish (I think that's a printer limitation, not a
limitation of the software).
If I were you, I'd definitely recommend putting a IIg board inside it.
You have all the other parts, all you'd need would be the board. They
can be had on eBay for very cheap. Right now there's only two that I
could find, but there are usually much more. It uses a strange AAUI
connector, so you need to get an AAUI to RJ-45 transceiver.
If you go that route, not only will you get OS X support, but you get
ethernet as a free bonus.
Hope this helps,
Doug
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Asterix
> I just came into possession of an old LaserWriter IINT, and I'm
> wondering if I can print to it from OS X, or if OS X will refuse to
> talk to hardware this old.
OS X talks Postscript Level 2. your printer doesn't according to GURU. I
have a Personal LaserWriter IINT. The OS talks to is, and sometimes it
prints, sometimes not. Depends on the contents.
Apple has a list of compatible (=supported) printers, and mine is
not there, yours probably neither.
I have replaced mine by a 4/600, which has the extra bonus of
being quiet when not in use. Now if I could only find some extra
RAM for it... With 2 MB it chokes on some print jobs from Word
2001 - though not yet from Word X ...
You shold probably look for a 12/640 or something like that -
or get an Ethernet to LocalTalk adapter like Farallon's EtherWave.