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Supported Printers
Every printer Apple made, and the third-party printers most used with vintage Macs.
AirWriter prints to ImageWriters on its printer port, and to PostScript printers over AppleTalk. To set one up, see Printers.
| AirWriter | |
|---|---|
| Yes | Prints from phones, computers and vintage Macs. |
| Yes* | Expected to work. Not yet confirmed on this printer. |
| Yes, in gray | Color pages from phones and computers print in shades of gray. |
| No | Doesn't print through AirWriter. |
Printed to a starred printer through AirWriter? Report it, whether it worked or not.
An ImageWriter connects to AirWriter's printer port.
| Printer | AirWriter | Type | Ribbon | Years | Connections | Mac driver | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
ImageWriter | Yes* | Black dot matrix | Apple A2M0077 Nukote BM160 |
1984–1985 | Serial (25‑pin) | ImageWriter |
 |
ImageWriter 15 (wide carriage) | Yes* | Black dot matrix | Apple A2M0077 Nukote BM160 |
1984–1987 | Serial (25‑pin) | ImageWriter |
 |
ImageWriter II | Yes | Black or color dot matrix |
Apple A2M0077 Nukote BM160 Apple color ribbon |
1985–1996 | Serial (8‑pin) LocalTalk card |
ImageWriter AppleTalk ImageWriter LocalTalk card disk |
 |
ImageWriter LQ | Yes* | Black or color dot matrix |
Apple A9G0335 Apple color ribbon |
1987–1990 | Serial (8‑pin) LocalTalk card |
LQ install disks LQ ImageWriter LQ AppleTalk ImageWriter LocalTalk card disk |
* Not yet confirmed. Report a printer.
An ImageWriter II or LQ with a LocalTalk card prints from vintage Macs over AppleTalk. To print from phones and computers too, open switch SW2-4 inside the ImageWriter and connect it to AirWriter's printer port.
A PostScript LaserWriter works over LocalTalk or Ethernet. QuickDraw LaserWriters need a Mac to draw every page, so they don't work with AirWriter.
| Printer | AirWriter | Type | Toner | Years | Connections | Mac driver | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
LaserWriter, LaserWriter Plus | Yes* | Black laser PostScript |
Canon CX HP 92285A |
1985–1988 | LocalTalk Serial |
LaserWriter Plus kit disks LaserWriter 8 |
 |
LaserWriter II SC | No | Black laser QuickDraw |
Apple M6002G/A Canon EP‑S HP 92295A |
1988–1990 | SCSI | Personal LW SC |
|
LaserWriter II NT, II NTX | Yes* | Black laser PostScript |
Apple M6002G/A Canon EP‑S HP 92295A |
1988–1991 | LocalTalk Serial |
LaserWriter II disk LaserWriter 8 |
|
LaserWriter IIf | Yes* | Black laser PostScript |
Apple M6002G/A Canon EP‑S HP 92295A |
1991–1993 | LocalTalk Serial |
LaserWriter 8 |
|
LaserWriter IIg | Yes* | Black laser PostScript |
Apple M6002G/A Canon EP‑S HP 92295A |
1991–1993 | LocalTalk Ethernet Serial |
LaserWriter 8 |
 |
Personal LaserWriter SC | No | Black laser QuickDraw |
Apple M0089LL/A Canon EP‑L HP 92275A |
1990–1993 | SCSI | Personal LW SC |
|
Personal LaserWriter NT | Yes* | Black laser PostScript |
Apple M0089LL/A Canon EP‑L HP 92275A |
1990–1993 | LocalTalk Serial |
Personal LaserWriter NT disk LaserWriter 8 |
|
Personal LaserWriter LS | No | Black laser QuickDraw |
Apple M0089LL/A Canon EP‑L HP 92275A |
1991–1993 | Serial |
Personal & Select 300/LS disks LaserWriter 300 |
 |
Personal LaserWriter NTR | Yes | Black laser PostScript |
Apple M0089LL/A Canon EP‑L HP 92275A |
1992–1993 | LocalTalk Serial Parallel |
NTR install disks LaserWriter 8 |
 |
LaserWriter Select 300 | No | Black laser QuickDraw |
Apple M1960G/A | 1993–1995 | Serial |
Personal & Select 300/LS disks LaserWriter 300 |
|
LaserWriter Select 310 | No | Black laser PostScript |
Apple M1960G/A | 1993–1994 | Serial Parallel |
LaserWriter Select 310 |
 |
LaserWriter Pro 600 | Yes* | Black laser PostScript |
Apple M2473G/A Canon EP‑E HP 92298A |
1993 | LocalTalk Serial Parallel |
LaserWriter Pro disks LaserWriter 8 |
|
LaserWriter Pro 630 | Yes* | Black laser PostScript |
Apple M2473G/A Canon EP‑E HP 92298A |
1993–1994 | LocalTalk Ethernet Serial Parallel |
LaserWriter Pro disks LaserWriter 8 |
 |
Personal LaserWriter 300 | No | Black laser QuickDraw |
Apple M2045G/A Canon EP‑P HP 92274A |
1993–1994 | Serial |
Personal & Select 300/LS disks LaserWriter 300 |
 |
Personal LaserWriter 320 | Yes* | Black laser PostScript |
Apple M2045G/A Canon EP‑P HP 92274A |
1993–1995 | LocalTalk |
Personal LaserWriter 320 disks LaserWriter 8 |
 |
LaserWriter Select 360 | Yes* | Black laser PostScript |
Apple M1960G/A | 1993–1996 | LocalTalk Serial Parallel |
LaserWriter 8 |
 |
LaserWriter Pro 810 | Yes* | Black laser PostScript |
Apple M3602G/A | 1993–1994 | LocalTalk Ethernet Serial |
LaserWriter 8 |
 |
LaserWriter 16/600 PS | Yes* | Black laser PostScript |
Apple M2473G/A Canon EP‑E HP 92298A |
1994–1996 | LocalTalk Ethernet Parallel |
LaserWriter 8 |
 |
LaserWriter 4/600 PS | Yes* | Black laser PostScript |
Apple M2045G/A Canon EP‑P HP 92274A |
1995 | LocalTalk |
LaserWriter 4/600 PS disks LaserWriter 8 |
 |
Color LaserWriter 12/600 PS, 12/660 PS | Yes, in gray* | Color laser PostScript |
Apple M3756G/A Apple M3757G/A Apple M3758G/A Apple M3760G/A |
1995–1997 | LocalTalk Ethernet Parallel |
Color LaserWriter |
 |
LaserWriter 12/640 PS | Yes* | Black laser PostScript |
Apple M4683G/A | 1996–1997 | LocalTalk Ethernet Parallel |
LaserWriter 8 |
 |
LaserWriter 8500 | Yes* | Black laser PostScript |
Apple M5893G/A | 1997–1999 | LocalTalk Ethernet Parallel |
LaserWriter 8.6 8500 PPD |
 |
LaserWriter 10/600 A3+ (Asia only) | Not known | Black laser A3 |
Apple EP cartridge |
* Not yet confirmed. Report a printer.
Apple also sold Japanese versions of some LaserWriters, such as the LaserWriter II NTX-J and 16/600 PS-J. They print like the models they're named after.
| Printer | AirWriter | Type | Ink | Years | Connections | Mac driver | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
StyleWriter | No | Black inkjet | Apple M8041G Canon BC‑01 Canon BC‑02 |
1991–1993 | Serial |
StyleWriter disks Color SW 1500 |
 |
StyleWriter II | No | Black inkjet | Apple M8041G Canon BC‑01 Canon BC‑02 |
1993–1995 | Serial |
StyleWriter II disks Color SW 1500 |
 |
Portable StyleWriter | No | Black inkjet | Apple M8041G Canon BC‑01 Canon BC‑02 |
1993–1995 | Serial | Portable StyleWriter |
 |
Apple Color Printer | No | Color inkjet | Canon BJI‑643 | 1993–1994 | SCSI |
Apple Color Printer disks Apple Color Printer 1.0 |
 |
Color StyleWriter Pro | No | Color inkjet | Apple M1949G/A Apple M1950G/A Apple M1951G/A Apple M1952G/A Canon BJI‑201 |
1994–1995 | Serial |
Color SW Pro 1.5 Color SW Pro 1.5.2 |
 |
Color StyleWriter 2400 | No | Color inkjet | Apple M3240G/A Apple M3328G/A Canon BC‑20 Canon BC‑21e |
1994 | Serial LocalTalk adapter |
Color StyleWriter 2400 disks Color SW 2500 |
 |
StyleWriter 1200 | No | Black inkjet | Apple M8041G Canon BC‑02 |
1995 | Serial Ethernet adapter |
StyleWriter 1200 disks Color SW 1500 |
 |
Color StyleWriter 2200 | No | Color inkjet | Apple M3909G/A Canon BC‑10 Canon BC‑11 |
1995 | Serial |
Color StyleWriter 2200 disks Color SW 2500 |
 |
Color StyleWriter 1500 | No | Color inkjet | Apple M8041G Apple M4609G Canon BC‑02 Canon BC‑05 |
1996 | Serial LocalTalk or Ethernet adapter |
Color SW 1500 |
 |
Color StyleWriter 2500 | No | Color inkjet | Apple M3240G/A Apple M3328G/A Canon BC‑20 Canon BC‑21e |
1996 | Serial LocalTalk or Ethernet adapter |
Color SW 2500 |
 |
Color StyleWriter 4100, 4500 | No | Color inkjet | HP 29 (51629A) HP 49 (51649A) |
1997 | LocalTalk Serial |
Color StyleWriter 4500 CD Color SW 4000 disk 1 Color SW 4000 disk 2 Color SW 4000 update |
 |
Color StyleWriter 6500 | No | Color inkjet | HP 45 (51645A) | 1997 | LocalTalk Serial Parallel Ethernet adapter |
Color StyleWriter 6500 CD Color SW 6000 disk 1 Color SW 6000 disk 2 Color SW 6000 disk 3 |
Printers for the Apple II, Apple III and Lisa.
| Printer | AirWriter | Type | Supplies | Years | Connections | Mac driver | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Silentype | No | Black thermal | Thermal paper roll | 1980–1982 | Apple II card Apple III |
None |
 |
Dot Matrix Printer | No | Black dot matrix | Apple A2M0077 Nukote BM160 |
1982–1984 | Parallel | None |
 |
Letter Quality Printer (Daisy Wheel Printer) | No | Black daisy wheel | Apple ribbon cartridge Apple print wheels |
1983–1984 | Serial (25‑pin) | None |
 |
Color Plotter (410 Color Plotter) | No | Color pen plotter | Apple pen kits | 1984–1988 | Serial | None |
 |
Scribe | No | Black or color thermal transfer |
Scribe ribbon cassette | 1984–1985 | Serial | None |
The third-party printers that come up most among vintage Mac owners. Any PostScript printer on AppleTalk works, over LocalTalk or your network.
| Printer | AirWriter | Type | Supplies | Years | Connections | Mac driver | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HP LaserJet 4M, 4M Plus | Yes* | Black laser PostScript |
HP 92298A (98A) | 1992–1994 | LocalTalk card Parallel Serial |
HP LaserJet installer LaserWriter 8 |
|
| HP LaserJet 4ML, 4MP | Yes* | Black laser PostScript |
HP 92274A (74A) | 1993 | LocalTalk Parallel |
HP LaserJet installer LaserWriter 8 |
|
 |
HP LaserJet 5MP, 6MP | Yes* | Black laser PostScript |
HP C3903A (03A) | 1995–1996 | LocalTalk Parallel Infrared |
HP LaserJet installer LaserWriter 8 |
 |
HP LaserJet 2100, 2200, 4000, 4050, 4100, 4200, 4250 with JetDirect | Yes* | Black laser PostScript |
HP 96A (2100, 2200) HP 27X (4000, 4050) HP 61X (4100) HP 38A (4200) HP 42A (4250) |
From 1997 | Ethernet | LaserWriter 8 |
 |
HP DeskWriter, DeskWriter C, 510, 520, 540, 550C, 560C, 660C | No | Black or color inkjet |
HP 26 (51626A) HP 25 (51625A) HP 29 (51629A), 660C HP 49 (51649A), 660C |
1989–1995 | Serial LocalTalk |
HP DeskWriter 6.0 HP DeskWriter 5.0 |
 |
Tektronix Phaser PX, 220i, 340, 350, 360, 740 | Yes, in gray* | Color wax, solid ink or laser PostScript |
ColorStix Wax rolls Toner |
1990–1999 | By model: LocalTalk Ethernet Serial Parallel |
Phaser PPDs LaserWriter 8 |
 |
Epson Stylus Color, Color 740, Color 3000, Photo 700, Photo EX | No | Color inkjet | Epson S020189 (740) Epson S020191 (740) Epson S020093 (Photo 700, EX) Epson S020110 (Photo 700, EX) |
1995–1998 | Serial (8‑pin) Parallel |
Epson drivers CD, 1998 |
* Not yet confirmed. Report a printer.
A LaserJet with JetDirect needs PostScript, and AppleTalk turned on in the JetDirect settings.
Each printer links its own disks where they survive, on Macintosh Garden, Macintosh Repository or the Internet Archive, and Apple's own installer where Apple still hosts it. Open each download with StuffIt Expander, then open what it unpacks. Disk images open with Disk Copy.
Apple's Legacy Software Recovery CD (1999) has the software for every Apple printer in one disc image.
- ImageWriters through AirWriter. Use AppleTalk ImageWriter. See Vintage Macs (LocalTalk).
- LaserWriters. Every Mac system comes with a LaserWriter driver. LaserWriter 8 is a newer one for System 7.1 and later.
The drawings come from the printers' manuals and brochures, cleaned up and resized. Three photos come from Wikimedia Commons.
Sources
- ImageWriter, ImageWriter 15: ImageWriter manual
- ImageWriter II: ImageWriter II Owner's Manual
- ImageWriter LQ: ImageWriter LQ User's Guide
- LaserWriter, LaserWriter Plus: LaserWriter and LaserWriter Plus manual
- LaserWriter II family: LaserWriter IIf and IIg Owner's Guide
- Personal LaserWriter SC, NT, LS, NTR: Personal LaserWriter LS Owner's Guide
- LaserWriter Select: LaserWriter Select service course
- LaserWriter Pro 600, 630: LaserWriter Pro guide
- Personal LaserWriter 300: Personal LaserWriter 300 User's Guide
- Personal LaserWriter 320, LaserWriter 4/600 PS: LaserWriter 4/600 PS setup guide
- LaserWriter Pro 810: LaserWriter Pro 810 Service Source
- LaserWriter 16/600 PS: LaserWriter 16/600 PS setup guide
- Color LaserWriter: Color LaserWriter 12/600 PS setup guide
- LaserWriter 12/640 PS: LaserWriter 12/640 PS setup guide
- LaserWriter 8500: LaserWriter 8500 User's Guide
- LaserWriter 10/600 A3+: LaserWriter 10/600 A3+ Service Source
- StyleWriter: StyleWriter Owner's Guide
- StyleWriter II: StyleWriter II manual
- Portable StyleWriter: Portable StyleWriter brochure
- Apple Color Printer: Apple Color Printer Service Source
- Color StyleWriter Pro: Color StyleWriter Pro manual
- Color StyleWriter 2400: Color StyleWriter 2400 manual
- StyleWriter 1200: StyleWriter 1200 manual
- Color StyleWriter 1500: Color StyleWriter 1500 User's Guide
- Color StyleWriter 2500: Color StyleWriter 2500 User's Guide
- Color StyleWriter 4100, 4500: Color StyleWriter 4500 manual
- Color StyleWriter 6500: Color StyleWriter 6500 manual
- Dot Matrix Printer: Dot Matrix Printer Operator's Guide
- Letter Quality Printer: Daisy Wheel Printer manual
- Scribe: Scribe User's Manual
- HP LaserJet 5MP, 6MP: HP LaserJet 5P and 5MP service supplement
- HP LaserJet with JetDirect: HP LaserJet 4000 Series User's Guide
- HP DeskWriter: HP DeskWriter 600 User's Guide
- Tektronix Phaser: Tektronix Phaser 350 manual
- Epson Stylus: Epson Stylus Color 600 manual
- Silentype: photo by Christian Brockmann, free use
- Color Plotter: photo by Marcin Wichary, CC BY 2.0
- Color StyleWriter 2200: photo by Scott Hoffman, CC BY-SA 2.0
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This documentation is licensed under CC-BY-SA-4.0. The drawings belong to the printers' makers, and the photos to the people credited above; neither is covered by that license.