Forums | MacLife

Direct connect? Virtually none. For one thing, the only Mac with USB that ran 8.1 was the Revision A iMac. USB drivers for PCI expansion cards? Sure - but under 8.1 it's flakey at best. Wouldn't even consider it, especially if it's business related. Money's on the line, you need the most reliable solution you can get.

Network? Any postscript laser printer will work fine over Ethernet & TCP/IP. Easiest way to set up is with the Desktop Printer Utility; it allows for LPR printer configuration as well as old-fashioned Appletalk. You may not have a driver for it, but in those cases the Generic PPD or a Laserwriter PPD of some sort usually work alright. Postscript is pretty forgiving.

Warning: some networkable laser printers, like the Brother HL-2070N, don't support Postscript. Caveat emptor. Check your specs before you buy.

And if this is actually your job, you might want to read up on some of this stuff.

I'd contend that a newer networked laser printer would be a better investment. It'll work with the next computer you buy; an old Laserwriter probably won't. Unless it's networked, in which case a newer printer will offer:

* Better performance
* Easier to get toner
* Toner cartridges will likely be cheaper as well (lower cost/page)
* More reliable

It is possible that a Laserwriter would be a better fit, but it would have to be a very odd situation.

pkmgarf wrote:

Thanks for the replies.  The customer never actually came into the store like he said he was going to, but it's good to know what his options are anyway.  As far as reading up on this type of stuff, while I would love to, as I actually enjoy knowing this type of random knowledge, I just don't have the time.  I'm more of the car audio guy at work and fill-in for computers and cameras and stuff when I need to.  And, as terrible as this sounds, the need for random knowledge is the only motivation I have to learn much about printers.  Commission wise, I make between -$1.50 and $30.00 on them, with most being about $2.00.  I know that sounds bad, but when car audio pays huge, you can kinda see my position.

The whole USB ordeal completely slipped my mind, with the fact that very few OS 8.1 Macs have it.  What I really want to know is what was holding this guy to OS 8.1.  I would think that he could do OS 9 at least.

He missed the upgrade bandwagon, and OS9 is no longer available in stores.

8.1? they must have a mission critical app that isn't carbon to stay with that OS.

pkmgarf wrote:

The whole USB ordeal completely slipped my mind, with the fact that very few OS 8.1 Macs have it.  What I really want to know is what was holding this guy to OS 8.1.  I would think that he could do OS 9 at least.

More than likely, he could - but upgrading to OS 9 wouldn't help his USB situation that much - as likely as not, he simply doesn't have it.

Pariah wrote:

Your best bet in that situation is to look for a used Apple LaserWritter.

Or an old HP II with JetDirect box could work too.

Not to rain on anyone's parade (well, maybe a little) but who in their right mind would be using 8.1 in a business setting currently, anyway? When you're running a business you don't mess around with OSs that old if you want to run modern equipment, like printers (And USB isn't even that modern anymore).

I remember way back, like nearly 10 years ago, when I was going from OS 8.6 - 9 and anticipating X coming soon. I think I left 8.1 back in the dust in '97 or '98.

Old 8.1 mission critical app -- yeah that's the ticket -- probably more like they're too cheap to upgrade.

And you can get old-ass iMacs and B&W G3s, early G4s these days, for dirt-cheap prices, that run antique OS 9 and early OS X, and that can easily run most common USB printers, then why would you being using 8.1 at this point which is very limited in current drivers I'm sure? That would be like a PC user still clinging to DOS or Windows 3.0 (Ugh!) or something hideous like that.

Seriously, WTF? It's really not even worth thinking this much about it.

Last edited by adamjg (2008-06-18 8:30 pm)

adamjg wrote:

Not to rain on anyone's parade (well, maybe a little) but who in their right mind would be using 8.1 in a business setting currently, anyway?

When it's mission critical, OS X and the Cheesegrater go in the closet and the 9500 with OS 8.6 goes on the desk.

adamjg wrote:

Not to rain on anyone's parade (well, maybe a little) but who in their right mind would be using 8.1 in a business setting currently, anyway? When you're running a business you don't mess around with OSs that old if you want to run modern equipment, like printers (And USB isn't even that modern anymore).

I remember way back, like nearly 10 years ago, when I was going from OS 8.6 - 9 and anticipating X coming soon. I think I left 8.1 back in the dust in '97 or '98.

Old 8.1 mission critical app -- yeah that's the ticket -- probably more like they're too cheap to upgrade.

And you can get old-ass iMacs and B&W G3s, early G4s these days, for dirt-cheap prices, that run antique OS 9 and early OS X, and that can easily run most common USB printers, then why would you being using 8.1 at this point which is very limited in current drivers I'm sure? That would be like a PC user still clinging to DOS or Windows 3.0 (Ugh!) or something hideous like that.

Seriously, WTF? It's really not even worth thinking this much about it.

Older computers still have tons of use in this day and age. There are even sites like LEM and system7today that are created for this purpose. Personally i dont need a fancy computer. I had a top of the line iMac less than an year ago but i wasn't using it to its fullest potential. To each their own it depends on what you need to use a computer for.