List of Apple printers explained

Apple has produced several lines of printers in its history, but no longer produces or supports these devices today. Though some early products use thermal technology, Apple's products can be broadly divided into three lines: ImageWriter (dot matrix), LaserWriter (PostScript laser), and StyleWriter (thermal inkjet).

Early products

Apple's first printer was the Apple Silentype, released in June 1979, shortly after the Apple II Plus. The Silentype was a thermal printer, which used a special paper and provided 80 column output. Also compatible with the Apple III, the Silentype was a rebranded Trendcom 200.[1] [2]

The Apple Dot Matrix Printer (often shortened to Apple DMP) is a printer manufactured by C. Itoh and sold under Apple label in 1982 for the Apple II series, Lisa, and the Apple III.[1] Apple followed this release with a Qume daisy wheel engine, the Apple Letter Quality Printer (also known as the Apple Daisy Wheel Printer), in January 1983. This printer could print at forty characters per second.[1] Also in 1983, Apple released its only plotter, the Apple Color Plotter. This printer moved and rotated four color pens along the horizontal axis, the device moving the paper into order to allow its pens to render along the vertical axis.[1] The Apple Scribe Printer was a thermal transfer printer, first introduced in 1984 alongside the Apple IIc for a relatively low retail price, and compatible with the Apple IIe computer.[1]

class=unsortableImage !class=unsortableName !class=unsortableType !class=unsortableInterface !DPI Introduced Discontinued class=unsortableNotes
SilentypeThermalserialN/AUses nonstandard DE-9 pinout[3]
Dot Matrix PrinterDot MatrixparallelN/A9-pin[4] [5]
Daisy Wheel PrinterDaisy WheelserialN/AOffers graphics[6] [7]
Color PlotterPlotterserialN/A[8]
ScribeThermalserial144Reviewed[9]

Dot-matrix series

See main article: ImageWriter.

class=unsortableImage !class=unsortableName !class=unsortableType !class=unsortableInterface !DPI Introduced Discontinued class=unsortableNotes
ImageWriterDot matrixserial1449-pin[10]
ImageWriter IIDot matrixserial160x1449-pin[11]
ImageWriter LQDot matrixserial320x21627-pin, Letter Quality[12]

Laser printer series

See main article: LaserWriter. The LaserWriter was a laser printer with built-in PostScript interpreter introduced by Apple in 1985. It was one of the first laser printers available to the mass market. In combination with WYSIWYG publishing software like PageMaker, that operated on top of the graphical user interface of Macintosh computers, the LaserWriter was a key component at the beginning of the desktop publishing revolution.[13] [14]

class=unsortableImage !class=unsortableName !class=unsortableType !class=unsortableInterface !class=unsortableEngine !PPM DPI Introduced Discontinued Weight class=unsortableNotes
LaserWriterPostScript
laser		serial
LocalTalk		Canon
LBP-CX		830077 lbs.[15]
LaserWriter PlusPostScript
laser		serial
LocalTalk		Canon
LBP-CX		830077 lbs.[16]
LaserWriter II SCQuickDraw
laser		SCSICanon
LBP-SX		830045 lbs.[17]
LaserWriter II NTPostScript
laser		serial
LocalTalk		Canon
LBP-SX		830045 lbs.[18]
LaserWriter II NTXPostScript
laser		serial
LocalTalk		Canon
LBP-SX		830045 lbs.[19]
LaserWriter II fPostScript
laser		serial
LocalTalk		Canon
LBP-SX		830045 lbs.[20]
LaserWriter II gPostScript
laser		serial
LocalTalk
AAUI		Canon
LBP-SX		830045 lbs.[21]
Personal LaserWriter SCQuickDraw
laser		SCSICanon
LBP-LX		430032 lbs.[22]
Personal LaserWriter NTPostScript
laser		serial
LocalTalk		Canon
LBP-LX		430032 lbs.[23]
Personal LaserWriter LSQuickDraw
laser		serialCanon
LBP-LX		430031 lbs.[24]
Personal LaserWriter NTRPostScript
laser		serial
LocalTalk
parallel		Canon
LBP-LX		430029.5 lbs.[25]
Personal LaserWriter 300QuickDraw
laser		serialCanon
LBP-PX		430015.4 lbs.[26]
Personal LaserWriter 320PostScript
laser		LocalTalkCanon
LBP-PX		430015.4 lbs.[27]
LaserWriter Pro 600PostScript
laser		serial
LocalTalk
parallel		Canon
LBP-EX		860039 lbs.[28]
LaserWriter Pro 630PostScript
laser		serial
LocalTalk
parallel
AAUI		Canon
LBP-EX		860039 lbs.[29]
LaserWriter Pro 810PostScript
laser		serial
LocalTalk
AAUI		Fuji/Xerox
XP 20[30] 		2080081 lbs.two built-in paper trays[31]
LaserWriter Select 300QuickDraw
laser		serialFuji/Xerox
XP 5 (P1)		530026 lbs.[32]
LaserWriter Select 310PostScript
laser		serial
parallel		Fuji/Xerox
XP 5 (P1)		530026 lbs.[33]
LaserWriter Select 360PostScript
laser		serial
LocalTalk
parallel		Fuji/Xerox
XP 10 (P1)		1060029 lbs.[34]
LaserWriter 16/600 PSPostScript
laser		LocalTalk
parallel
AAUI		Canon
LBP-EX		17600 40 lbs.[35]
LaserWriter 4/600PostScript
laser		LocalTalkCanon
LBP-PX		4600unknown15.4 lbs.[36]
LaserWriter 12/640 PSPostScript
laser		AAUI
LocalTalk
parallel		Fuji/Xerox
P893		12600199726.5 lbs.8 ppm duplex[37]
LaserWriter 8500PostScript
laser		Ethernet
LocalTalk
parallel		Fuji/Xerox
P880		20600January 199970.4 lbs.11x17 paper tray[38]
Color LaserWriter 12/600PostScript
laser		Ethernet
LocalTalk
parallel		Canon
LBP-HX		12600110 lbs.3 ppm in color[39]
Color LaserWriter 12/660PostScript
laser		Ethernet
LocalTalk
parallel		Canon
LBP-HX		126001997110 lbs.3 ppm in color[40]

Inkjet series

See main article: StyleWriter.

The StyleWriter was the first of Apple's line of inkjet serial printers, targeted mainly towards consumers. They produced print quality that was better than the dot matrix ImageWriters, and were cheaper than the LaserWriters. All but a few models contained Canon print engines, a few were rebadged Canon printers, while the last few were rebadged HP DeskJet printers.

The Apple Color Printer was the first color inkjet printer sold by Apple. Introduced in 1993 alongside the StyleWriter II, it was a rebadged Canon BJC-820 printer.[41] Its maximum resolution was 360 DPI and connected to the computer via SCSI. Unlike many inkjet printers of the time, the Apple Color Printer did not suffer from print slowdowns caused by slow communication from the computer performing rasterization, since the SCSI bus is relatively fast. The model was discontinued in 1994 when Apple introduced the Color StyleWriter series of printers.[42]

class=unsortableImage !class=unsortableName !class=unsortableType !class=unsortableInterface !class=unsortableEngine !PPM DPI Introduced Discontinued Weight class=unsortableNotes
StyleWritermonochrome
thermal
inkjet		serialCanon0.53607.5 lbs.[43]
StyleWriter IImonochrome
thermal
inkjet		serialCanon13606.6 lbs.[44]
Portable StyleWritermonochrome
thermal
inkjet		parallelCanon0.53604.5 lbs.Cable adapter allowed connection to serial[45]
Color StyleWriter Procolor
thermal
inkjet		serialCanon2/0.536011 lbs.[46]
StyleWriter 1200monochrome
thermal
inkjet		serialCanon1360unknown6.6 lbs.[47]
Color StyleWriter 2400color
thermal
inkjet		serialCanon3360unknown7.9 lbs.LocalTalk option[48]
Color StyleWriter 2200color
thermal
inkjet		serialCanon3720x360unknown3.1 lbs.portable[49]
Color StyleWriter 1500color
thermal
inkjet		serialCanon3720x360unknown5.5 lbs.LocalTalk option, EtherTalk option[50]
Color StyleWriter 2500color
thermal
inkjet		serialCanon3720x360unknown6.9 lbs.LocalTalk option, EtherTalk option[51]
Color StyleWriter 4100color
thermal
inkjet		serial
LocalTalk		HP5600unknown11.7 lbs.[52]
Color StyleWriter 4500color
thermal
inkjet		serial
LocalTalk		HP5600unknown11.7 lbs.[53]
Color StyleWriter 6500color
thermal
inkjet		serial
LocalTalk
parallel		HP8/4600unknown14.3 lbs.EtherTalk option[54]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Chapter 13: Peripherals, cont.. Weyhrich. Steven. December 31, 1991. Apple II History. Creative Commons license. August 28, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20090207203249/http://apple2history.org/history/ah13.html. February 7, 2009.
  2. Web site: Apple Silentype (1980). https://archive.today/20130129114355/http://www.macworld.com/article/144738/2009/12/apple_silentype.html. dead. January 29, 2013. Edwards. Benj. December 10, 2009. Macworld. IDG. August 28, 2011.
  3. Web site: Silentype: Pinouts. October 12, 1994. Apple.com. Apple Inc.. August 20, 2015. September 26, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220926135129/https://support.apple.com/kb/TA27850?locale=en_US. live.
  4. Gutenberg would be proud. . May 1983 . Inside Apple . . 8 . 5 . August 20, 2015.
  5. Web site: Apple Dot Matrix Printer . 2014 . Apple II Scans . https://web.archive.org/web/20140814062809/http://www.apple2scans.net/apple-ii-documents/apple-dot-matrix-printer/ . 14 August 2014 . dead . 20 August 2015.
  6. Web site: Apple Daisy Wheel Printer . 2014 . Apple II Scans . https://web.archive.org/web/20140814062715/http://www.apple2scans.net/apple-ii-documents/apple-daisy-wheel-printer/ . 14 August 2014 . dead . 20 August 2015.
  7. Apple adds a whole new cast of characters. . 1982-10-11 . Inside Apple . . 4 . 40. 13 . August 20, 2015.
  8. Now Apple plots color. . 1983-11-14 . Inside Apple . . 5 . 46. 28–29 . August 20, 2015.
  9. Apple Scribe Printer: Low-budget thermal printer has print, ribbon problems . Green, Doug . Green, Denise . 17 December 1984 . . 6 . 51 . 55–56 . August 20, 2015 . 26 September 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220926135130/https://books.google.com/books?id=rC4EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA55 . live .
  10. Web site: ImageWriter. October 13, 2008. Apple.com. Apple Inc.. August 29, 2011. October 16, 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20071016200450/http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=112473. live.
  11. Web site: ImageWriter II. October 13, 2008. Apple.com. Apple Inc.. August 29, 2011. October 16, 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20071016200455/http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=112475. live.
  12. Web site: ImageWriter LQ. October 13, 2008. Apple.com. Apple Inc.. August 29, 2011. October 16, 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20071016043450/http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=112477. live.
  13. H. A. Tucker: Desktop Publishing. In: Maurice M. de Ruiter: Advances in Computer Graphics III. Springer, 1988,, P. 296.
  14. Michael B. Spring: Electronic printing and publishing: the document processing revolution. CRC Press, 1991,, Page 46.
  15. Web site: LaserWriter. October 13, 2008. Apple.com. Apple Inc.. August 28, 2011. August 11, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110811165439/http://support.apple.com/kb/SP472. live.
  16. Web site: LaserWriter Plus. October 13, 2008. Apple.com. Apple Inc.. August 27, 2011. August 11, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110811165448/http://support.apple.com/kb/SP473. live.
  17. Web site: LaserWriter II SC. October 13, 2008. Apple.com. Apple Inc.. August 28, 2011. August 11, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110811165635/http://support.apple.com/kb/SP474. live.
  18. Web site: LaserWriter II NT. October 13, 2008. Apple.com. Apple Inc.. August 28, 2011. August 11, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110811165641/http://support.apple.com/kb/SP475. live.
  19. Web site: LaserWriter II NTX. October 13, 2008. Apple.com. Apple Inc.. August 28, 2011. August 11, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110811165700/http://support.apple.com/kb/SP476. live.
  20. Web site: LaserWriter II f. October 13, 2008. Apple.com. Apple Inc.. August 28, 2011. August 11, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110811165715/http://support.apple.com/kb/SP477. live.
  21. Web site: LaserWriter II g. October 13, 2008. Apple.com. Apple Inc.. August 28, 2011. August 11, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110811165730/http://support.apple.com/kb/SP478. live.
  22. Web site: Personal LaserWriter SC. October 13, 2008. Apple.com. Apple Inc.. August 28, 2011. August 11, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110811170242/http://support.apple.com/kb/SP441. live.
  23. Web site: Personal LaserWriter NT. October 13, 2008. Apple.com. Apple Inc.. August 28, 2011. August 11, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110811170250/http://support.apple.com/kb/SP439. live.
  24. Web site: Personal LaserWriter LS. October 13, 2008. Apple.com. Apple Inc.. August 28, 2011. September 24, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110924060540/http://support.apple.com/kb/SP440. live.
  25. Web site: Personal LaserWriter NTR. October 13, 2008. Apple.com. Apple Inc.. August 28, 2011. August 11, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110811172438/http://support.apple.com/kb/SP438. live.
  26. Web site: Personal LaserWriter 300. October 13, 2008. Apple.com. Apple Inc.. August 28, 2011. August 11, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110811170257/http://support.apple.com/kb/SP437. live.
  27. Web site: Personal LaserWriter 320. October 13, 2008. Apple.com. Apple Inc.. August 28, 2011. August 11, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110811170306/http://support.apple.com/kb/SP436. live.
  28. Web site: LaserWriter Pro 600. October 13, 2008. Apple.com. Apple Inc.. August 28, 2011. August 11, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110811170332/http://support.apple.com/kb/SP479. live.
  29. Web site: LaserWriter Pro 630. October 13, 2008. Apple.com. Apple Inc.. August 28, 2011. August 11, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110811170341/http://support.apple.com/kb/SP480. live.
  30. Web site: LaserWriter Pro 810: Questions and Answers. November 21, 1995. Apple.com. Apple Inc.. March 6, 2013. May 26, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130526025454/http://support.apple.com/kb/TA30385?viewlocale=en_US. live.
  31. Web site: LaserWriter Pro 810. October 13, 2008. Apple.com. Apple Inc.. August 28, 2011. August 11, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110811170352/http://support.apple.com/kb/SP481. live.
  32. Web site: LaserWriter Select 300. October 13, 2008. Apple.com. Apple Inc.. August 28, 2011. August 11, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110811170311/http://support.apple.com/kb/SP435. live.
  33. Web site: LaserWriter Select 310. October 13, 2008. Apple.com. Apple Inc.. August 28, 2011. August 11, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110811170320/http://support.apple.com/kb/SP434. live.
  34. Web site: LaserWriter Select 360. October 13, 2008. Apple.com. Apple Inc.. August 28, 2011. August 11, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110811170822/http://support.apple.com/kb/SP433. live.
  35. Web site: LaserWriter 16/600 PS. October 13, 2008. Apple.com. Apple Inc.. August 28, 2011. August 11, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110811165929/http://support.apple.com/kb/SP482. live.
  36. Web site: LaserWriter 4/600 PS. October 13, 2008. Apple.com. Apple Inc.. August 28, 2011. August 11, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110811165905/http://support.apple.com/kb/SP432. live.
  37. Web site: LaserWriter 12/640 PS. June 1, 1998. Low End Mac. Low End Mac. October 1, 2019. October 2, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191002022233/https://lowendmac.com/1996/laserwriter-12-640-ps/. live.
  38. Web site: LaserWriter 8500. October 13, 2008. Apple.com. Apple Inc.. August 28, 2011. September 7, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110907034609/http://support.apple.com/kb/SP483. live.
  39. Web site: Color LaserWriter 12/600. October 13, 2008. Apple.com. Apple Inc.. August 28, 2011. September 29, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110929111648/http://support.apple.com/kb/SP461. live.
  40. Web site: Color LaserWriter 12/660. October 13, 2008. Apple.com. Apple Inc.. August 28, 2011. August 11, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110811170234/http://support.apple.com/kb/SP462. live.
  41. Web site: Why The Lame Apple Color Printer?. February 1, 1993. Adam Engst. TidBITS. August 14, 2012. June 18, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130618233409/http://tidbits.com/article/2728. live.
  42. Web site: Apple Color Printer. October 13, 2008. Apple.com. Apple Inc.. August 14, 2012. August 29, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120829182915/http://support.apple.com/kb/SP448. live.
  43. Web site: StyleWriter. October 13, 2008. Apple.com. Apple Inc.. August 28, 2011. September 16, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120916230906/http://support.apple.com/kb/SP458. live.
  44. Web site: StyleWriter II. October 13, 2008. Apple.com. Apple Inc.. August 28, 2011. August 11, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110811170058/http://support.apple.com/kb/SP459. live.
  45. Web site: Portable StyleWriter. October 13, 2008. Apple.com. Apple Inc.. August 28, 2011. August 11, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110811170358/http://support.apple.com/kb/SP449. live.
  46. Web site: Color StyleWriter Pro. October 13, 2008. Apple.com. Apple Inc.. August 28, 2011. August 11, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110811174834/http://support.apple.com/kb/SP465. live.
  47. Web site: StyleWriter 1200. October 13, 2008. Apple.com. Apple Inc.. August 28, 2011. August 11, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110811170219/http://support.apple.com/kb/SP460. live.
  48. Web site: StyleWriter 2400. October 13, 2008. Apple.com. Apple Inc.. August 28, 2011. August 11, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110811174650/http://support.apple.com/kb/SP467. live.
  49. Web site: Color StyleWriter 2200. October 13, 2008. Apple.com. Apple Inc.. August 28, 2011. August 11, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110811174636/http://support.apple.com/kb/SP452. live.
  50. Web site: Color StyleWriter 1500. October 13, 2008. Apple.com. Apple Inc.. August 28, 2011. August 11, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110811174632/http://support.apple.com/kb/SP463. live.
  51. Web site: Color StyleWriter 2500. October 13, 2008. Apple.com. Apple Inc.. August 28, 2011. August 11, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110811174733/http://support.apple.com/kb/SP468. live.
  52. Web site: Color StyleWriter 4100. October 13, 2008. Apple.com. Apple Inc.. August 28, 2011. August 11, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110811174742/http://support.apple.com/kb/SP469. live.
  53. Web site: Color StyleWriter 4500. October 13, 2008. Apple.com. Apple Inc.. August 28, 2011. August 11, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110811174750/http://support.apple.com/kb/SP470. live.
  54. Web site: Color StyleWriter 6500. October 13, 2008. Apple.com. Apple Inc.. August 28, 2011. August 11, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110811174803/http://support.apple.com/kb/SP471. live.

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