finding printer for a G3 serial port

You posted info only for a G5.

If you are running Mac OS X on your G3, nothing works on the serial ports except there is a third-party driver for ImageWriters. But if you really have a beige G3, you can install selected USB cards for about US$10 to get access to a world of USB printers, provided you are running one of the right versions of Mac OS. You can also get access to Network Printers via Ethernet.

What kinds of printers do you like? Laser Printer, Inkjet, color, black and white, portable, high volume, duplexer, photo-realistic color?

Do you have Broadband Internet access?

Many of the Apple LaserWriters worked with Applealk/LocalTalk -- they connected to the serial port, but when you turned on the AppleTalk option it boosted the speed up to 240,000 bits/sec and added a protocol on top of that. Everything you need is already inside your Mac, except a printer cable.

LaserWriters are available on the used market for cheap. Most are only black and white. The color ones are likely to be trouble. These are 25 of them, and they fall into four classes. I can post a list and describe their capabilities if you like. Some can also connect to the Ethernet port.

If he does not want to do Ethernet, the next simplest would be a PCI-slot card to add USB capability. Cost for a Keyspan or other good USB card is about US$10. You have to download some extensions to get it all working. Then every USB printer with an OS 9 Driver could be used.

Serial interface printers are no longer being made, however, you might be able to find a good used printer such as a color Stylewriter. Suggest you join LEM-Swap for buying & selling Mac stuff. http://groups.google.com/group/lemswap
After you join, post a WTB (want to buy).

 Cheers, Tom 😉

This one is two ports out the back. It is thought that there may not be enough power available to support all four.

a search turns up this card new for US$15:

http://www.yourmacstore.com/shop/shopexd.asp?id=627

These, an eclectic collection, some for cheaper:

amazon search for USB PCI Mac

eBay search for USB (PCI, card, adapter, adaptec, keyspan, macally) -(AC,cam,iMic,camera,keyboard,serial, WiFi,wireless, airport,reader)

This user tip explains the dilemma and how to solve it:

USB PCI card under Mac OS 9.2.2

Message was edited by: Grant Bennet-Alder

It won't be hard with this tutorial on TomeViewer:

TomeViewer: where to get it, How to use it

PS. Thanks for the Star!

Message was edited by: Grant Bennet-Alder

The dictionary says a tome is a large book, or one of a series of Volumes.

The OS 9 installer items are packed into Tomes, which are files containing many items to be selectively used for an installation.

Tome Viewer lets you see inside those big files, select any one or several of possibly dozens of items, and unpack it into a single file by itself so that you can use the Finder to manipulate it.

Hi Mary,

Used StyleWriters appear quite frequently in thrift stores, I use a SW 1200 for all of my B&W work almost exclusively. Cartridges can be found quite cheaply, as little as $3 on eBay. I never found a 1200 I didn't like, at one time I had 5 of the little beasties. Never used a color SW.

I use a 4-external, 1-internal USB card and have never had any power problems. I don't think I have ever had 4 USB devices running at the same time however. My card was over $10 but less than $20 at Frys as I recall. I made sure it had a NEC chip set on it before buying. Some of the early Belkin USB cards were troublesome, the NEC thing avoided any problems.

Having a USB card will be a plus no matter what the decision is on the printer. USB flash drives are the medium of choice for carrying data around nowadays. Maybe your brother could use one to carry files down to the G4 when he needed heavier printer support. One of the benefits of the ole G3"s is that they can provide so many options.


Good luck!
Don Rieg