Peugeotguy

Q: Apple Laserwriter IIG Question

Dear Apple Community: I still have my Apple Laserwriter IIG printer. I am now trying to set it up to my mom's new (to her) iMac computer. I tied to download a driver for it and it seems like there isn't any any more. I have installed 10.6.8 (Snow Leopard) and from my research OS X 10.6 doesn't support Apple talk, which is I guess required for this printer to work. Apple suggested several workarounds including was/is called a Gatorbox from Cayman Systems. The Gatorbox is no longer made and seems no longer available on ebay or anywhere else. The software workarounds don't seem to have been updated for years. Am I just out of luck for using this printer on the latest Mac OS X operating systems? Thank you.

Apple Laserwriter IIG, Mac OS X (10.6.8)

Posted on Jun 20, 2013 5:08 PM

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Q: Apple Laserwriter IIG Question

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  • by JustSomeGuy,Helpful

    JustSomeGuy JustSomeGuy Jun 21, 2013 4:25 AM in response to Peugeotguy
    Level 3 (586 points)
    Jun 21, 2013 4:25 AM in response to Peugeotguy

    Other solutions include getting a "bridge" Mac that can talk Appletalk and serve the printer on your network.  But that will probably be expsnsive in terms of maintenance effort for you - and for little gain.  It's down to a cost-benefit analysis for you: how much effort do you want to put into keeping this older technology bridged to the present day, vs. purchasing a new, inexpensive laser printer that will work now and for a while into the future?

     

    I know, and I sympathize with the notion that perfectly good hardware shouldn't go to waste.  Believe me, look at my tagline - I have lots of it.  But the fact of the matter is that joining the very old to the very new gets harder and harder with each passing generation.  Do you want to become an expert in retro computing?  Do you want to become tech support for your mom?  If so, join the club - and welcome!  If you just want your mom to be able to print, pick up a new laser printer.

  • by Peugeotguy,

    Peugeotguy Peugeotguy Jun 25, 2013 11:45 PM in response to JustSomeGuy
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 25, 2013 11:45 PM in response to JustSomeGuy

    Dear JustSomeGuy: thanks for your reply and help! Could you please tell me what the last OS X version that supported this printer? If I try to sell it, I'd like to tell them that it doesn't work with newer operating system but OSX(x) supports it. Thank you.