Where to buy a serial printer? Also, OS 8 vs 9

[jjoan]

Now that I have the modem port issue solvedEarlier this weekI need to procure a serial printer. Also, what are pros and/or cons to installing 9.2.6? The computer isn't at my house, so I don't want a project that will take hours and hours, and the internet settings are working beautifully. Now, this is my first attempt at using the http button to refer to my previous post, hope I did it right. We'll see, as soon as I hit post!

[Scott]

OS8.6 is a very stable and wonderful OS. It may be, arguably, the best classic OS Apple Made. OS9.2.2 is very good as well. However, I don't know that I would say it's as stable as OS8.6 was.

If you're looking for an older printer to plug into the printer port on an older Mac, look for a Stylewriter or Stylewriter II for inkjets. Also some older Laserwriters will work directly with older Macs, Laserwriters II or Personal Laserwriter 300s are good bets.

In reality you can use any printer with ethernet capabilities too. You'll simply need an AAUI to Cat 5 tranceiver — a small converter that plugs into the Mac to give you a modern day ethernet plug.

[sew]

Have a Stylewriter 1200 if you paid the shipping and few bucks for packing and etc (maybe 2 or 3) I'll be more then happy to ship to you and it really works just fine and comes with a cable. Not sure if you can still get ink cartridges for it!! Email at samwake@nospam.accessbee.com (remove nospam.)

[ClayEM]

I have used an Epson 740 for several years and recommend it...it has both serial and USB ports for the Mac as well as a PC serial port. I used it with a 6500 and now with a G4 and operating systems from OS 8.6 to Panther...eBay have several listings for this printer.


Clay

[bobw]

There is no 9.2.6 System. The highest is 9.2.2 and that is only needed if you're also running OS X, otherwise 9.2.1 would be the highest system for you. I have 9.2.1 on my 6500/300 and it runs very well.

For serial printers, check these places;

http://refurbmadness.com/code/printers.shtml

http://www.shrevesystems.com/

http://www2.sunrem.com/sun01.w?cat=0301

http://stn2.headgap.com/resale/FMPro?-toke...=printers&-find

[jjoan]

Whoops, didn't mean 9.2.6. got it mixed up with 10.2.6. Thank you for all the printer shopping places, we'll pick one out.
Joan

[bobw]

If you install 10.2 on your 6500, I don't think you'll be very pleased. It will run at less than half the speed as OS 9.x on the 6500.
OS X requires a minimum of 128MB of memory, and it will run poorly with that amount of ram on any machine, and that's the maximum amount of memory of the 6500.

[bobw]

Another good place to find used hard ware;

http://dougdavis.no-ip.com:8080/MacSwap/

This is run by one of the folks at http://forums.dealmac.com

[chrisharjo]

You can look into Imagewriter II serial printers. I use them now that my USB Canon printer died on me, the print head burned up. I can't print the pretty pictures any more but can still print text. I got 8 printer ribbons from eBay and got a bunch of printer paper from walmart. no problem with printing now.

[swhitset]

I haven't used an imagewriter II since my Apple IIe days.  They were a good printer for their time, but I really would not use one now.  Dot matrix printers just don't print text as nice as the cheapest inkjet.  I am sure you can find an old Stylewriter or an epson 740.  I still have one of each.  Ebay always has several available.

Steve

[mooregr]

Looks like you are in Athens I am in Oxford Ohio. I have some old personal laserwriters that may do the trick, anychance of you being near Cincinnati to get one of them?  When looking for a printer I would look at the following web pages if it is an Apple printer. Some will only work as an AppleTalk printer requiring an AppleTalk compatible connector like the old Phonenet connectors. Other will only work as serial and some will do both! Some of the printers did not have drivers after a certain version of the OS. The URLS below list the important issues so you can tell what you arte getting.

LaserWriter Info
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=30154

Stylewriter Info
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=30153

imagewriter info
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=15372
Thanks
Guy

[jjoan]

Thank you for your generous offer; "sew" (see post above) has shipped his Stylewriter 1200 to me. All the way from California! When I looked on eBay as I was beginning this thread, I couldn't find a single serial printer, just serial printer cables, of which I have boxes and boxes of.
Joan

[RHPConsult]

Hi, Joan:

Good luck with the "new" printer.

I surely do resonate to the comment about "boxes of old cables".

It may be a silly question to ask, but does anyone know of any affirmative reason for doing anything with them, other than tossing them . . . we're into a clean-up cycle here, right now!   Something to do with end of the year resolutions, or maybe following up the process of skeletal repair/replacement.  Err, something!

Does anyone out there in TeeEssLand know of any recycling process that might justify sending them off to someone, somewhere. It seems a shame to just toss 'em.

Oh yes, and should you need any PhoneNet connectors, I've got some of those too,  for contribution to a good cause!

[Paddy]

You could always ask your local school department...or list 'em on Craig's List (free to good home?). Somebody might want them, and it sure beats adding them to the landfill!

[Paddy]

Just after I posted the above, I saw this! Very seasonal, don't you think?