[Xterratop]

I have an old Apple Select postscript laser printer that I used on my old Apple Centris 650. The printer is still in great shape and I was wondering if it would be able to work if I hook it up to my new G4 Dual 867 Powermac running OS10.2.6. I think the connection is the old parallel ports and I still have the old drivers on a 3.5" diskette. Or would it be stupid to keep this printer and get a better laser printer. I'm not sure what to do.

[-Q-]

I'd vote to get a new one. With laser printers in the $200 range, you'll save so much time and effort in buying a new one rather than getting the equipment to hook that old printer up...

[icruise]

I agree that you should get a new one. You'd have to spend a fair amount of time and money to get it working, and even if it did work it's likely not going to be as good as a new printer.

[scottiB]

Well, since I have a Personal LaserWriter NTR (PostScript) purchased in 1991, I think you should keep and use it.

What you need is a LocalTalk to ethernet adapter. Here's one from Asante:

http://www.asante.com/products/adapt...alk/index.html

Also there's also some Farallon Etherwave adapters on eBay for $25.

Plug it into a ethernet hub, and it's a newtwork printer.

No drivers are needed--PrintCenter recognized my NTR automagically.

[bbales]

Interestingly, I have an old Personal LaserWriter (also purchased in '91 -- I think my LC was running System 6 back then) that I haven't used in years and years. I still have it though, and would love to hook it up to my G4 400. I tried to hook it up a year or two ago to an old computer my daughters were using and had absolutely no luck. Now, how would I do this (what would I need)? The computer has a SCSI card, plus ethernet, etc.

Thanks! It's a great printer, even if it is only B&W -- and more importantly, it doesn't go through ink like nuts.

[scottiB]

bbales, you'd need the AsanteTalk adapter/bridge I linked to. New, they are a bit pricey--from $80 to $120 check around--but on eBay, I saw some for around $25.

You connect the LocalTalk cable to one side, then an ethernet cable to the other (plus a power adapter).

If you're connecting straight to the G4, I believe you'd need a ethernet cross-over cable since the G4/400 doesn't have an auto-sensing ethernet port (I don't think).

You can also, like I am, plug the printer into an ethernet hub and share the printer among various Macs (even AirPort). What's even cooler is that non-ethernet Macs (like my old IIci) can be on my network (via the old-school PhoneNet/LocalTalk/daisy-chaining method).

Anyway, once everything's up and running, PrintCenter in X or Chooser in 9 will see it.

My only warning is to make sure the printer is a Personal LaserWriter NT or NTR--these are both PostScript. The Personal LaserWriter LS is not networkable--it doesn't support AppleTalk (check the compatability chart link on the product page).