[SteveJobs]

Hey everyone,
I guess someone of you might be able to help me. Standing here is a beige G3 233 with two serial ports and a printer that needs to be connected via these ports.

However, I have 10.2 installed. I have read that 10.2 does not support the ports on this machine, but isn't there a third-party utility to make this work?

If not, would 10.3 change the situation?

Thanks in advance,
Steve

[Detrius]

If anything, 10.3 would make the situation worse, as that machine is not supported by 10.3.

You can try XpostFacto, which you can get from macsales.com in their OS X section. I'm not certain that will solve your problem, but it's the only thing that has a chance.

[Dr. Wahnsinn]

Perhaps you should try a serial-Ethernet converter such as the Farallon EtherWave Printer Adaptor. This is what I used to connect my LaserWriter Select 610 to my G3s (both "beige" and blue & white). The problem is that the LaserWriter requires AppleTalk and Mac OS X doesn't support AppleTalk over the serial ports. The EtherWave adaptor connects to the serial port of the printer and has two Ethernet ports, one of which you use to connect a cable to the Ethernet port on the G3. Activate AppleTalk on the G3 and print away.

[jcadam]

Step 1. Buy a USB PCI card.

Step 2. Install in beige PowerMacintosh G3.

Step 3. Buy modern printer.

Step 4. Plug printer into newly acquired USB port.

Step 5. Print the contents of your pr0n_jpegs directory

Step 6. Have a beer

[eyadams]

Step 1. Buy a USB PCI card.
<snip>

Yes, that will work. I did it with my Beige G3 running 10.1 and 10.2. But what's the fun in that?

A more fun solution:

- Download, compile, and install the open source version of CUPS, the printing architecture used by 10.2, which includes support for serial ports. (The version Apple uses has serial support compiled out)
- Figure out how to get the Print Center to talk to this version of CUPS
- Get a few more years life out of your antique printer.

Oh, before you do any of that you should verify that CUPS supports your printer, and at what level. Also, if you can get any part of this to work, you're a better hacker than I. As I said, I gave up and spent some money.

[MilkmanDan]

1) Find long-ass way to make current old technology work, and end up cursing a lot.

2) Buy USB PCI Card. Modern Printer. Drink Beer.

I like the second option much bette.