There is a driver for this printer supplied with 10.3. All you need to do is
sort out the physical connection between the printer and the Mac. As the
text from the website you quoted says, the printer has a LocalTalk port on
it, although the rest of their description is rather misleading (I won't go
into the detail as it would take a while!). You basically need to convert
this to ethernet. The only product I am aware of that I think is still
available is the AsanteTalk.
You will then connect this to your PowerBook via the ethernet port � either
directly (the PowerBook G4 automagically sorts out the cabling so you don�t
need a crossover cable, as you otherwise would) or via a hub/switch if you
have other ethernet devices on your network.
Then go into Printer Setup Utility in the normal way and set the printer up
� MacOS X may even do this for you automatically (I never know exactly what
triggers this, but I think it's just a case of when a printer appears on the
network, OS X sees it).
The only further comment is that my Mother had one of these printers with a
LocalTalk to ethernet converter box (I think it was a Farallon one), and it
was a little bit unreliable with 10.2.x � I never tracked down the reason
and eventually bought her a Brother laser printer which she�s been very
happy with. When it worked, the LaserWriter was decent quality, but rather
slow.
Late update! According to a post on the Asante forum, there is a problem
with this configuration, and it sounds like there isn't a full fix. Every
now and then the printer will lose connection and you have to power
everything down. Then power up in the order Computer, Printer, AsanteTalk,
waiting for each device to fully power up before proceeding to the next one.
If this doesn't work, you have to restart the computer into OS 9.2.x and
power up the devices again in the same order. Then when the printer appears
in the Chooser under OS 9 you can reboot into OS X and it will work again.
It is also suggested that you must have AppleTalk turned on in the Network
pane of SysPrefs, which requires that you aren't using PPOE.
Sorry it's a bit complex, but the printer is rather old now...
Nick
--
Nick Collingridge - Zapp Computer Consultancy
From: "Hammond, Tony (ELSLON)" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Reply-To: "Mac UK" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: Thu, 5 Feb 2004 17:10:08 -0000
To: "Mac UK" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: G4 and LaserWriter 4/600 PS
Hi:
First, thanks for all the advice about using OS 10.3 and broadband. Now,
I've got another question: Can I print to a LaserWriter 4/600 PS from a G4
Powerbook running OS 10.3? I found the following info at
http://www.printer-drivers.com/drivers/29/29617.htm
but this was dated April '01 - and doesn't specify the OS:
"Here is the mac driver for the Laserwriter 4/600 printer. This
printer is a localtalk printer, not a serial or ethernet printer, so if you
want to use it you will need an adaptor. We bought one from Farallon (the
ethermac iprint). You will also need a junction box that converts serial
style localtalk (on the printer) to phone style 'phonetalk' cabling. We got
that from Farallon, too."
Am currently printing using a desktop PowerMac 5100/100 running 7.5.5 but
need to bridge the gap somehow. Any ideas, suggestions?
Many thanks again,
Tony
--
Mac UK is sponsored by <http://lowendmac.com/> and...
123Inkjets.com <http://lowendmac.com/ad/123inkjets.html>
Support Low End Mac <http://lowendmac.com/lists/support.html>
Mac UK list info: <http://lowendmac.com/lists/mac-uk.shtml>
--> AOL users, remove "mailto:";
Send list messages to: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To unsubscribe, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
For digest mode, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subscription questions: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Archive: <http://www.mail-archive.com/mac-uk%40mail.maclaunch.com/>
Using a Mac? Free email & more at Applelinks! http://www.applelinks.com
