ImageWriter
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| ImageWriter | |
 |
|
| Introduced: | June 1, 1984 |
| Discontinued: | December 1, 1985 |
| Ports: | Serial |
| Type: | Dot matrix |
| Color: | 1 |
| DPI: | 360 |
| Speed: | 1 Page per minute |
| Language: | QuickDraw |
| Power: | 180 Watt |
| Weight: | 16 lbs |
| Dimensions: | (H x W x D) 4.8 x 16.2 x 11.8 in |
ImageWriter is a series of dot matrix printers sold between 1982 and 1996 by Apple. Although supplanted in the high-end by the famous LaserWriter and on the low-end by the StyleWriter, the ImageWriter remained a popular printer for roles like forms printing or producing banners.
The original ImageWriter was a re-packaged 7-pin printer from C.Itoh Electronics, released in 1983. It was originally intended to be used with the Apple II, replacing the earlier Apple Dot Matrix Printer (also a C.Itoh model). The ImageWriter could produce images as well as text, up to a resolution of 144 DPI and a speed of about 120 cps. The ImageWriter was also supported by the Macintosh 128K computer, the original Mac. Apple wanted a graphical printer for the Mac, and had introduced the ImageWriter primarily to support the new machine. This permitted it to produce WYSIWYG output from the screen of the computer, which was an important aspect for promoting the concept of the GUI. Quality was adequate rather than startling.
[edit] Options
Apple provided a LocalTalk option for network connectivity. Apple also sold a 32K input buffer option, while Orange Micro marketed the ImageBuffer with a whopping 128K. Sequential Systems also sold buffer and LocalTalk options.[1] In 1984 Thunderware introduced the ThunderScan, an optical scanner that was installed in place of the ImageWriter ribbon cartridge.[2] With support for the Apple II and the Mac, the ThunderScan provided low cost grayscale scanning with moderate resolution and speed.
Using CUPS drivers, it is possible to use an ImageWriter II under OS X - with suitable hardware/software it can also be shared over AppleTalk.
[edit] References
- ^ Diaz, Tony (1998). ImageWriter II Buffer Cards. ApplereferenceWeb. Retrieved on June 1, 2007.
- ^ Hertzfeld, Andy (1984). Thunderscan. Folklore.org. Retrieved on June 1, 2007.
[edit] External links
| Apple printers | |
|---|---|
| ImageWriter: | II • LQ |
| StyleWriter: | II • 1200 |
| Color StyleWriter: | Pro • 1500 • 2200 • 2400 • 2500 • 4100 • 4500 • 6500 |
| LaserWriter: | Plus • IISC • IINT • IINTX • IIf • IIg • 4/600 PS • 16/600 PS • 12/640 PS • 8500 |
| Color LaserWriter: | 12/600 PS • 12/660 PS |
| Personal LaserWriter: | SC • LS • NT • NTR • 300 • 320 |
| LaserWriter Select: | 300 • 310 • 360 |
| LaserWriter Pro: | 600 • 630 • 810 |
| Other: | SilenType • Scribe Printer • Color Printer • Portable StyleWriter |
