Chooser version 7.6.2, Mac OS 9.1. |
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| Developer(s) | Apple Computer |
|---|---|
| Stable release | 7.6.2 |
| Operating system | Mac OS |
| Type | Printer and network utility |
The Chooser is an application program for Macintosh systems using the original Mac OS. The Chooser started out as a desk accessory and became a standalone application program as of System 7. The Chooser allowed users to connect to AppleShare file servers (via AppleTalk or TCP/IP), enable or disable the network access, and select which printer to use.
The original Macintosh computer did not support networking, but could connect to a variety of printer types via its serial ports. A small desk accessory called Choose Printer allowed the printer driver and serial port to be selected for the connected printer.
When Apple introduced the LaserWriter, its very high cost meant that the only cost-effective way to use it was shared among a small workgroup of Macintoshes. This necessitated the inclusion of AppleTalk, a simple networking implementation which used low-cost cabling and the same physical RS-422 serial port hardware. It was a natural extension of Choose Printer to include the ability to select the LaserWriter and also which port was used to connect its network connection.
As AppleTalk became useful for other types of networking, such as file sharing, the Choose Printer accessory was renamed to simply Chooser. The Chooser became the main point to add top-level configuration options for both networking and printing.
Starting with Mac OS X, the Chooser was replaced by OS X's integrated networking features in the Finder. For the printing functions, they are now found in the separate Print Center (10.0 - 10.2) and Printer Setup Utility (10.3 and later) applications.
It still exists in Mac OS 9, and is also required in OS X to select a printer for use with the "Classic" environment, where this is installed.
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