ImageWriter

The ImageWriter was a product line of dot matrix printers manufactured by Apple and designed to be compatible with their entire line of computers. The Imagewriter II was sold alongside the early Macintosh units, and became an important component in early Macintosh computer printing.

Original ImageWriter

The first ImageWriter is a serial based dot matrix printer introduced by Apple Computer in late 1983.

The printer was essentially a re-packaged 9-pin dot matrix printer from C. Itoh Electronics (model C. Itoh 8510, with modified ROM and pinout), released the same year. It was introduced as a replacement for the earlier parallel-based Apple Dot Matrix Printer/DMP (also a C. Itoh model) and, while primary intended for the Apple II, worked across Apple's entire computer product line. The ImageWriter could produce images as well as text, up to a resolution of 144 DPI and a speed of about 120 CPS. In text mode, the printer was logic-seeking, meaning it would print with the head moving in both directions while it would print only in one direction for graphics and Near Letter Quality. 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 and, later, desktop publishing. Quality was adequate rather than startling. Another feature offered was a built-in self test, which could be invoked by holding down the form feed button while powering up the printer. The ImageWriter can be supported by Microsoft Windows-based PC's by using the included C. Itoh 8510 compatible driver.

The ImageWriter was succeeded by the ImageWriter II in late 1985.

Accessories

In 1984 Thunderware introduced the ThunderScan, an optical scanner that was installed in place of the ImageWriter ribbon cartridge.^[1] With support for the Apple II and the Mac, the ThunderScan provided low cost grayscale scanning with moderate resolution and speed.

ImageWriter II

The ImageWriter II is a serial based dot matrix printer that was manufactured by Apple Computer, which supported its entire computer product line when it was released in September 1985. It had several optional add-ons available, including: a plug-in network card, buffer memory card, and motorized sheet feeder. It also supported color printing with an appropriate ribbon. It was particularly well known for being extremely sturdy – ImageWriter II's were still in common use for forms printing a decade after they were produced.

Features

Like its predecessor the ImageWriter, the ImageWriter II utilized a 9-pin C. Itoh mechanism, however was significantly faster in draft-mode where it could print 250 characters per second. Basic color images and text were possible using a color ribbon, a feature that was supported by the original version of QuickDraw on the Macintosh (although running on a monochrome platform, actually supported output for eight colors). On the Apple II, complex full color graphics could be printed. With the Apple IIGS, this included even reproducing print outs of color photographs with hundreds of simulated colors.

The ImageWriter II offered three ASCII text quality modes: NLQ (near-letter-quality) at 45 CPS, a feature for very high text quality on the Apple II platform or for improved draft printing quality on the Macintosh platform. Standard (Correspondence) mode at 180 CPS, providing average quality text. Finally Draft mode at 250 CPS, the highest speed output but at the lowest quality level. In addition to having the same ASCII and European language characters found in the original ImageWriter, the ImageWriter II added 32 MouseText characters.

The ImageWriter II was designed in accordance with Apple's Snow White design language. In 1986 it received the I.D. Design Review and Silver Industrial Design Excellence Awards,^[2] making it the first desktop printer to receive such appraisal.

Add-on accessories

The printer had an expansion socket under the front cover which could accommodate either Apple's AppleTalk network card or 32K memory buffer card, but not both at the same time. Sequential Systems produced a 2-in-1 solution card that combined both features into one card, as well as larger memory buffer cards up to 1 MB. With an optional AppleTalk networking card installed, it was a low cost alternative to the vastly more expensive LaserWriter. Another third party innovation was an add-on peripheral called the ThunderScan, which allowed the printer to work as a low-cost optical scanner (the scanner mechanism temporarily replaced the ink ribbon cartridge).

The ImageWriter II also supported an optional motorized sheet feeder that could feed cut sheet paper. However, the attachment was generally unreliable.

Revisions changes

• The original Imagewriter II (1985) closely followed Apple's Snow white design introduced with the Apple IIc,^[3] and one of the few peripherals that matched its creamy off-white color scheme known at Apple as Fog. This model is recognizable for being white in color and not having the product name on the front cover. There were many ROM revisions produced for this and later ImageWriter II's, made visiable through a self-test (pressing the form feed button while turning the ImageWriter on, then release both buttons simultaneously; the printer would then print the ROM version as well as dipswitch settings). The printer came with a small built-in 2K RAM memory buffer, with option to expand.

• The second ImageWriter II (1986) changed to the standard warm-grey Apple "Platinum" color. This model is not only recognizable for being light grey in color, but having the product name printed beside the rainbow Apple logo. It was introduced at roughly the same time as the Apple IIGS in late 1986, to match its then-new Platinum color scheme which was later adopted by all other computers at Apple.

• The third revision, the ImageWriter II/L (1990) as it was known internally, offered some slight design improvements. The internal power source changed to a switching power supply, reducing the overall weight of the printer by 10 pounds. As a result of the change, power and serial interface ports were moved from the legs to either ends of the tractor feed housing. This model also increased the built-in buffer memory to 24K RAM, eliminating the need for the memory expansion option. The expansion socket was still present for supporting an optional AppleTalk network card.

Unbeknown to most non-Apple users, the ImageWriter II was compatible with Microsoft Windows-based PC's using the operating systems' included C-Itoh 8510 driver (color support was available through third party drivers). The only requirement was an available serial port and appropriate interface cable.

Despite the introduction of the inkjet StyleWriter in 1991, the ImageWriter II kept selling. It continued in production until late 1996, making it the longest running Apple product in history. Existing models are still useful for printing banners and, like all impact printers, for multi-part forms.

The band Man or Astro-man? used it live to perform a song called "A Simple Text File".

ImageWriter LQ

ImageWriter LQ (Letter Quality) was a 27-pin dot matrix printer introduced in 1987 by Apple Computer. The print quality was comparable to competing 24-pin dot-matrix printers, and offered graphics at 320 × 216 DPI. Unlike the ImageWriter II, the LQ was unreliable and noisy. Its printhead had a tendency to overheat with large multi-page prints and melt the glue holding the crystal that supports the pins.

Like the earlier ImageWriter II, the LQ could be networked on an AppleTalk network with the addition of a card. This, as well as guaranteed compatibility with both Apple II and Macintosh computers, made it popular in schools.

References

External links

• ImageWriter II in the VAW computer collection
• "ImageWriter". Apple.com. Apple, Inc.. October 13, 2008. http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=112473. Retrieved August 29, 2011. 
• "ImageWriter II". Apple.com. Apple, Inc.. October 13, 2008. http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=112475. Retrieved August 29, 2011. 
• "ImageWriter LQ". Apple.com. Apple, Inc.. October 13, 2008. http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=112477. Retrieved August 29, 2011.