I have an iMac System Mac OS 8.6 with a USB connection, and I'm looking for a printer - possibly a Deskjet 880C with a driver.  Please note that I presently have a LaserWriter 300/Laser Select that needs a new cartridge and the cable does not match.  Does someone have any suggestions?  Thank you

Yup. Forget the Laserwriter Select - they are not supported at all by Apple. They MAY work with a USB-Serial adaptor (Griffin Technology), but the printer language is Quickdraw which is extinct as far as OS X is concerned - but may work under your old 8.6 system. If you're looking for an inexpensive, fast, high-resolution laser printer, I suggest you look at Samsung or Lexmark. If you're looking for a good inkjet, try an Epson, HP or Canon.

Dan Millar
Apple Product Specialist
Computer Concepts Ltd.

Actually, I have been using a LaserWriter Select 360 for years with several OS X machines.  All you need is an AsanteTalk LocalTalk Bridge which lets you connects your LaserWriter to an Ethernet network.  If you want one, I have one for sale...

Cheers!

Sam

Okay, Sam's right! But to be specific, the following LaserWriters are NOT supported:

Personal LaserWriter Select 300 - QuickDraw/serial
Personal LaserWriter SC - QuickDraw/SCSI
Personal LaserWriter LS - QuickDraw/serial
Personal LaserWriter 300 - QuickDraw/Serial

The Personal LaserWriter Select 310 (serial only), 320, 360, NT, and NTR are all PostScript and LocalTalk compatible and will work with the solution Sam suggests.

I still highly recommend one of the new Samsung or Lexmark Laser printers - for a bit more than the prive of one toner cartridge for your LaserWriter you'll have a printer that spews 20 pages  a minute at 600 dpi with PostScript Level 3! Compare that to your obsolete (there are NO service parts available for your LaserWriter so when ANYTHING breaks, it's finished!) 300 dpi, 4 page-per-minute non-postscript printer and I think you'll agree, there is NO comparison. Go for the laser with the lowest toner price/ highest yield and you'll never look back....

BTW, anyone interested in buying my Personal LaserWriter 300? It needs a cartridge....

Just kidding,

Dan