Laserwriter 4/600 Printer

mmp · Apr 24th, 2003, 09:12 PM

Looking for advice on this one. Is the Laserwriter4/600 a decent printer, if so what would a good price on one be? Also I understand it is local talk only. Would it work with a B&W G3 with the stealth serial port? Would I be better off to buy on of the newer laser printers for under $300.00?

Any input is appreciated. Thanks [img]smile.gif[/img]

Rob · Apr 24th, 2003, 09:59 PM

I bought one for my parents a couple of years ago since it was small, cheap and has 600dpi. At first I was surprised since it didn't have an on/off switch. Once you plug it in it is always on. I thought this would be a problem at first, but it goes into a low power sleep mode after a few minutes and doesn't make any noise.
This low power mode turned out to be a nice advantage since it is always on and ready for use when you want a quick print. With other printers they are too noisy to leave on for occasional use. When you want to print you have to turn it on and wait for it to warm up.

I was so impressed with this printer that I bought another one for myself. They use the same toner cartridges as some HP laserjets (4p I think).

I am not sure it will work on a stealth port. It was my understanding that these were serial ports only, not localtalk. Maybe someone that has one can answer that more conclusively.

One sure-fire solution would be to get an ethernet to localtalk converter such as an AsantePrint or AsanteTalk. These hardware devices allow you to link a localtalk network to ethernet. They don't need any software, but can be a bit expensive new (approx. $150). They're great if you have a network of computers and printers, but it is hard to justify the cost if you only have one computer and one printer.

I paid $200 for the first 4/600 and $150 for the most recent one. If it's less than $100 then grab it. If it's over $200 then look elsewhere.

mmp · Apr 24th, 2003, 10:08 PM

Thanks Rob, appreciate it. Any others?

ehMax · Apr 24th, 2003, 10:16 PM

4/600 are good printers! I wish Apple kept making Laser Printers as I've seen so many that are just tanks... they keep going and going and going.

The Steath port is Serial only and won't work with the 4/600. Rob's got it... you would need the AsantéTalk LocalTalk to Ethernet adapter for it to work.

At work, I use an HP 2200tn and its been really realiable. They are fairly expensive new though... you could get a nice used Apple LaserWriter and adapter for a lot cheaper. A used HP 2100 would be good.

I think all the new laser printers sub $500 are pieces of junk. I've heard some success stories with some Samsung laser printers. Brother printers I've heard horror story after horror story. My 2¢.

mmp · Apr 24th, 2003, 10:21 PM

Thank you Your Worship. I am currently using a Rev.B iMac and will be upgrading to a newer machine soon (fingers crossed). Is there a limit to the OS it would work with? How is the speed with an ethernet adapter? Thanks.

Rob · Apr 24th, 2003, 10:42 PM

The Laserwriter 4/600 works just fine on OS 10.2.3 via the AsanteTalk connection.

The AsanteTalk gets you hooked up to ethernet but it still communicates at localtalk speed. For home use, or light business use, this shouldn't be a problem.

mmp · Apr 24th, 2003, 10:45 PM

Thanks again Rob...appreciated.

ehMax · Apr 24th, 2003, 10:52 PM

A little sort of related sidenote. If you have a Mac with a serial/localtalk port and Ethernet (Like a beige G3 or PowerBook WallStreet) and are running OS X, you can't connect to a localtalk printer through the localtalk port. OS X won't recognize it. You'll need to use this adapter as well and then it will work.

(Spent hour or two pulling my hair out over this one)

[img]tongue.gif[/img]

mmp · Apr 24th, 2003, 11:31 PM

Thanks again Your Worship...any ideas what I might have to pay for the adapter?

Apr 24th, 2003, 09:12 PM	#1
mmp Full Citizen Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Prince Albert, Saskatchewan Posts: 528	Looking for advice on this one. Is the Laserwriter4/600 a decent printer, if so what would a good price on one be? Also I understand it is local talk only. Would it work with a B&W G3 with the stealth serial port? Would I be better off to buy on of the newer laser printers for under $300.00? Any input is appreciated. Thanks [img]smile.gif[/img] __________________ 24" iMac/2.16Ghz C2D/3G RAM/250MB/DL OS 10.6.2 , 32G WiFi iPad & 16 gig iPod Touch

Apr 24th, 2003, 09:59 PM	#2
Rob Honourable Citizen Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Close to Windsor, Ont. Posts: 1,503	I bought one for my parents a couple of years ago since it was small, cheap and has 600dpi. At first I was surprised since it didn't have an on/off switch. Once you plug it in it is always on. I thought this would be a problem at first, but it goes into a low power sleep mode after a few minutes and doesn't make any noise. This low power mode turned out to be a nice advantage since it is always on and ready for use when you want a quick print. With other printers they are too noisy to leave on for occasional use. When you want to print you have to turn it on and wait for it to warm up. I was so impressed with this printer that I bought another one for myself. They use the same toner cartridges as some HP laserjets (4p I think). I am not sure it will work on a stealth port. It was my understanding that these were serial ports only, not localtalk. Maybe someone that has one can answer that more conclusively. One sure-fire solution would be to get an ethernet to localtalk converter such as an AsantePrint or AsanteTalk. These hardware devices allow you to link a localtalk network to ethernet. They don't need any software, but can be a bit expensive new (approx. $150). They're great if you have a network of computers and printers, but it is hard to justify the cost if you only have one computer and one printer. I paid $200 for the first 4/600 and $150 for the most recent one. If it's less than $100 then grab it. If it's over $200 then look elsewhere. __________________ Real Macsters don't repair permissions. Opinions are like toothbrushes. Everybody has one, so there's no need to share. - Red Green

Apr 24th, 2003, 10:08 PM	#3
mmp Full Citizen Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Prince Albert, Saskatchewan Posts: 528	Thanks Rob, appreciate it. Any others? __________________ 24" iMac/2.16Ghz C2D/3G RAM/250MB/DL OS 10.6.2 , 32G WiFi iPad & 16 gig iPod Touch

Apr 24th, 2003, 10:16 PM	#4
ehMax Mayor of ehMac Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: ehMac World Headquarters Posts: 7,362	4/600 are good printers! I wish Apple kept making Laser Printers as I've seen so many that are just tanks... they keep going and going and going. The Steath port is Serial only and won't work with the 4/600. Rob's got it... you would need the AsantéTalk LocalTalk to Ethernet adapter for it to work. At work, I use an HP 2200tn and its been really realiable. They are fairly expensive new though... you could get a nice used Apple LaserWriter and adapter for a lot cheaper. A used HP 2100 would be good. I think all the new laser printers sub $500 are pieces of junk. I've heard some success stories with some Samsung laser printers. Brother printers I've heard horror story after horror story. My 2¢. __________________ ehMac Twitter Page \| Join ehMac's Kiva.org Team, loan and change lives!

Apr 24th, 2003, 10:21 PM	#5
mmp Full Citizen Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Prince Albert, Saskatchewan Posts: 528	Thank you Your Worship. I am currently using a Rev.B iMac and will be upgrading to a newer machine soon (fingers crossed). Is there a limit to the OS it would work with? How is the speed with an ethernet adapter? Thanks. __________________ 24" iMac/2.16Ghz C2D/3G RAM/250MB/DL OS 10.6.2 , 32G WiFi iPad & 16 gig iPod Touch

Apr 24th, 2003, 10:42 PM	#6
Rob Honourable Citizen Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Close to Windsor, Ont. Posts: 1,503	The Laserwriter 4/600 works just fine on OS 10.2.3 via the AsanteTalk connection. The AsanteTalk gets you hooked up to ethernet but it still communicates at localtalk speed. For home use, or light business use, this shouldn't be a problem. __________________ Real Macsters don't repair permissions. Opinions are like toothbrushes. Everybody has one, so there's no need to share. - Red Green

Apr 24th, 2003, 10:45 PM	#7
mmp Full Citizen Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Prince Albert, Saskatchewan Posts: 528	Thanks again Rob...appreciated. __________________ 24" iMac/2.16Ghz C2D/3G RAM/250MB/DL OS 10.6.2 , 32G WiFi iPad & 16 gig iPod Touch

Apr 24th, 2003, 10:52 PM	#8
ehMax Mayor of ehMac Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: ehMac World Headquarters Posts: 7,362	A little sort of related sidenote. If you have a Mac with a serial/localtalk port and Ethernet (Like a beige G3 or PowerBook WallStreet) and are running OS X, you can't connect to a localtalk printer through the localtalk port. OS X won't recognize it. You'll need to use this adapter as well and then it will work. (Spent hour or two pulling my hair out over this one) [img]tongue.gif[/img] __________________ ehMac Twitter Page \| Join ehMac's Kiva.org Team, loan and change lives!

Apr 24th, 2003, 11:31 PM	#9
mmp Full Citizen Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Prince Albert, Saskatchewan Posts: 528	Thanks again Your Worship...any ideas what I might have to pay for the adapter? __________________ 24" iMac/2.16Ghz C2D/3G RAM/250MB/DL OS 10.6.2 , 32G WiFi iPad & 16 gig iPod Touch

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