What's the oldest printer you can go?

[S1500]

I remember seeing the "generic/text only printer" driver listed in Windows 3.1 many moons ago. You could hook up an old printer from the 80s and it would print away.

 

Can you do that on Windows XP with a parallel connection? That would be fun to try out. Or, if you have a lot of free time & programming skill, have it print out graphics. Sure, it would only be monochrome, but it would be so beautifully retro.

 

Wonder if it would be easy to use an old printer in Linux. Heck, probably easier.

[Herbarius]

I remember seeing the "generic/text only printer" driver listed in Windows 3.1 many moons ago. You could hook up an old printer from the 80s and it would print away.

 

Can you do that on Windows XP with a parallel connection?

 

Yes, you can - provided you have a parallel port - rumors are some of the new machines don't...

 

When looking through the printer drivers you've to choose the Standard "manufacturer" and you get those choices:

Generic/Text-only

Generic IBM Graphics 9pin

Generic IBM Graphics 9pin wide

MS Publisher Color Printer

MS Publisher Imagesetter

 

There are also a whole bunch of drivers present for printers you could easily consider vintage, like the NEC Pinwriter P6.

Edited December 15, 2009 by Herbarius

[vcsdream]

On my Win 7 system I still use a HP Laserjet 6L (1997), not that vintage, Win 7 didn't provide drivers for it at first, but after one update, Win 7 acknowledged it.

Rumor has it that many offices still use the old HP Laserjet 4 (1990), that is one workhorse you cannot kill.

 

Many doctor places use dot matrix printers due to the fact that they can print carbon copies, lasers and inkjets don't.

Edited December 16, 2009 by vcsdream

[S1500]

I have a laserjet 4p, running off of Ethernet. Friend moved away, so he gave it to me. I haven't even refilled the toner.

[Christophero Sly]

In OS X, as long as you have the proper serial-to-USB adapter, you can find drivers to print to most serial printers going back to the Imagewriters. And with a localtalk-to-ethernet crossover box, you can find drivers print to most old networks printers.

[gdement]

I just checked and found WinXP has a built in driver for the Epson T-1000.

My dad bought that printer for our Apple IIc. It's from either late 80's or early 90's. It wasn't anything special, just a cheap and basic dot matrix. It still works though, unlike every inkjet bought since.

 

I remember that driver was in older versions of Windows, but it's funny to see it's still there. On principle, I'm glad. They should leave old drivers intact as long as they still work. I wonder if Vista still has it.

 

 

Rumor has it that many offices still use the old HP Laserjet 4 (1990)

My laserjet 5 has a mfg date of 1997, so this surprised me. I looked it up on wikipedia, it says the 4 was introduced in late 1992.

 

I'm pretty sure the LJ4/5 is the oldest printer HP still makes toner for. I'll be disappointed when they kill it off.

There's also some difference in the fuser technology, where these use an older style that takes longer to heat up but it's more reliable. All the newer laserjets have quicker heating times but break easier.

 

I was annoyed at the WinXP driver for these. HP had a good configuration menu on Win2k, but that driver won't work on XP. You can only use the Microsoft driver, which lacks the options HP had.

Edited December 24, 2009 by gdement

[jaybird3rd]

The "Generic / Text Only" driver can print to whatever kind of port you want to point it to. It might not work at all on a lot of new printers, which don't have built-in print processors or fonts and require jobs to be rendered as graphics on the host computer.

 

Windows has weeded out a lot of its weird printer drivers over the years, but it still has a few oldies. The Epson MX-80 driver is still there, and that printer had to have come out around 1980 (or maybe even the late 70s; I can't remember anymore). The original DeskJet came out in 1988, and you can still print to that as well.

 

Speaking of printer drivers ... it amused me to see that my installation of XP includes nine different drivers for printers from GCC, the company that created the Atari 7800 and later got into the printer business.

[Herbarius]

In OS X, as long as you have the proper serial-to-USB adapter, you can find drivers to print to most serial printers going back to the Imagewriters. And with a localtalk-to-ethernet crossover box, you can find drivers print to most old networks printers.

serial printers?

I thought (at least for "IBM compatibles") printers are always for the parallel port. (disregarding USB printers)

Edited December 25, 2009 by Herbarius

[gdement]

serial printers?

I thought (at least for "IBM compatibles") printers are always for the parallel port. (disregarding USB printers)

Not always. My laserjet 5 has serial, parallel, and ethernet on it. Ethernet sometimes misses print jobs which is annoying, so I prefer the parallel.

 

However, newer boards usually don't have that. It's easier to find serial than parallel nowadays. So if I ever get a new motherboard, I might actually end up trying the serial.

Edited December 26, 2009 by gdement

[Kurt_Woloch]

Windows has weeded out a lot of its weird printer drivers over the years, but it still has a few oldies. The Epson MX-80 driver is still there, and that printer had to have come out around 1980 (or maybe even the late 70s; I can't remember anymore). The original DeskJet came out in 1988, and you can still print to that as well.

 

Well... I think the MX-80 was somewhat of a "standard printer" back in the early to middle 80's or so. Actually, the most popular one, as far as I can remember, was the FX-80, which was a step up from the RX-80. But I suppose the FX-80 is upwards compatible to the MX-80, it only accepts additional commands for finer resolution and such.

 

Anyway, I've got an MX-80. Actually, it's TI-branded, sold as TI-99/4 impact printer (as opposed to their thermal printer). But it's basically the same machine, and with each new computer, it actually got easier to use it on the new computer.

For the TI-99 itself, we had to purchase a RS-232 card in order to interface it. For the C-64, it wasn't a card, rather an interface thingy you connected to the back of the printer (it was called WWW interface, or WW interface). What's annoying was that the printer also has got a RS-232 card built in, and you have to remove that in order to print on the C-64, which has a Centronics interface, and replace it in order to work on the TI-99.

Then came the Amiga 500. For the Amiga, you just needed a simple cable to connect it to the printer, and no rebuilding the printer itself because it also connected to the Centronics port.

And for the PC, it was even easier because it had the same printer port as the Amiga, so you could just plug your cable into the PC and be done.

 

And actually, I used that printer until 2001 when we finally purchased a new color inkjet printer. And I can confirm that at least until Windows 98, support for the MX-80 was still there. I can also remember that there were some difficulties printing on it under Windows 3.0 and 3.1. Windows 3.0 didn't have the printing as a separate task yet, so you had to wait until your printout was ready before you were able to continue working. Windows 3.1 theoretically had that separate task, but it didn't work properly with the MX-80 because it screwed up the printout. I had to set it to not be a separate task in order to work properly. Finally, in Windows 98 (I didn't ever have Windows 95 installed here at home), printing also worked properly while continuing work on other things.

 

So, basically, I used that printer on 6 different machines - the TI-99, the C-64, the Amiga and 3 PC's - actually, a fourth PC when a friend from school brought over a laptop with a QBASIC program on it which he wanted me to convert to the Sharp PC-E220. I made a printout of the program because he didn't bring the charger for the laptop, and I figured it might run out of juice before I'm done programming.

 

Anyway... the newest PC I have, which is now about two years old, doesn't have a parallel port anymore. I also doesn't have a 3 1/2" disk drive anymore.

[aftermac]

I setup parallel Okidata ML 320's for my clients at work on a daily basis on Windows XP and Vista.

 

At home I have an Apple Laserwriter Select 360 made back in 1991 on an ethernet print server. I've been on the same toner cartridge for 10 years and still have 2 spares.

[carmel_andrews]

well i have an old atari 102x (can't remember if it's a 7 or 9), no printer ribbon and no psu

[Christophero Sly]

I setup parallel Okidata ML 320's for my clients at work on a daily basis on Windows XP and Vista.

 

At home I have an Apple Laserwriter Select 360 made back in 1991 on an ethernet print server. I've been on the same toner cartridge for 10 years and still have 2 spares.

I have one of those too. It's not in use right now, but it's a solid printer, expect for the placement of the fan. It draws dust right across the imaging mirror, eventually causing the pages to come out faded on one side.

 

What computer do you use as a print server/ethernet-to-localtalk bridge?

[Seob]

A lot of modern day industrial hardware is still using the serial port for printing or programming. It is more reliable over long distance than parallel or usb.

[aftermac]

I setup parallel Okidata ML 320's for my clients at work on a daily basis on Windows XP and Vista.

 

At home I have an Apple Laserwriter Select 360 made back in 1991 on an ethernet print server. I've been on the same toner cartridge for 10 years and still have 2 spares.

I have one of those too. It's not in use right now, but it's a solid printer, expect for the placement of the fan. It draws dust right across the imaging mirror, eventually causing the pages to come out faded on one side.

 

What computer do you use as a print server/ethernet-to-localtalk bridge?

 

It's funny you mention the imaging mirror... about 5 or 6 years ago I had to tear the printer apart and clean the imaging mirror because of the fading on the printouts.

 

Actually, I'm not using a computer; I'm using a D-Link parallel to ethernet print server: http://www.dlink.com/products/?pid=322

 

I use the printer for mainly text and simple printouts. I have a newer HP Color LaserJet for complex printouts and pictures. Both get their share of use and serve their own purpose.

[Herbarius]

A lot of modern day industrial hardware is still using the serial port for printing or programming. It is more reliable over long distance than parallel or usb.

 

Well, that sure is interesting, I never heard of that before. May have been simple ignorance, combined with the fact that (before USB printers got common) the parallel port was often dubbed "printer port" in conversations

[Seob]

A lot of modern day industrial hardware is still using the serial port for printing or programming. It is more reliable over long distance than parallel or usb.

 

Well, that sure is interesting, I never heard of that before. May have been simple ignorance, combined with the fact that (before USB printers got common) the parallel port was often dubbed "printer port" in conversations

Here is the anser

Serial ports are still used in these areas as they are simple, cheap and their console functions are highly standardized and widespread. A serial port requires very little supporting software from the host system.

[Christophero Sly]

It's funny you mention the imaging mirror... about 5 or 6 years ago I had to tear the printer apart and clean the imaging mirror because of the fading on the printouts.

Me too.

 

Actually, I'm not using a computer; I'm using a D-Link parallel to ethernet print server: http://www.dlink.com/products/?pid=322

Handy! I wasn't aware that such a product existed. I'm going to have to get one for myself. I used to employ an AsanteTalk Ethernet-to-LocalTalk crossover box to print to the 360 as if it were on a LocalTalk network, but I had to switch to a true Ethernet printer (LaserJet 5m) when I went wireless because my router doesn't pass AppleTalk on the wireless side. Edited December 30, 2009 by Christophero Sly

[aftermac]

Actually, I'm not using a computer; I'm using a D-Link parallel to ethernet print server: http://www.dlink.com/products/?pid=322

Handy! I wasn't aware that such a product existed. I'm going to have to get one for myself. I used to employ an AsanteTalk Ethernet-to-LocalTalk crossover box to print to the 360 as if it were on a LocalTalk network, but I had to switch to a true Ethernet printer (LaserJet 5m) when I went wireless because my router doesn't pass AppleTalk on the wireless side.

 

That was exactly the problem I had. I used an AsanteTalk for several years until AppleTalk died out. I still wanted to use my 360, so I switched over to the D-Link print server, which I've been using for many years now.

 

Slightly off topic, but at one point I had a really extensive ethertalk network, with a Gatorbox MacIP router and all my Mac's hooked up with PhoneNet adapters. Some day I wouldn't mind having the space to hook a bunch of that back up.

[jhd]

I was at the Calgary airport this morning. My flight was cancelled, so I had to be rebooked. The printer at the counter was an old dot matrix Okidata, still using fanfold paper.

 

It is probably older than the ticket agent who uses it!

[Christophero Sly]

Actually, I'm not using a computer; I'm using a D-Link parallel to ethernet print server: http://www.dlink.com/products/?pid=322

Handy! I wasn't aware that such a product existed. I'm going to have to get one for myself. I used to employ an AsanteTalk Ethernet-to-LocalTalk crossover box to print to the 360 as if it were on a LocalTalk network, but I had to switch to a true Ethernet printer (LaserJet 5m) when I went wireless because my router doesn't pass AppleTalk on the wireless side.

 

That was exactly the problem I had. I used an AsanteTalk for several years until AppleTalk died out. I still wanted to use my 360, so I switched over to the D-Link print server, which I've been using for many years now.

I think I'll head that direction myself.

 

Slightly off topic, but at one point I had a really extensive ethertalk network, with a Gatorbox MacIP router and all my Mac's hooked up with PhoneNet adapters. Some day I wouldn't mind having the space to hook a bunch of that back up.

Neato! I don't have space to really do anything big with my vintage Macs either.

 

I never had any hands on experience with Gatorboxes, but they sound like a neat piece of hardware. From what I understand, they go allow you to run TCP/IP over LocalTalk, allowing non-ethernet Macs to do things like access the internet? I remember there were several solutions to that problem. I used to use a DaynaPort (SCSI-Ethernet) hooked to a Classic to access the internet.

Edited January 5, 2010 by Christophero Sly

[aftermac]

I never had any hands on experience with Gatorboxes, but they sound like a neat piece of hardware. From what I understand, they go allow you to run TCP/IP over LocalTalk, allowing non-ethernet Macs to do things like access the internet? I remember there were several solutions to that problem. I used to use a DaynaPort (SCSI-Ethernet) hooked to a Classic to access the internet.

 

Yeah, they are pretty slick. Basically, what it does is encapsulates a TCP/IP packet in an AppleTalk packet, then the Mac unencapsulates it via MacIP. You can configure the localtalk Mac with an IP just like it was on an ethernet network.

 

I have an Asante EN/SC SCSI to Ethernet adapter... I used that before I got the Gatorbox, but the driver like to crash my Plus.

[Christophero Sly]

I finally picked up one of the D-Link print servers. I haven't had time to set it up with a printer yet, but it's a valuable piece of hardware to have around.

 

If anyone else has thought of getting one of these, I doubt you'll find a better price than here. Used, but includes a 30-day warranty.

 

Better hurry though; the listing ends tomorrow.

[aftermac]

I finally picked up one of the D-Link print servers. I haven't had time to set it up with a printer yet, but it's a valuable piece of hardware to have around.

 

If anyone else has thought of getting one of these, I doubt you'll find a better price than here. Used, but includes a 30-day warranty.

 

Better hurry though; the listing ends tomorrow.

 

 

Definitely useful to keep the old hardware useful. That is a really good price too.