Mac OS 8.6: USB Printer Compatibility

This article discusses the enhanced USB printer support in Mac OS 8.6, as well as listing various USB printer models.

You may also wish to review article 43027: "Connecting a Serial Printer to a USB Capable Macintosh" for more information on connecting a variety of printers to a USB enabled Power Macintosh or PowerBook.
Mac OS 8.6 running on USB-equipped Macintosh computers, such as the iMac, iBook, PowerBook G3 Series (Bronze keyboard), Power Macintosh G3 (Blue and White) and Power Mac G4, supports printing to both USB inkjet and now USB-compatible PostScript printers. Below is a list of printers the printer manufacturers informed Apple were compatible with Mac OS 8.6 at the time Mac OS 8.6 was released.

Many of these printers have USB ports built-in, whereas others do not and require an adapter. Inkjet printers require printer drivers from the printer manufacturer.

Note: Mac OS 8.6 includes LaserWriter 8 version 8.6.5 which adds support for printing to USB-compatible PostScript printers. LaserWriter 8.6.5 provides support for PostScript printers that have USB ports built-in, and those that have IEEE 1284 parallel compatible ports. IEEE 1284 compliant printers may be connected to your Macintosh via a USB-to-Parallel adapter cable. The Infowave PowerPrint adapter is an example of such an adapter cable that may work with your PostScript printer having a parallel port.

The following list is not inclusive of all available compatible USB printers. Please check with your printer manufacturer for updated drivers and current compatibility information.

Printers

VendorModel NumberAdapter or Direct Connect?
ALPSMD1000USB kit
MD1000USB kit
MD1000USB kit
Brother1040Adapter
1050Adapter
1040iMAdapter
CANONBJC6000Adapter
430JDirect
EPSONStylus Color 740Direct
Stylus Color 740iDirect
Stylus Color 750Direct
Stylus Color 900Direct
Stylus Color 1200Direct
Stylus Color 600Adapter
Stylus Color 440Adapter
Stylus Color 640Adapter
Stylus Color 800Adapter
Stylus Color 850Adapter
SP700Adapter
SPEXAdapter
Stylus Color 1520Adapter
Stylus Color 3000Adapter
HPDeskJet 880Direct
DeskJet 882cDirect
DeskJet 895cxiDirect
DeskJet 1120cAdapter
DeskJet 1120cseAdapter
DeskJet 1120cxiAdapter
DeskJet 695cAdapter
DeskJet 697cAdapter
DeskJet 340Adapter
LEXMARKOptra E310Direct
TEKTRONIXPhaser 840Direct

Adapters
InfowavePowerPrintAdapter

Knowledge Base Article 17159: "Locating Vendor Information" can help you search for a particular vendor's address and phone number.
Published Date: Feb 18, 2012