Printer options for the new millennium...?

[Buzz]

Once you go Snow (Black?) Leopard, there's no going back...



to AppleTalk printing, that is.

Trying to figure out what the best way is to keep a long in the tooth HP LJ6MP on the network, as more SL Macs replace the older units. Inclination is to attach an ethernet to USB print server (from the cabinet) to the USB to parallel adapter cable that's been hanging off the LJ6 for many, many years (as an accommodation interface for visiting laptops, or client computers that get worked on next to it on the adjacent coffee table). IIRC, the LJ6 auto senses incoming print traffic, so I should be able to leave AppleTalk and the print server hooked up simultaneously. There is still old school hardware (a la OS 8.x) on the network, so I can't kill off the AppleTalk unless I force all print files from the old school stuff to be transferred to newer Macs for printing. IIRC, the cabinet holds an AirLink and a Buffalo enet to USB print servers, and I don't have a clue which works best or is easier to set up and use; but since they're in the cabinet, they're free, which is a good thing. I'm not sure what other low, or no, cost options there are for getting the old LJ6 to play nice on the network w/ SL, so I was hoping for any other suggestions from the usual cast of characters around here.

Thanks,
Buzz
==

[GGD]

Do you have a Mac on you network running 10.4 or 10.5? You might be able to have that Mac turn on printer sharing to share the HP and the 10.6 Mac might be able to print to the shared printer.

[Black]

Buzz wrote:
Once you go Snow (Black?)

Tried it once in the seventies, that was enough.
Thanks though.

[WHiiP]

I have my Pismo connected to my Apple LawerWriter 12/640PS. I then "shared" the printer over my Apple Wireless Network and it works like a charm! ! ! ! ecret:

[Speedy]

I would move up to an Apple Laserwriter 16/600. It'll do IP printing.

[Buzz]

I know shared printers show up as "bonjour", and will work, but I'm afraid if I assigned Pismo to print sharing duty, it would be a death sentence for my favorite laptop. I guess I could move the Mini server there, but the printer is on a slow network segment, so that would mean more expense upgrading the network (or minimally running a new 30-40 ft cable to the LJ6's location)... if the network were all already 1GB enet throughout, that would've been my first choice. The little server, and the wired machines are all on the 1GB backbone. Anybody wanna trade a 16/600 for the LJ6? :-)

[John B.]

Wow, my head hurts. You have a home network with "slow" connections and a GigE backbone, supporting Macs running MacOS8 through OSX 10.6.6? I'd go with the $10.00 50-foot Cat5e cable.