ImageWriter

ImageWriter

Manufacturer	Apple Computer
Introduced	December 1983(1983-12)
Discontinued	December 1, 1985(1985-12-01)
Cost	US$675(equivalent to $2,065 in 2023)
Type	Dot matrix
Slots	none
Read-only memory	32 KB
Ports	Serial
Power consumption	180 Watt
Color	No
Dots per inch	144
Speed	1-2 page per minute
Weight	19 lbs.
Dimensions	(H × W × D) 4.8 × 16.2 × 11.8 in

TheImageWriteris a product line ofdot matrix printersformerly manufactured byApple Computer, Inc.,and designed then to be compatible with their entire line of computers. There were three different models introduced over time, which were popular amongApple IIandMacowners.

Original ImageWriter

The first ImageWriter is aserial-baseddot matrix printerintroduced byApple Computerin late 1983.

The printer was essentially a re-packaged 9-pin dot matrix printer fromC. Itoh Electronics(model C. Itoh 8510, with a modified ROM and pinout), released the same year. It was introduced as a replacement for the earlierparallel-basedApple Dot Matrix Printer/DMP (also a C. Itoh model) and, while primarily intended for theApple II,worked across Apple's entire computer product line. The ImageWriter could produce images as well as text, up to a resolution of 144DPIand a speed of about 120CPS(characters per second). In text mode, the printer was logic-seeking, meaning it would print with the head moving in both directions while it would print only in one direction for graphics and Near Letter Quality. The ImageWriter was also supported by the original Macintosh computer, theMacintosh 128K.Apple wanted a graphical printer for the Mac, and had introduced the ImageWriter primarily to support the new machine. This permitted it to produceWYSIWYGoutput from the screen of the computer, which was an important aspect for promoting the concept of theGUIand, later, desktop publishing. The ImageWriter could be supported byMicrosoft Windows-based PC's by using the included C. Itoh 8510 compatible driver.

The ImageWriter was succeeded by theImageWriter IIin late 1985.

A wider version of the ImageWriter, sold as ImageWriter 15 ", was introduced in January 1984. It allowed printing to 12" wide as well as to 15 "wide paper. This version of ImageWriter remained in production for more than a year after the ImageWriter II was introduced. Production was eventually discontinued in January 1987.

Accessories

In 1984 Thunderware introduced the ThunderScan, an optical scanner that was installed in place of the ImageWriter ribbon cartridge.With support for the Apple II and the Mac, the ThunderScan provided low cost grayscale scanning with moderate resolution and speed.

ImageWriter II

Introduced	September 1985
Discontinued	Late 1996
Cost	US $595
Type	Dot matrix
Processor	8 MHz
Slots	AppleTalk or memory card (optional)
Read-only memory	64 KB
Ports	RS-422serial(Mini-DIN-8connector)
Power consumption	180 Watt
Color	4
Dots per inch	160 × 144
Speed	2-6 pages per minute
Weight	25 lbs (original), 15 lbs (II/L)
Dimensions	(H × W × D) 5 × 17 × 12 in

ImageWriter II

The ImageWriter II is aserialbaseddot matrix printerthat was manufactured byApple Computer,which supported its entire computer product line when it was released in September 1985. It had several optional add-ons available, including: a plug-in network card, buffer memory card, and motorized sheet feeder. It also supported color printing with an appropriate ribbon. The codename for the ImageWriter II was "Express"

Compute!reported in 1989 that many believed that the ImageWriter II was inferior to its predecessor. The magazine stated that the first ImageWriter was sturdier, handled paper better, and had better print in most cases.

Features

The ImageWriter II, like its predecessor, used a 9-pinC. Itohmechanism. However, the ImageWriter II was significantly faster in draft mode, where it could print 250 characters per second. Color images and text could be produced by using a color ribbon, and eight colors were supported by the original version ofQuickDrawon theMacdespite running on a monochrome platform. On theApple II,complex full-color graphics could be printed. Used with the appropriate software, the ImageWriter II could produce color images with potentially hundreds of simulated colors throughdithering.

The ImageWriter II has three ASCII text-quality modes:

1. NLQ(near-letter-quality) at 45CPS,a feature for very high text quality on the Apple II platform or for improved draft printing quality on the Macintosh platform.
2. Standard(Correspondence) mode at 180 CPS, providing average-quality text.
3. Draftmode at 250 CPS, the fastest output but at the lowest quality level.

In addition to having the same ASCII and European-language characters found in the original ImageWriter, the ImageWriter II added 32MouseTextcharacters.

The ImageWriter II was designed in accordance with Apple'sSnow White design language.In 1986, it received theI.D.Design Review and SilverInternational Design Excellence Awards,making it the first desktop printer to receive such approbation.

Add-on accessories

The printer had an expansion socket under the front cover which could accommodate either Apple's AppleTalk network card or 32K memory buffer card, but not both at the same time.Sequential Systemsproduced a 2-in-1 solution card that combined both features into one card, as well as larger memory buffer cards up to 1 MB. With an optionalAppleTalknetworking card installed, it was a low-cost alternative to the vastly more expensiveLaserWriter.Another third-party innovation was an add-on peripheral called the ThunderScan, which allowed the printer to work as a low-cost optical scanner (in which the scanner mechanism temporarily replaced the ink ribbon cartridge).

The ImageWriter II also supported an optional motorized sheet feeder that could feed cut-sheet paper.

Revisions

• The original Imagewriter II (1985) closely followed Apple'sSnow white designintroduced with theApple IIc,and was one of the few peripherals that matched its creamy off-white color scheme known at Apple as Fog. This model is recognizable for being white in color and not having the product name on the front cover. There were many ROM revisions produced for this and later ImageWriter IIs, made visible through a self-test (pressing the form feed button while turning the ImageWriter on, then releasing both buttons simultaneously; the printer would then print the ROM version as well as dipswitch settings). The printer came with a small built-in 2KRAMmemory buffer, with option to expand.
• The second ImageWriter II (1986) changed to the standard warm-grey Apple "Platinum" color. This model is not only recognizable for being light grey in color, but for having the product name printed beside the rainbow Apple logo. It was introduced at roughly the same time as theApple IIGSin late 1986, to match its then-new Platinum color scheme which was later adopted by all other computers at Apple.
• The third revision, the ImageWriter II/L (1990) as it was known internally, offered some slight design improvements. The internal power source changed to aswitching power supply,reducing the overall weight of the printer by 10 pounds. As a result of the change, power and serial interface ports were moved from the legs to either ends of the tractor-feed housing. This model also increased the built-in buffer memory to 24K RAM, eliminating the need for the memory-expansion option. The expansion socket was still present for supporting an optional AppleTalk network card.

The ImageWriter II was compatible withMicrosoft Windows-based computers using the operating systems' included C-Itoh 8510 driver, while color support was available through third-party drivers. The only requirement was an available serial port and appropriate interface cable.

Despite the introduction of theinkjetStyleWriterin 1991, the ImageWriter II kept selling. It continued in production until late 1996, making it the longest-running Apple product in history.

In popular culture

On the 2000 albumA Spectrum of Infinite Scale,surf-rock bandMan or Astro-man?included the song "A Simple Text File". The song is a recording of the sound of an ImageWriter II printing a carefully crafted file.

ImageWriter LQ

Introduced	August 1987
Discontinued	December 1990
Cost	$1,399 USD
Type	Dot matrix
Ports	Serial,SCSI
Power consumption	180 Watt
Color	1 (4 optional)
Dots per inch	216
Speed	0.3 Pages Per Minute
Weight	38 lbs
Dimensions	(H × W × D) 5.12 × 23.2 × 15 in

An ImageWriter can also be seen the music video forMarilyn Manson's "The Dope Show."

ImageWriter LQ

ImageWriter LQ(LetterQuality) is a 27-pindot matrix printerintroduced in 1987 byApple Computer, Inc.The print quality was comparable to competing 24-pin dot-matrix printers, and offered graphics at 320 × 216DPI.Guaranteed compatibility with bothApple IIandMaccomputers made it popular in schools.

The LQ had more options than any of the other Apple dot-matrix printers, including:

• ImageWriter II/LQLocalTalkOption card or 32K memory buffer card
• Cut Sheet Feeder ($299 USD)
• Additional paper bins ($169 USD, each - maximum of 2) for the sheet feeder
• Envelope Feed for the sheet feeder ($49 USD)
• SCSI interface (not released)

Color ribbons were $149 for a box of six.

External links

• ImageWriter II in the Vectronic's collection