MAC OS9 compatibility with HP 2015n printer?

  • Thread starter Thread starter The Natural Philosopher
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The Natural Philosopher

Further to my issues with my ageing Laserjet 6P printing double
images....which an exhaustive search off HPs tech database revealed were
either a duff circuit board, or a duff laser assembly..i.e. not worth
fixing..I am now in the hunt for a printer to replace it.

The prob is that I run windows 98SE, and my wife MAC OS/9.

The lastest crop of networked HP's do not seem to support OS/9, though
why, is a shade beyond me.

After all, postscript is postscript and connectivity is currently
working to the 6P via a jet direct print server...think we are using LPD
protocols..can't remember.

I also have a Debian Linux machine running samba, CUPS and Netatalk that
could be used to interface with as well.

I need a printer..preferably networked via Ethernet, but also could be
parallel..that will run with that lot..the 2015n looks reasonably sanely
priced and is hopefully a good quality printer for modest output (home
SOHO stuff: need a manual feed tray in it as well as normal tray)..but
it does not list OS/9 compatibility..

So why not?

Any comments suggestions etc. gratefully received..
TIA
TNP
 
The Natural Philosopher said:
The prob is that I run windows 98SE, and my wife MAC OS/9.

The lastest crop of networked HP's do not seem to support OS/9, though
why, is a shade beyond me.
Click to expand...

They may not have specific drivers for older operating systems, but that
doesn't mean they don't work.
After all, postscript is postscript and connectivity is currently
working to the 6P via a jet direct print server...think we are using LPD
protocols..can't remember.

I also have a Debian Linux machine running samba, CUPS and Netatalk that
could be used to interface with as well.
Click to expand...

Any of those operating systems should work fine, in fact you could leave
your present drivers in place.

Where you may have a little difficulty is with special features like
duplexing or tray selection. That may be easily fixable, like by
installing a PPD for the new printer to your system.
I need a printer..preferably networked via Ethernet, but also could be
parallel..that will run with that lot..the 2015n looks reasonably sanely
priced and is hopefully a good quality printer for modest output (home
SOHO stuff: need a manual feed tray in it as well as normal tray)
Click to expand...

I have some concerns with the HP specs for that printer. Low monthly
duty cycle means it's not meant to print a lot, which could translate to
not being very durable. It comes with a half-ream paper tray, which
indicates the same thing. High-capacity toner is 7,000 pages, which is
a little low.

Overall, probably not as good or as cheap as a used business-class
LaserJet. Always check your local paper and online classified ads
before you buy new. An LJ4M would be faster than the 6P; and now it's
not too hard to find the LJ4000 or LJ4050 printers, which are quite a
bit better yet.
..but it does not list OS/9 compatibility..

So why not?
Click to expand...

Because manufacturers assume you'll always upgrade from an unsupported
OS to a supported one.
 
Hi!
The lastest crop of networked HP's do not seem to support OS/9, though
why, is a shade beyond me.
Click to expand...

If the printers you are looking at natively support PostScript (and don't
run it through some kind of software translation first, which seems to be
the case with some lower end models), then you might be able to pry the PPD
out of the Mac OS X software.

You might also check to see if the printer can emulate other models which do
have Mac OS 9 drivers. If it could, you'd be in luck, although you might
have to give up access to some more advanced printer functions.

You might also be able to write a suitable PPD, although that doesn't seem
to be a lightweight task.

Also check the HP support/downloads site. Just because it might not be
listed on the box or in the specs doesn't mean it isn't there. Suitable
software could be available by download only.

William
 
Warren said:
They may not have specific drivers for older operating systems, but that
doesn't mean they don't work.


Any of those operating systems should work fine, in fact you could leave
your present drivers in place.

Where you may have a little difficulty is with special features like
duplexing or tray selection. That may be easily fixable, like by
installing a PPD for the new printer to your system.


I have some concerns with the HP specs for that printer. Low monthly
duty cycle means it's not meant to print a lot, which could translate to
not being very durable. It comes with a half-ream paper tray, which
indicates the same thing. High-capacity toner is 7,000 pages, which is
a little low.

Overall, probably not as good or as cheap as a used business-class
LaserJet. Always check your local paper and online classified ads
before you buy new. An LJ4M would be faster than the 6P; and now it's
not too hard to find the LJ4000 or LJ4050 printers, which are quite a
bit better yet.


Because manufacturers assume you'll always upgrade from an unsupported
OS to a supported one.
Click to expand...
Thanks...for your viewpoint..which makes a lot of sense..I will ponder it..
 
The Natural Philosopher said:
Further to my issues with my ageing Laserjet 6P printing double
images....which an exhaustive search off HPs tech database revealed were
either a duff circuit board, or a duff laser assembly..i.e. not worth
fixing..I am now in the hunt for a printer to replace it.

The prob is that I run windows 98SE, and my wife MAC OS/9.

The lastest crop of networked HP's do not seem to support OS/9, though
why, is a shade beyond me.

After all, postscript is postscript and connectivity is currently working
to the 6P via a jet direct print server...think we are using LPD
protocols..can't remember.

I also have a Debian Linux machine running samba, CUPS and Netatalk that
could be used to interface with as well.

I need a printer..preferably networked via Ethernet, but also could be
parallel..that will run with that lot..the 2015n looks reasonably sanely
priced and is hopefully a good quality printer for modest output (home
SOHO stuff: need a manual feed tray in it as well as normal tray)..but it
does not list OS/9 compatibility..

So why not?

Any comments suggestions etc. gratefully received..
TIA
TNP
Click to expand...


Have you thought about a Phaser 8550? I see it's compatable with your two
OS.
 
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