ImageWriter

Infobox Computer Hardware Printer
name = ImageWriter

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caption =
introduced = June 1, 1984
discontinued = December 1, 1985
cost =
processor =
frequency =
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ports = Serial
type = Dot matrix
color = B&W only (can print using ImageWriter II color ribbon, regardless of the color.)
dpi = 144
speed = 1 Page per minute
language = QuickDraw
power = 180 Watt
weight = 16 lbs
dimensions = (H x W x D) 4.8 x 16.2 x 11.8 in

ImageWriter is a series of dot matrix printers sold between 1982 and 1986 by Apple. Although supplanted in the high-end market by the LaserWriter and in the low-end market by the StyleWriter, the ImageWriter remained a popular printer for printing forms or producing banners.

The original ImageWriter was a re-packaged 9-pin dot matrix printer from C. Itoh Electronics (model C. Itoh 8510, with modified ROM and pinout), released in 1983. It was originally intended to be used with the Apple II, replacing the earlier Apple Dot Matrix Printer (also a C. Itoh model). The ImageWriter could produce images as well as text, up to a resolution of 144 DPI and a speed of about 120 cps. 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 Macintosh 128K computer, the original Mac. Apple wanted a graphical printer for the Mac, and had introduced the ImageWriter primarily to support the new machine. This permitted it to produce WYSIWYG output from the screen of the computer, which was an important aspect for promoting the concept of the GUI and, later, desktop publishing. Quality was adequate rather than startling. This printer no longer has any supported drivers (though it is possible to print in "Near Letter Quality" to the ImageWriter using the C. Itoh 8510 driver in Windows NT/2000/XP in "RAW" data since it still seems to accept the same kind of "escape code".) But like other printers, it would still accept TEXT regardless of quality. Like its successor, the ImageWriter II, a self-test may be done by turning it off, holding "form feed" button down until the ImageWriter is turned back on.

Options

In 1984 Thunderware introduced the ThunderScan, an optical scanner that was installed in place of the ImageWriter ribbon cartridge. [cite web | last =Hertzfeld | first =Andy | authorlink = | coauthors = | year =1984 | url =http://www.folklore.org/StoryView.py?project=Macintosh&story=Thunderscan.txt | title =Thunderscan | format = | work = | publisher =Folklore.org | accessdaymonth =1 June | accessyear =2006 ] With support for the Apple II and the Mac, the ThunderScan provided low cost grayscale scanning with moderate resolution and speed.

References

External links

* [http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=112473 Technical Specifications on Apple.com]