Epson. There's your problem. RIP to your Apple Laser Writer—why not get a Brother? My HL-2270DW (a model first introduced in 2011) is still going strong.
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Do I need a new iMac
- Thread starter dougvmi
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Ho thank you Carl. I didn’t know it exists. Just tried it both high performance and standard mode, seems to work well. Very interesting.
capamac
macrumors 6502a
I've found that I tend to go about 7 years before changing computers.
About half the time I change computers its due to a hardware failure, not coz I'm dissatisfied with performance.
The other half its performance-related.
2021 iMac has good performance still and probably will remain good for a few more years yet.
You can check benchmarks to get an idea of what a M4 iMac might be like: https://browser.geekbench.com/mac-benchmarks
M4 iMac scores 3256 at that site vs 2178 for M1 iMac.
IMO a doubling in speed isn't enough to warrant an upgrade. (3x or 4x or more is ideal) And the M4 isn't even twice as fast as M1.
RUGERMAN
macrumors 6502
I agree, I have a brother laser printer that I got for a little over a $100 6 or 7 years ago and I still love it. the only problem is that will not recognize wifi 5g so I have to switch back to wifi 5 in order to print, I wish there was some way to upgrade it tot 5g.
eyoungren
macrumors Nehalem
I've been using a Samsung Xpress M2020w and C430w for almost 10 years now. Both bought new. These are laser printers with WiFi, Ethernet and Airprint. They support printing from both iPhone/iPad and Android. And there was also a time where they were connected through Google so I could send a print job from work to home.
I started with them on Leopard. The drivers that came on the disc did not support Leopard (started at Snow Leopard), but I was able to take those SL drivers and install them in the Leopard print folders and make the printers work. I am now on Sonoma and the printers have been supported on every version up to that. I have to assume they'd work on Sequoia and above.
Both printers are left on 24/7 and have been rock solid.
I started with them on Leopard. The drivers that came on the disc did not support Leopard (started at Snow Leopard), but I was able to take those SL drivers and install them in the Leopard print folders and make the printers work. I am now on Sonoma and the printers have been supported on every version up to that. I have to assume they'd work on Sequoia and above.
Both printers are left on 24/7 and have been rock solid.
Non-Euclidean
macrumors 6502a
You guys just inspired me.
The wife wanted her old Toshiba laptop running again. Last week I bought a Neo for mom since her chromebook died. I let the wife check it out, she liked it. I really don't want to support more Win boxes at home so...
Ordered for $429 from OCW
Apple 12" MacBook Retina (2017) 1.4GHz Dual Core i7, Space Gray - Used, Very Good Condition
Apple 12-inch MacBook Retina, 1.4GHz Dual Core i7 "Mid 2017" Space Gray, with 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD, 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, Used, Very Good Condition with 1-Year OWC Eclipse Warranty
Update, then cancelled, I think I want to get her at least an early M, for battery life.
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josehill
macrumors regular
What is the specific model of printer? There may be advice we can offer that is specific to it.
As for your iMac, the version of macOS that comes out in September, macOS 27 Golden Gate, will be the last one that supports it. Apple typically releases Mac security updates for a particular OS for a total of three years, so as long as you feel like your iMac is working fine, you have a few more years to go.
Your router should have the ability to have dual channels. That's what I do for mine.
I just recently retired my 2011 Air for several reasons, one of them being the M4 mini is just a can't-pass deal.
Still drive a 2010 Civic, with *only* 80K miles mind you, no complicated electronics, few plastics parts that will break, I laugh at the car repair insurance ads.
Still ride a 1990 Schwinn steel bike, people laugh at my down tube shifters but before I can justify a multi-$Ks spiffy carbon bike, I gotta better my fitness like 10x and that is not happening.
So to your question, Keep the iMac 2021.
Still drive a 2010 Civic, with *only* 80K miles mind you, no complicated electronics, few plastics parts that will break, I laugh at the car repair insurance ads.
Still ride a 1990 Schwinn steel bike, people laugh at my down tube shifters but before I can justify a multi-$Ks spiffy carbon bike, I gotta better my fitness like 10x and that is not happening.
So to your question, Keep the iMac 2021.
Yeah from what I remember high performance mode feels pretty much native 60hz. I think it needs to be connected by at least a fast ethernet connection to enter high performance mode.
BillyJoeJimBob
macrumors regular
Dear OP, Just so you know, a new computer will not improve the performance of your printer. There's no real reason that printer support gets dropped besides printer companies wanting to sell more printers. Even if you buy a new iMac, do yourself a favor and keep the old one if you want to use your printer. Maybe even roll back the OS to the one that worked well with the printer. Airprint doesn't work as well (if it ever does) as a directly connected USB printer.
I have often observed that all printer drivers suck almost as bad as the printers themselves.
We will have skyscrapers on Pluto before someone makes a serviceable, driver/cups/os agnostic printer that will last 10 years.
I have often observed that all printer drivers suck almost as bad as the printers themselves.
We will have skyscrapers on Pluto before someone makes a serviceable, driver/cups/os agnostic printer that will last 10 years.
Terraaustralis
macrumors 6502
AppleForeverandEver
macrumors regular
Make sure you constantly are doing a backup of any files or data that is valuable to you.
I have a laser (Brother) printer which is 8 years old and works perfectly. Once the drum dies, then I will replace it, so I would check to make sure the printer issues are due to the printer and not configuration. I also have an old Canon inkjet printer (again 8 years old) which, again works fine.
As has been said a few times, Apple uses either AirPrint or CUPS drivers these days which supports a lot of printers (including my old Brother laser). The only complications come from printers with copiers/scanners and then a dedicated app 'may' be needed which is not always forthcoming or updated as they are printer manufacturer provided. However the printer will still print and you can use the scanner as a copier as it does not need the computer for that function.
As for the computer being 5 years, it is only 'old' if the machine does not do what you want. If it functions, then stick with it until you need to replace it due to either functional issues or it dies. However, the only caveat I would add is that if it is an Intel based Mac, you are going to run out of a lot of updates since most app are only being supplied in native ARM code these days as Rosetta will be eliminated in the next OS release (Golden Gate). Thus no Intel based app updates will be available. This is in addition to Golden Gate (MacOS 27) not supporting Intel based Macs or Laptops.
Cost effective would be a used M1 iMac or even M2 or M3 (unfortunately they only have a 24" screen). You do not need the latest and greatest and they are a bargain. I presume the 2021 iMac is a 27" machine, so you will suffer the loss of screen real estate. If that is a concern, buy a Mini (if you can find one at a reasonable price), grab a keyboard and mouse from Logitech and a 4K screen from Dell or whoever you like. However it will not be as cheap as a used M1 iMac
As has been said a few times, Apple uses either AirPrint or CUPS drivers these days which supports a lot of printers (including my old Brother laser). The only complications come from printers with copiers/scanners and then a dedicated app 'may' be needed which is not always forthcoming or updated as they are printer manufacturer provided. However the printer will still print and you can use the scanner as a copier as it does not need the computer for that function.
As for the computer being 5 years, it is only 'old' if the machine does not do what you want. If it functions, then stick with it until you need to replace it due to either functional issues or it dies. However, the only caveat I would add is that if it is an Intel based Mac, you are going to run out of a lot of updates since most app are only being supplied in native ARM code these days as Rosetta will be eliminated in the next OS release (Golden Gate). Thus no Intel based app updates will be available. This is in addition to Golden Gate (MacOS 27) not supporting Intel based Macs or Laptops.
Cost effective would be a used M1 iMac or even M2 or M3 (unfortunately they only have a 24" screen). You do not need the latest and greatest and they are a bargain. I presume the 2021 iMac is a 27" machine, so you will suffer the loss of screen real estate. If that is a concern, buy a Mini (if you can find one at a reasonable price), grab a keyboard and mouse from Logitech and a 4K screen from Dell or whoever you like. However it will not be as cheap as a used M1 iMac
MacBH928
macrumors G3
I have a feeling this is an HP printer
do you browse in 56kbps speed?
I do not understand this. For my printers I just plugged them in and they worked out of the box both for mac and windows. Nothing needed to be installed (brother and hp). Even on mobile. heck I plugged in Epson dotmatrix printer and it work on both of them.
As for drivers not supporting new OS, cant they just bring in back the older drivers and it will be just baked in already? my understanding its the new hardware that your OS does not have a driver for.
i have this one. its a little oven. how is your battery even surviving? i am afraid to turn it on, i always imagine it will explode or burn on me.
you can add wifi to ethernet adapter like this one
why not official apple keyboard and mouse?
do you browse in 56kbps speed?
I do not understand this. For my printers I just plugged them in and they worked out of the box both for mac and windows. Nothing needed to be installed (brother and hp). Even on mobile. heck I plugged in Epson dotmatrix printer and it work on both of them.
As for drivers not supporting new OS, cant they just bring in back the older drivers and it will be just baked in already? my understanding its the new hardware that your OS does not have a driver for.
i have this one. its a little oven. how is your battery even surviving? i am afraid to turn it on, i always imagine it will explode or burn on me.
you can add wifi to ethernet adapter like this one
why not official apple keyboard and mouse?
eyoungren
macrumors Nehalem
Huh?
My router is Gig-E, my 24-port switch is Gig-E and the two ethernet ports on my Mac Pro are Gig-E. On top of that, I pay my ISP for Gig-E speeds.
No idea what you're on about.
My previous setup (27" Intel iMac with HP LaserJet) needed the printer deleted and reinstalled every time I went to print something. Scanning was broken too, could only scan to thumb drives. Not word ending but was certainly annoying.
I don't think so about the iMac. The printer, maybe. I am responding to this thread on a 2018 Mac mini and I still connect to a super old HP printer via WiFi to print stuff. It all still works so I'm not replacing it. I tried a newer HP printer but had to sign up and enroll I stuff to be able to print in color so I returned that one and continued using my old one.
I try using things and devices for as long as possible and as long as they are useful.
Apple keyboard and mouse would be fine too, except I suspect the OP did not want to spend the sort of money Apple charge for their keyboards and mice. Logitech make some excellent products that are half the price and work just as well.
For me, I would not recommend Apple keyboards and mice since they tend to be form over function as well as being quite expensive. The mouse, for me, is a terrible design and certainly not worth the money they charge for it. It is an ergonomic nightmare in my hand and you cannot recharge it while being used. As for the keyboard it is too shallow with short hard keystrokes which I personally do not like (I put up with the keyboards on their laptops which do seem to be better than the Magic Keyboard). I use the Logitech Master 3 or 4 series mice and a mechanical keyboard from DasKeyboard or Keychron and forgo the Touch ID, if your Mini supports it. These are not necessarily cheaper options, in this case, but, for me, more usable and ergonomic. But, as is expected. YMMV. Personal views only.
Sorry this is off track and nothing to do with the OP's question, and apologize for drifting off topic.
Only if you can tell the difference between wanting newer and NEED. 🙂
2015, 27" iMac on Monterey here.
Likewise 🙂
MacBH928
macrumors G3
i am on monterey using macbook 2015 and some app heavy websites already seem choking and sluggish. can't imagine how its on 2009.
eyoungren
macrumors Nehalem
I'm not having any issues. But I probably don't use the sites you do. My version of the Vivaldi browser is the current one. I do restart every 2-3 days though when the WindowServer process starts taking too much ram.
I haven't had any sites choke on me though. Not yet.
boppin
macrumors 65816
Hi
Honestly said I would get rid off all Intel based Macs and switch to current hardware. If the printer still works by using USB then keep it. If there aren't updates anymore I would also replace it.
Or keep your old Mac if absolutely necessary when running "old" apps or you want to run Windows and buy a new one. Sounds like a plan! What do you think?
Honestly said I would get rid off all Intel based Macs and switch to current hardware. If the printer still works by using USB then keep it. If there aren't updates anymore I would also replace it.
Or keep your old Mac if absolutely necessary when running "old" apps or you want to run Windows and buy a new one. Sounds like a plan! What do you think?
What you describe is driverless printing, which they call Airprint. Apple is slowly moving this direction. Most modern printers support this, so drivers are unneeded...and unless Apple changes something in a future OS, these printers will continue to just work.
Older and specialty printers that don't support Airprint, typically require drivers. Sometimes old printers need new drivers to play nice with the latest OS. When that happens we are dependent on vendors to update drivers for old printers. Sometimes they choose not to.
At this point Airprint only supports very basic functions, so specialty printers still require drivers to utilize and control all of their features and options.
To further complicate things...Apple also used to preload the most common drivers (so they just work). So while we did not actively have to install drivers...they were still required. Most of this has changed in the last few years, unless one has a legacy printer with no Airprint, and no drivers that work with the latest OSes. To see if a printer supports AirPrint, one can search here.
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josehill
macrumors regular
If an older printer supports PostScript and/or PCL, but not AirPrint, it usually will work fine with Apple's "Generic" PostScript and PCL drivers, though it's possible that some printer-specific features won't be available. It's more common for laser printers to support PostScript/PCL than for inkjets to do so, but if you're running into issues, it's worth looking up your printer's specs to see if it does.
There may also be some hacks that allow non-PostScript/PCL printers to run on unsupported versions of macOS by manually installing individual components of Catalina-era drivers on current machines, but that can be tricky and is left as an exercise for advanced users. There's also the possibility of using AI to generate custom Mac drivers for unsupported printers, but it's pretty early days.
There may also be some hacks that allow non-PostScript/PCL printers to run on unsupported versions of macOS by manually installing individual components of Catalina-era drivers on current machines, but that can be tricky and is left as an exercise for advanced users. There's also the possibility of using AI to generate custom Mac drivers for unsupported printers, but it's pretty early days.