Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Is it true...

M

macswitcha2

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Oct 18, 2008
1,255
8
that Macs do not require CD installations for printers? When getting a new printer do Macs identify the connection and works with it?


Also, if a printer is wireless compatible, do macs simply pick it up like it would do a wifi network?
 
For the most part it's true. You still have to go through the add printer steps in the printer pref pane. It can and does find networked printers.
 
It depends on the printer/manufacturer. Many inkjets, or combination printers will require drivers, because most don't have a common language. However, if the printer came out prior to the last OS release (or update) then the drivers are included in OS X. Laserprinter, with few exceptions, use the same printing language, PostScript, those will 99% of the time work with no issues on a Mac. Wireless printers are the same answer, as it still depends on the language the printer speaks.

TEG
 
Intell said:
For the most part it's true. You still have to go through the add printer steps in the printer pref pane. It can and does find networked printers.
Click to expand...

TEG said:
It depends on the printer/manufacturer. Many inkjets, or combination printers will require drivers, because most don't have a common language. However, if the printer came out prior to the last OS release (or update) then the drivers are included in OS X. Laserprinter, with few exceptions, use the same printing language, PostScript, those will 99% of the time work with no issues on a Mac. Wireless printers are the same answer, as it still depends on the language the printer speaks.

TEG
Click to expand...

So just plug in the printer to see and pop in the cd?
 
Try it without the cd first. Use the default printer pref pane in System Preferences.
 
eh..... I have found that most of the inkjets have limited functionality using the Apple drivers. It is best just to use the setup disk that comes with the printer or download the latest from the company web page. You will get all teh functionality that way.
 
Intell said:
Try it without the cd first. Use the default printer pref pane in System Preferences.
Click to expand...

ok, I have the printer so what must I do in Preference? I went to Print & Fax option and I see in the Printer pain Adobe PDF 9.0 which is not my printer. Ok, I downloaded the driver but still no print.
 
Last edited:
With the printer plugged in, to have to click the little plus. It'll search for your printer. Then just follow what it says.
 
Intell said:
With the printer plugged in, to have to click the little plus. It'll search for your printer. Then just follow what it says.
Click to expand...

I'm going to leave this alone for now. But seems like the belief that anything works with a mac is but a myth. Looks like I'm going to have to use the CD. I already tried it with my macbook and I only installed the drivers but it skipped the network option so the only way I can print is through USB cable. Looks like the cd wants to have me install all of its software. I printed what I wanted but I'm going to have to put this on hold until I figure out how to work the printer via wifi without installing the software that comes with the cd. If not, then I have to stomach putting stuff in my mac that I wont use just so I can print. Little disappointed that my mac is not living up to the hype.
 
For the most part Macs do just work. A little disappointed that the everyday user can't solve simple problems.
 
I, coming from windows, tried using the CD installation for my Canon printer on my iMac. It did not work properly. I deleted the install and went straight to settings. It took maybe a minute or two to set it up. Everything I needed was already there. I agree with what another poster said about going for it without the CD first.

On a side note, the scan function of the printer took a little bit of coercion to work properly. Luckily if I really care about what I am scanning I will insert an SD card into my printer and the sitaution is resolved.
 
Intell said:
For the most part Macs do just work. A little disappointed that the everyday user can't solve simple problems.
Click to expand...

Simple or serious, why is there problems in the first place? Are you insinuating that I'm the problem?
 
macswitcha2 said:
Simple or serious, why is there problems in the first place? Are you insinuating that I'm the problem?
Click to expand...

(my take)

You're reading too much into the words. The poster is simply saying that printer setup should be simple enough for the everyday user to manage. Seeing as it isn't the case it is a failure on the part of OS X.

That aside, what printer, and how is it connected to your computer?
 
sammich said:
(my take)

You're reading too much into the words. The poster is simply saying that printer setup should be simple enough for the everyday user to manage. Seeing as it isn't the case it is a failure on the part of OS X.

That aside, what printer, and how is it connected to your computer?
Click to expand...

I did read it that that at first but was not sure since there are a few jerks on here. BTW, it is simple if you do it the company's way but that's just it, I don't want to load my machine with uselessness.

The printer is a Canon MP495 all-in-one and I'm about to connected via USB.


Ok, using the USB Cable my iMac picks it up and I'm able to print. However, how do I get it to wirelessly print, which is where the frustration is about.
 
Last edited:
macswitcha2 said:
Simple or serious, why is there problems in the first place? Are you insinuating that I'm the problem?
Click to expand...

Actually yes.... Apple, like Microsoft, can't be expected to write drivers for every vendor. Just go to the printer venders website and download the latest drivers. How hard is that? For the most part many printers will function with limited ability by simply plugging it in but if the printer is newer than the OS, it is likely that it won't work.

Removal of installed products varies on Mac. You should read the documentation on the CD and it should give you a process to uninstall it.
 
macswitcha2 said:
However, how do I get it to wirelessly print, which is where the frustration is about.
Click to expand...

It has been a while, but I have an MX860 on my network that I print to wirelessly. It was a pain to configure initiailly even in Vista.

Is the printer already configured to connect to your router? Does it work successfully with Windows? Or is this a new install?

B
 
macswitcha2 said:
I did read it that that at first but was not sure since there are a few jerks on here. BTW, it is simple if you do it the company's way but that's just it, I don't want to load my machine with uselessness.

The printer is a Canon MP495 all-in-one and I'm about to connected via USB.


Ok, using the USB Cable my iMac picks it up and I'm able to print. However, how do I get it to wirelessly print, which is where the frustration is about.
Click to expand...

First, you can install just the driver and not all the extra software with Canon. They have never forced you to install the extras..(unlike HP)

http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/suppo...ixma_mp_series/pixma_mp495#DriversAndSoftware

You can get the latest drivers above, just select Mac OSX..... Pretty simple.

Secondly, in order to get my printer to work wirelessly I had to connect it first and install the driver then disconnect it and connect it wirelessly. Bit of a pain, but it does work.
 
if i'm going to add a printer from the system preference, the IP address should be the same as the IP address on the Network settings?
 
balamw said:
It has been a while, but I have an MX860 on my network that I print to wirelessly. It was a pain to configure initiailly even in Vista.

Is the printer already configured to connect to your router? Does it work successfully with Windows? Or is this a new install?

B
Click to expand...

Ok, the instructions told me to do some things on the printer itself in which I did and baically it printed out code for me but don't know where I should put the code at.
 
macswitcha2 said:
BTW how do I uninstall what I installed from the CD on my macbook?
Click to expand...

Your installation Cd might have an uninstall feature. Otherwise you can just drag it from finder or applications to the trash. There is the possibility that there are residual files in random places, there are programs such as CleanMyMac and such that will find those files and dispose of them.
 
macswitcha2 said:
Ok, the instructions told me to do some things on the printer itself in which I did and baically it printed out code for me but don't know where I should put the code at.
Click to expand...

wpotere said:
in order to get my printer to work wirelessly I had to connect it first and install the driver then disconnect it and connect it wirelessly. Bit of a pain, but it does work.
Click to expand...

I seem to recall that dance as well, connect via USB, make changes reboot, etc... Trying that in both OS X and Vista at the time.

Didn't work for me as I recall.

I ended up just using my Vista box to create a thumb drive with all the right settings on it. Something like: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/networking/getstarted/windowsconnectnow.mspx and using that to set up the printer.

B
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back