Mac with remote printing (via bluetooth) question

[Visconti]

I think this is a simple question, but I don't understand the technology here...

I have a Mac and this HP 8250 printer:
http://www.shopping.hp.com/supmodel/product/Q3470A?

The specs from the previous link show the wireless specs to be:
Wireless capability: Optional, with HP bt450 Bluetooth Wireless Printer Adapter, HP bt300 Bluetooth Wireless Printer Adapter


Can I buy this USB adapter and plug it in and print wirelessly with my Mac?
http://www.amazon.com/IOGear-Blueto...9JIG/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1292976345&sr=8-5

Or do I need to go with something like this from HP (I cannot find the bt300 or bt450 available for under $150)?
http://www.shopping.hp.com/product/printer/inkjet/wireless/4/accessories/Q6273A%231H9

Thanks for your help!!

 

[gsahli]

The BT300 (or BT450) is the "printer adapter" - might be called the "receiver end" of the issue. It is the mandatory piece of the puzzle. The printer doesn't have any Bluetooth capability of its own.
The computer-side adapters are equivalent to other USB bluetooth adapters and cheaper brands would work just fine.

I am not enthusiastic about Bluetooth printing. It is the slowest print protocol currently in use. And it usually requires a special driver for OS X (in the case of your HP 8250, they specifically state that BT300 doesn't work on Macs!).
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/...=us&lang=en&product=409695&key=null&site=null
I'm not certain about BT450.

Regardless, of what HP says, I believe that you can print using the OS X built-in CUPS Bluetooth driver if you select a CUPS-capable driver for your printer (NOT the HP-provided driver).
I think the hpijs 3-part driver will work for that:
http://www.linuxfoundation.org/collaborate/workgroups/openprinting/macosx

Does that help?