I just purchased hp officejet pro 8500, have MBP 10.4.11, Intel processor. The software CD says for 10.5 and up. My MPB has found it tho as a printer and I have been able to print fine to it without installing the software. The problem is, the wireless connection is unstable. It will be there one day, then disappear the next. I've seen other people having same issues with HP Officejet and they have software installed. My question is threefold:
1) Can I just buy a USB bluetooth dongle and connect using blue tooth (that is how I connected to my previous Brother printer, it had built in blue tooth). If that will work, will any USB Blue tooth thing work? Like the $20 ones or does it have to be the $100 ones?
2) I have ordered Leopard disc, should be coming soon, so that I can install the HP software. But I am worried I may lose ability to use iMovie 6 (tech support said I won't) or that it may screw up my system. I do not want to upgrade to 10.5 if I don't have to. Is it necessary to install the software CD in order for printers to work? When the connection is there, it prints everything just fine.
3) If I return this printer, what is a better printer that will be compatible with 10.4.11 and my Dell PC? I prefer ethernet connection to PC with a bluetooth for the MPB, but if there is a wireless printer that will work better with both, I will get it. I am wondering if maybe when this HP printer goes into sleep mode, it is disconnecting the wireless setting to the MBP, as I've read people have had issues with that.
Thank you for any help. I have 28 days left if I am planning to return this thing.
1) Can I just buy a USB bluetooth dongle and connect using blue tooth (that is how I connected to my previous Brother printer, it had built in blue tooth). If that will work, will any USB Blue tooth thing work? Like the $20 ones or does it have to be the $100 ones?
2) I have ordered Leopard disc, should be coming soon, so that I can install the HP software. But I am worried I may lose ability to use iMovie 6 (tech support said I won't) or that it may screw up my system. I do not want to upgrade to 10.5 if I don't have to. Is it necessary to install the software CD in order for printers to work? When the connection is there, it prints everything just fine.
3) If I return this printer, what is a better printer that will be compatible with 10.4.11 and my Dell PC? I prefer ethernet connection to PC with a bluetooth for the MPB, but if there is a wireless printer that will work better with both, I will get it. I am wondering if maybe when this HP printer goes into sleep mode, it is disconnecting the wireless setting to the MBP, as I've read people have had issues with that.
Thank you for any help. I have 28 days left if I am planning to return this thing.