OK, I'm 3 weeks (almost) since making the switch, and I'm really enjoying many aspects of my new iMac. One area that seems a bit weird is setting up printers. I have two printers; a HP1220c which has USB & Parallel connections, and a HP5P which only has a Parallel connection.
Both printers were connected to my wired LinkSys Print Server via regular Parallel print cables and they worked just fine under windows XP. I attempted for the better part of 10 days to somehow get the printers working, even with the Gutenprint drivers. I was able to use the LinkSys software/hardware to print test pages on both, but never could get an email or a picture printed from the Mac. LinkSys has a utility that allows you to control the print server and force a LinkSys test page. I should note that the Print Server is hard-wired to my LinkSys Wireless-G Cable Gateway Router and that my iMac is working exceptionally well with that LinkSys (router). I finally gave up.
I disconnected the Parallel cable on the HP1220c and connected it via USB. Someone in one of the two major Mac forums pointed me to a site where I could download a driver. I did that, and eventually installed the printer... but the driver doesn't have all the bells and whistles I had with the XP driver. I can't specifiy quality, weight, or surface (gloss/mat/semi-gloss), and a whole host of other options. I'm assuming that perhaps I need a different (better) driver, so if anyone knows how I can get one, please let me know. Going to HP doesn't work, because they tell you that the latest driver for this printer is built-into the latest Mac OS.
The HP5P LaserJet is another problem child (maybe) because I put a USB to Parallel cable on the printer, connected it to an open USB port, and nothing happens. I tried to add + a printer, but it won't actually list HP printers like I'm used to.
If I had my druthers, I would certainly like to print via the print server, but if I have to use a USB hub, then so be it. Any/all help is greatly appreciated.
Mike
Both printers were connected to my wired LinkSys Print Server via regular Parallel print cables and they worked just fine under windows XP. I attempted for the better part of 10 days to somehow get the printers working, even with the Gutenprint drivers. I was able to use the LinkSys software/hardware to print test pages on both, but never could get an email or a picture printed from the Mac. LinkSys has a utility that allows you to control the print server and force a LinkSys test page. I should note that the Print Server is hard-wired to my LinkSys Wireless-G Cable Gateway Router and that my iMac is working exceptionally well with that LinkSys (router). I finally gave up.
I disconnected the Parallel cable on the HP1220c and connected it via USB. Someone in one of the two major Mac forums pointed me to a site where I could download a driver. I did that, and eventually installed the printer... but the driver doesn't have all the bells and whistles I had with the XP driver. I can't specifiy quality, weight, or surface (gloss/mat/semi-gloss), and a whole host of other options. I'm assuming that perhaps I need a different (better) driver, so if anyone knows how I can get one, please let me know. Going to HP doesn't work, because they tell you that the latest driver for this printer is built-into the latest Mac OS.
The HP5P LaserJet is another problem child (maybe) because I put a USB to Parallel cable on the printer, connected it to an open USB port, and nothing happens. I tried to add + a printer, but it won't actually list HP printers like I'm used to.
If I had my druthers, I would certainly like to print via the print server, but if I have to use a USB hub, then so be it. Any/all help is greatly appreciated.
Mike