We have four printers in our house. It's embarrassing, but true. Here's the story: I got my first printer in 1995 when I got my first computer (Apple Power PC 7200) and all the firsts that come with first time computer ownership. It's an Apple Laserwriter 4/600. And I still use it. It's a damn good printer. It only prints in black, but for what I use it for now (mostly receipts and invoices), that's all that's necessary...and it's really economical--I go through a cartridge about once a year or two, and I usually print out several invoices a day. For the longest time, about 7 years, I only had it hooked up to that first computer because it only connects via one Local Talk cable. So as I got newer computers, I had to sneakernet my files over on zip disks to print them on the old computer which I seldom used, except for printing. But get rid of the Laserwriter? Never! It was and still is, the most I ever paid for a printer. Why didn't I just attach my Laserwriter to my new computers? I'll explain why.

I got a better, faster computer in 1998 (Apple Power PC G3). I also realized I needed a color printer to create CD covers for my graphic CDs. So I got an Epson Photo Stylus 700 (or something like that). Its prints look like photos...perfect color quality. I paid a couple hundred bucks for it or so. It did get its heads plugged up once (as is typical of Epsons) so I had to have it repaired for about $50. Since that computer took up the printer port on my then new computer, I couldn't use my Laserwriter on it. I did have some sort of switcher hub thing that I bought for a different purpose, and I tried it with the printers unsuccessfully. So I had two computers, each with a printer for different purposes.

Then three years later I needed a faster computer, more space, etc., so I got a Quicksilver G4.I couldn't attach either printer to it because this new computer used USB and Firewire ports, not the 9-pin or whatever printer ports that the old Macs did. Plus, I was so overwhelmed with the new technology and OS X, that I couldn't even think about adapting the Laserwriter for several years still. The Epson Inkjet was stuck in 1998, however. There was no support for it on Mac OS X. So it will forever stay attached to the Mac G3, forever stuck in 1998.

In 2002, Stan bought his own computer, A 12" Apple iBook. He wanted something he could take to work with him to work on during his breaks (this was back in the days when he actually had breaks). He wanted a printer, so he bought an inexpensive Epson, not as photoquality as mine, but it worked for what he used it for. It's not like he could use either of my printers, as like with my G4, the printer ports were not compatible.

In another three years I started doing business on ebay and felt the need to print out invoices on a daily basis. By now my main computer and my Tangerine Apple iBook (got that one in 1999) were networked. (I didn't network my two oldest computers...I tried...too difficult, too frustrating...techie I am not). I bought a device by Assante which is a Localtalk to Ethernet adapter. With only some initial minor frustration (and some major frustration after every thunderstorm outage), I hooked up my Laserwriter to our Ethernetwork, which networks my Quicksilver G4 Desktop, Stan's Laptop, and my Laptop. Now Stan doesn't need his printer anymore...he just uses my Laserwriter, which is much more economical.

Despite the great photo-quality output of my stuck-in-1998 Epson, the dyes aren't archivable. I have wanted an archivable-ink quality printer for years now, but they've been running in the area of over $1000. I basically put that on the backburner, but early this year I started thinking about it again, did some research and bought my HP Photosmart Pro B9180. I set it up weeks ago, but didn't try printing anything seriously until yesterday (don't want to waste expensive ink and paper). I was met with major frustration when trying a manual feed. I was so used to asking my computer to print FIRST, and then feeding the paper, that I just didn't even notice in the instructions (and yes, I did read them, but it didn't sink in) that you're supposed to feed the paper *first* and *then* print from your computer. I was so frustrated, I was crying. Technology makes me cry, it really does. So many times I'll have power outage or a cable problem or worse, lose all my data (this happened in 2002 and I was literally a basketcase for days and seriously wanted to die). I feel so ineffective...if I can't figure it out, who can help me? It's not like I have a job where there's tech support. I am all alone. Fortunately, Stan and I were able to put our heads together and figure this one out. If not, I'd be a basketcase and I wouldn't be writing this boring little piece of trivia right now for you to read.

Labels: This Boring Life