LaserWriter Plus

LaserWriter Plus. Released by Apple Inc. in March 1986, it was the second model in the company's pioneering line of PostScript laser printers. Building upon the success of the original LaserWriter, this enhanced model featured expanded ROM and a significantly larger library of typefaces, solidifying its role in the desktop publishing revolution. Its integration with the Macintosh platform and Adobe Systems' page description language made it a cornerstone of professional design and publishing workflows throughout the late 1980s.

Overview

The introduction of this printer followed the landmark debut of the original LaserWriter in 1985, a device developed in close partnership with Adobe Systems and Canon Inc.. It was designed to address early user demand for greater typographic flexibility within the burgeoning desktop publishing market. Key to its functionality was the sophisticated PostScript interpreter, which allowed for the precise rendering of complex graphics and text. This machine, alongside the Apple Macintosh and software like Aldus PageMaker, formed the essential "Macintosh Office" triad that transformed small businesses and design studios.

Hardware and specifications

At its core, the system was powered by a Motorola 68000 microprocessor running at 12 MHz, identical to the CPU found in the contemporary Macintosh Plus. It was equipped with 1.5 MB of RAM and 1 MB of ROM, a substantial increase from its predecessor to accommodate additional font data. The print engine was based on the Canon CX marking engine, capable of producing output at a resolution of 300 dots per inch on standard cut-sheet paper. For connectivity, it featured both Apple LocalTalk and RS-422 serial ports, enabling network sharing among multiple Macintosh computers in an office environment.

Software and fonts

The primary advancement was its vastly expanded built-in font library, which included 35 PostScript Type 1 fonts compared to the original model's 13. This collection featured classic designs such as Times Roman, Helvetica, Courier, and Symbol, alongside new additions like Palatino, Bookman, and Zapf Chancery. These fonts were permanently stored in ROM, ensuring fast access and consistent output. The printer's firmware contained the complete Adobe PostScript interpreter, allowing it to process complex commands from applications like Microsoft Word, Adobe Illustrator, and Lotus Jazz.

Impact and legacy

This device played a critical role in democratizing typesetting and graphic design, enabling high-quality output previously only available from expensive typesetting houses or Linotype machines. It helped establish PostScript as the de facto standard for professional printing and cemented the Apple Macintosh as the preferred platform for creative industries. The success of this product line pressured competitors like Hewlett-Packard and IBM to develop their own laser printer solutions, though many eventually licensed PostScript from Adobe Systems. Its influence is directly visible in the subsequent proliferation of desktop publishing software and the rise of the graphic design profession in the digital age.

Models and variants

The product family evolved quickly, with this model being succeeded in 1987 by the LaserWriter II series, which included the LaserWriter IINT, LaserWriter IINTX, and LaserWriter IIg. These successors offered improved processors like the Motorola 68020, enhanced PostScript Level 2 support, and greater modularity. Other contemporary networked printers in the Apple ecosystem included the lower-cost ImageWriter dot-matrix series and the specialized Color LaserWriter. Competing PostScript printers soon emerged from companies such as QMS, Texas Instruments, and Digital Equipment Corporation.

Category:Apple Inc. hardware Category:Laser printers Category:Computer printers introduced in 1986