On March 1st, 1985, Apple introduced the world to the LaserWriter, a revolutionary new printer that would change the way we print forever. As part of the Apple Printer series, the LaserWriter was designed, manufactured, and sold by Apple from 1985 to 1988.
The LaserWriter was a state-of-the-art printer that featured a 12 MHz Motorola 68000 processor, 512 KB of ROM, one printing color, and a printing resolution of up to 300 dpi. It also had a printing speed of up to 8 pages per minute and a Serial connection and LocalTalk port.
At the time of its release, the Apple LaserWriter had a starting price of $6,995, which was a significant investment for most people. However, the LaserWriter’s advanced technology and capabilities made it a popular choice among businesses and professionals.
Unfortunately, the LaserWriter’s time in the spotlight was short-lived, as it was discontinued on February 1, 1988. Today, the LaserWriter is 39 years old, but its legacy lives on as one of the first laser printers to hit the market and set the standard for future printers to come.
LaserWriter Details
| Introduced | March 1, 1985 |
| Discontinued | February 1, 1988 |
| Original Price | $6,995 |
| Weight | 77 Ibs. 34.926 KG |
| Dimensions | 11.5” H x 18.5” W x 16.2” D 29,20 cm H x 47 cm W x 41.15 cm D |
Printer Specs
| Type | Electrophotography |
| Colors | 1 |
| Pages Per Minute | 8 |
| DPI | 300 |
| Language | Diablo 630 PostScript |
| Cartridge | M0180 HP 92285A |
Processor
| Processor | Motorola 68000 |
| Processor Speed | 12 MHz |
| ROM Size | 512 KB |
| Maximum Memory | 1.5 MB |
| Memory Slots | 1 |
| Minimum Speed | Unknown |
Connections
| Connection | Serial and LocalTalk |
Power
| Maximum Continuous Power | 760 W |
Further Reading and References
- LaserWriter: Technical Specifications – Apple Support
- LaserWriter – Wikipedia
- Apple LaserWriter – Low End Mac
- Apple Laserwriter Reference (PDF) – Vintage Apple
- Four reasons the LaserWriter mattered – Macworld
- The Apple LaserWriter – Museums Victoria Collections
Disclaimer: The data presented in this article is under continuous development and has been manually collected from various sources based on their availability. The author of this article may revise this dataset as additional research is conducted and reviewed. Please note that the information is provided “as is” and “as available” without express or implied warranties. The author cannot be held responsible for any omissions, inaccuracies, or errors in the published information. Any warranties relating to this information are hereby disclaimed.
Last updated: March 13, 2023
