LaserWriter

The LaserWriter was a series of laser printers produced by Apple Computer, Inc. The first LaserWriter was introduced in 1985, a year after the Macintosh was released. It was a significant product because it brought high-quality, desktop laser printing to the personal computer market.

A key feature of the LaserWriter was its use of PostScript, a page description language developed by Adobe Systems. PostScript allowed for precise control over text and graphics, enabling desktop publishing to become a reality. This meant that users could create professional-looking documents with complex layouts and fonts that were previously only possible with expensive typesetting equipment.

The original LaserWriter was relatively expensive for its time, but its capabilities justified the cost for many businesses and individuals involved in design and publishing. It featured a resolution of 300 dots per inch (dpi) and printed at a speed of eight pages per minute. Subsequent models introduced faster print speeds, higher resolutions, and more memory.

The LaserWriter line played a crucial role in the growth of desktop publishing and the wider adoption of the Macintosh platform. It helped establish Apple as a leader in creative professional markets and set a standard for laser printing that influenced the industry for years to come. Production of the LaserWriter line eventually ceased as laser printing technology evolved and became more integrated into multifunction devices.