If I had an Ethernet cable and an Ethernet printer, could I just plug it into a new iMac?
Yes, should work fine. If you connect the iMac up to your Ethernet, pop up the Chooser, you should see the (e.g., PostScript) printers that are connected to the Ethernet.
And, if I had a LocalTalk cable and an LocalTalk capable printer, could I plug that into a new iMac?
The iMac does not have the (physical) LocalTalk port; that familiar 8-pin DIN connector. You would have connect the LocalTalk printer to the Ethernet using a Ethernet/LocalTalk router.
If you have a spare Mac that has both LocalTalk and Ethernet ports, you can run the bridge software
(ftp://ftp.apple.com/Apple_Support_Area/Apple.Software.Updates/US/Macintosh/Networking-Communications/Other_N-C/LT_and_LW_Bridge_2.1.sea.bin)
to make your LocalTalk devices connected to this Mac "appear" on the Ethernet side of the network. I assume that most iMac owners would not have a spare Mac sitting around, but it should work for you, Linda, with your arsenal of Macintoshes :-)
Cheers,
Kok Chen |
