Apple Color LaserWriter 12/660 PS
| Apple Color LaserWriter 12/660 PS | |
|---|---|
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|
| Apple's drawing of a 12/660 PS being levelled with the spirit level supplied with it (Service Source) | |
| Manufacturer | Apple Computer, Inc. |
| Type | Colour laser printer |
| Release date | October 1996 |
| Interface | LocalTalk; Ethernet; IEEE 1284 parallel; SCSI for hard disks |
| Compatible | Macintosh, Windows, DOS and UNIX computers |
| Dimensions | 18 × 21 × 23 in |
| Weight | 110 lb (about 50 kg) |
| Power | 100-120 V or 220-240 V; 1100 W maximum (Apple specification page) |
The Apple Color LaserWriter 12/660 PS is a colour PostScript laser printer that Apple introduced in October 1996 as a revised version of the Apple Color LaserWriter 12/600 PS.[1] Apple's Service Source states that the 12/660 engine and plastics are identical to the original in every respect and that every finished-goods and service part number applies to both printers; the only differences are the packaging and setup, the ROM and RAM on the I/O controller board, and the driver software.[2]
Differences from the 12/600 PS
[edit | edit source]| Area | 12/660 PS |
|---|---|
| I/O controller | 16 MB of DRAM as standard (12 MB on the 12/600 PS) and version 2.0 ROMs; all other characteristics unchanged |
| Setup | Two extra steps: level the printer with the supplied spirit level and rubber shims, and remove the oil absorption sheets and two orange spacers from the fuser area. The orange flag marking the shipping screw was enlarged |
| Driver | No new driver is needed, but the printer's name in ROM changed: with older drivers, select the "LaserWriter Color 12/600 PS" PPD by hand, or install the "LaserWriter Color 12/660 PS" PPD from the Service Source CD |
| Start-up and demo pages | Version 2.0 ROMs print new start-up and demo pages |
The levelling procedure was added to reduce oil overflow problems in the fuser. Place the level on top of the fuser, first front to back and then side to side, and put shims under the feet as needed. The oil absorption sheets stop silicone oil migrating during shipping; one sits inside the fuser access door with the two spacers and one inside the fuser assembly.[2]
Upgrading a 12/600 PS
[edit | edit source]A 12/600 PS becomes a 12/660 PS when version 2.0 ROMs are fitted to its I/O controller board. Apple's upgrade kit 076-0621 contains eight ROM ICs, a user manual addendum, a software CD and upgrade labels. Apple's instruction was to fit it only when a printer showed one of the problems version 2.0 fixes, and to replace the I/O controller board (661-0133, supplied with version 2.0 ROMs as service stock) only when it was found faulty. The level and shim kit is sold separately as 076-0622 for older printers.[2]
The upgrade section lists bug fixes made in ROM version 1.2, among them a NetWare PSERVER that stopped polling its queue after 24 hours, a NetWare port number that would not stay set, EtherTalk zone and LocalTalk type strings limited to 31 characters, and parallel jobs with images failing after the TBCP protocol had been changed; pserver and rprinter names were lengthened to 47 characters.[2]
Installation programme
[edit | edit source]From 21 October 1996, Apple paid Authorized Apple Resellers and institutions US$150 to install each 12/660 PS, and buyers were entitled to have it set up on site; a letter in the box told customers to arrange it.[2]
Specifications
[edit | edit source]Apart from RAM and ROM, the specifications are those of the 12/600 PS: 600 × 600 dpi, 12 pages per minute in one colour and 3 in full colour, an AMD 29030 controller with 8 MB of ROM and 39 Type 1 fonts, RAM expandable to 40 MB, and about 50 kg. See the 12/600 PS specifications.[2][1]
Maintenance and repair
[edit | edit source]The two printers share their guides, which cover the 12/660's levelling and shipping-sheet steps:
- Apple Color LaserWriter 12/600 PS General Maintenance
- Apple Color LaserWriter 12/600 PS Troubleshooting Guide
Documentation
[edit | edit source]- Color LaserWriter 12/600 PS and 12/660 PS Service Source: Apple's Service Source for both printers, with a chapter on the 12/660 PS.
Related pages
[edit | edit source]References
[edit | edit source]- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Apple, "Color LaserWriter 12/660 PS: Technical Specifications", support.apple.com/en-us/112277. Introduced 1 October 1996; processor AMD 29030, 30 MHz; PostScript Level 2; ports LocalTalk, Ethernet, high-speed parallel; 1100 W maximum, 9.2 A, 100-120 V; ROM 8 MB; 2 RAM slots, 72-pin; 16-40 MB RAM; 12 pages per minute mono, 3 colour; 600 dpi; minimum life 300,000 mono or 150,000 colour pages; 110 lb; 18 × 21 × 23 in.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 Apple Computer, Color LaserWriter 12/600 PS and 12/660 PS Service Source, 376 pp., hosted as Color LaserWriter 12/600 PS and 12/660 PS Service Source (PDF). CLW 12/660 PS chapter, PDF pp. 4-11: overview, packaging and setup changes, levelling and oil absorption sheets pp. 5-7; I/O controller board and driver changes p. 7; upgrade path and ROM fixes pp. 8-10; installation reimbursement programme p. 11. Specifications p. 17.