[X4U] Connecting Brother HL-1240 to Airport

[Randy B. Singer]

On Feb 19, 2007, at 8:40 PM, Brett Conlon wrote:

> Thanks Randy. That will provide me with an Ethernet connection to the
> Airport rather than USB but would I be in the same boat with the  
> Macs not
> being able to find it?
>
> US$149 also translates to AUD$190ish - ouch!  <8-}

Ethernet is a network interface, USB nominally is not, though there  
are work-arounds.  If you can't use Apple's built-in printer sharing,  
Ethernet is probably your only option.

Historically that has been the problem with trying to make a non- 
network printer networkable.  An Ethernet print server costs just  
about as much as purchasing a brand new printer with Ethernet built-in.

You can use a simple mechanical switch-box, but the problem with  
these is that they have been known to damage your printer.

My advice, and you probably won't like it, is to sell your USB  
printer and purchase a networkable one.

You can get a Brother HL-5250DN (an excellent printer)
http://www.brother-usa.com/printer/ModelDetail.aspx?ProductID=HL5250DN
for as little as $220:
<http://www.amatteroffax.com/item.asp? 
INVID=1210307&SRC=froogle&CKP=AEU%40DTGM%5EBFS%5EFS>

Subtracting what you will get for your old printer, it won't cost  
much more than the Ethernet adapter for your older printer, yet it  
won't be flaky as most Ethernet adapters are (if they work at all  
with a Mac.)

___________________________________________
Randy B. Singer
Co-author of The Macintosh Bible (3rd, 4th, and 5th editions)

Macintosh OS X Routine Maintenance
http://www.macattorney.com/ts.html
___________________________________________