Apple ImageWriter Dot-Matrix Printer (1983-1985)

ImageWriter I

The Apple ImageWriter I was a serial-based 9-pin dot matrix printer released in late 1983 and prominently featured during the Macintosh launch in 1984. While it was primarily intended to support the new Macintosh, it was designed to be compatible with the entire Apple product line, including the Apple II series. The printer was essentially a repackaged C. Itoh 8510 with a custom Apple-designed ROM and serial interface. It was a critical component of the early Macintosh ecosystem because its custom firmware allowed for WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) graphical printing. By matching the printer's 144 DPI resolution exactly to twice the Mac's 72 DPI screen resolution, Apple was able to promote the revolutionary concept of the Graphical User Interface (GUI) and early desktop publishing.

Technically, the ImageWriter was "logic-seeking," meaning it could print in both directions for text but only in one direction for high-quality graphics and "Near Letter Quality" modes. It supported eight different character widths and was capable of printing bitmap graphics through Apple’s QuickDraw language. The printer was available in two sizes: a standard 10-inch model and a 15-inch "wide carriage" version introduced in early 1984. Although it was eventually succeeded by the faster and more versatile ImageWriter II in 1985, the original ImageWriter I remains a landmark in computing history for bridging the gap between screen-based design and physical hard copies in the pre-laser printer era.

Source: eBay.com