Member Avatar for locarno

Hi everyone...just signed up today.
I recently have swapped from PC to Mac and, as Editor/Budding Designer producing a tabloid newspaper, I can't believe I took so long to finally buy a Mac -- G4 dual (from a friend...journos are always broke!!).
I'm soon moving to smalltown living, trying a lifestyle over hustle, and will be taking over the local tabloid newspaper, hopefully turning it from "Little House of the Prairie Gazette" to something a little bit more ballsy.
And with a newborn around obviously want to work a lot from home, supporting new mum. So, with OS-X and Indesign on the Mac, I'm all ready to go, except for a printer.
I've decided to go for second-hand laser over new inkjet: my priority is proofing A3-sized pages with graphics and pics on them, though colour is out of my price-range (and really bit of a luxury for my needs), even on ebay, while duplex would be bonus but not vital. Have found on ebay (here in australia) a HP 5000N laserjet and an Apple 8500N laser -- both at great prices and both great printers.
Can anyone point me in the right direction. I read somewhere that Apple 8500 doesn't allow duplex printing from OS-X...all help gratefully rec'd...

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A few practical points that directly address choosing a second‑hand A3 laser for InDesign proofs on OS X. The two things to lock down first are reliable PostScript/PPD support from your Mac (so layouts and fonts render exactly) and whether the physical duplex unit is actually installed and controllable from OS X. Those two items determine whether a used machine will behave predictably for newspaper proofing.

Try this pre‑purchase checklist when inspecting any used A3 laser:

  • Ask the seller to print a PDF you export from InDesign (real job file, not a test page). Confirm type, layout, fonts and image shading are correct.
  • Ask them to demonstrate duplex printing from a Mac running OS X so you see the driver option and the hardware working.
  • Confirm a PostScript or OS X PPD driver exists for the exact model and OS X version you run.
  • Look for visible wear: light streaks, scuffed rollers, and toner smears on long prints. Check page count if available.
  • Verify toner/drum/fuser part numbers and current prices in Australia — some old models are cheap to buy but expensive to maintain.
  • Check paper feeding and A3 edge margins — not all machines handle irregular stock or full-bleed the same way.
  • Ask for a short warranty or at least a working‑for‑X‑days deal so you can run a few proofs.

For your workflow: export press‑ready PDFs (embed fonts, 300 ppi images at final size, include crop/bleed marks, use a PDF/X preset if possible). Use the printer for layout/proof checks (positioning, traps, bleeds), not as a color match to press unless you add proper color management and a calibrated proofing workflow.

Tie these checks back to the advice from and : prioritize robust PostScript/driver support and a workflow that exports proper press PDFs. If both machines pass the checklist, buy the one with easier, cheaper consumables and a confirmed OS X duplex/driver demo.

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Member Avatar for kc0arf

Hello,

HP makes a nice laser printer; so does Apple. If you went color, I would suggest Epson inkjets. I like them more.

I would be looking for Postscript printing, and if possible, get a network printer (either via jet direct, or some other solutions) so that more than once computer can print to the printer at a time. Of course, this will add a bit of cost, but you might like that functionality. The two printers you mention have these features.

Here is what HP has to say about it:

The HP LaserJet 5000n printer is a 16 ppm laser printer that comes standard with a 100-sheet multi-purpose Tray 1, a 250-sheet Tray 2, a 500-sheet Tray 3, 8 MB of memory, and an HP Jetdirect print server card (J4169A) for connecting to a network. It is designed for network users and can print on paper sizes up to A3 and 11 x 17 inches.

It says that it has a Mac Serial adapter. If you were thinking of doing this, it will be ungodly slow. Plan on hooking it up to a network via a Jet direct (the N implies it is internal) and configuring the use there.

So, it looks like you could be adding a small network to your house. That will work well with a cablemodem type hub that manages high speed internet, and also allows you to plug in a few things locally.

Let us know if you need anything else.

Oh -- you might want to check out Ragtime instead of Adobe InDesign. I like Ragtime a lot better, and it feels more stable to me, and more options. I started out with Quark things, and did InDesign for a while, and am now a Ragtime fan.

Christian

Member Avatar for redAPPLE

Hello,

HP makes a nice laser printer; so does Apple. If you went color, I would suggest Epson inkjets. I like them more.

I would be looking for Postscript printing, and if possible, get a network printer (either via jet direct, or some other solutions) so that more than once computer can print to the printer at a time. Of course, this will add a bit of cost, but you might like that functionality. The two printers you mention have these features.

Here is what HP has to say about it:

The HP LaserJet 5000n printer is a 16 ppm laser printer that comes standard with a 100-sheet multi-purpose Tray 1, a 250-sheet Tray 2, a 500-sheet Tray 3, 8 MB of memory, and an HP Jetdirect print server card (J4169A) for connecting to a network. It is designed for network users and can print on paper sizes up to A3 and 11 x 17 inches.

It says that it has a Mac Serial adapter. If you were thinking of doing this, it will be ungodly slow. Plan on hooking it up to a network via a Jet direct (the N implies it is internal) and configuring the use there.

So, it looks like you could be adding a small network to your house. That will work well with a cablemodem type hub that manages high speed internet, and also allows you to plug in a few things locally.

Let us know if you need anything else.

Oh -- you might want to check out Ragtime instead of Adobe InDesign. I like Ragtime a lot better, and it feels more stable to me, and more options. I started out with Quark things, and did InDesign for a while, and am now a Ragtime fan.

Christian

my .02 cents.

if the document has to be published in "large scale" most printing press' support InDesign or Quark Xpress, in my place anyway.

i have used ragtime during my pre os x days.

the hp laserjet 5000(n) is a huge and heavy printer.

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