HP Printer Photosmart D7560 Advice 2

[Patth9]

First, forgive me if I am posting this question in the wrong thread, or forum.

I have two DDR Mirror Macs, both double processors, one 1.25MHZ and one 867MHZ. I would like to connect these two Macs to the same printer. I know how to connect each Mac via (2) USB2 cables, but how do I connect it to the printer? The Make/model is HP Photosmart D7560

http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/us/e...6251-15100-64340-3396082-3396084-3396086.html

I can't find under the printer's specs anything about the printer having 2 USB ports. Is there such a thing as a USB2 Y connection?

Thanks for your consideration.

Patt

 

[fisheromacse]

connect the printer to 1 mac, then use a network cable to connect to the 2 macs, then enable printer sharing.

here is a quick pair of relevant link:

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=Mac/10.4/en/mh1772.html

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=8580402

 

[Patth9]

Ok, what are you calling a network cable, possibly, a firewire cable? Would this require me to have both Macs running if only one Mac wants to print?

Might this work as well? A USB2 hub that will have two female printer ports and One female USB port. Then I believe I could connect each CPU to the hub by going from the USB2 PCI to the printer hub.

http://wize.com/usb-and-firewire-hubs/p1215511-iogear#t=38967

How's that sound? I do, appreciate, the links and the advice.

Patt

 

[fisheromacse]

not a firewire cable, a network cable (Cat5e/RJ45).


the device you posted would likely work, although i did not see Mac support specified.

Here is another similar item that does profess Mac support...

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/IOGEAR+...ci_sku=9245667&ref=06&loc=01&id=1218066809580

 

[Patth9]

Okay, Cat5e/RJ45 is the same as an ethernet cable, right; I Googled Googled and they look alike? Never, ever heard it called a Cat5e/RJ45, now I have. Never though the hub needed to be Mac supported since USB seems so universal; good thing I asked for your advice. I only have one ethernet cable slot on my Mac and it's being used for my cable connection.

I like the link you posted "IOGEAR - 2-Port USB 2.0 Printer Auto Sharing". Before I though of a hub, I was thinking a Y of some sort. Also learned that the USB A to B Device is what I was calling a USB Printer cable. Learning new things is a good.

But, with the IOGEAR, does this configuration need both computers to be on?

Thanks AGAIN!

Patt

 

[SYQUEST]

ETHERNET is the correct name, in this case wired Ethernet, and the cable can be Cat 5, 5e, 6, or 6A rated. There is a lot of MIS-INFORMATION these days and RJ45 is one of them, that has NOTHING to do with data anything!! But I won't go there now...

I noticed on the link you provided that Bluetooth wireless is listed as an option. That could work for your situation if you have Bluetooth on the Macs or add a Bluetooth PCI card. If the USB sharing device does not work you, could use a network data switch and share it that way by networking both Macs. If you go to Iogear's website there is more info than the BestBuy site. Reading the manual can answer lots of questions.

....JIM....

 

[Patth9]

SYQUEST - I am both excited, confused and embarrassed.

I don't have USB 2, didn't need this PCI card until now. I never did research to learn what Bluetooth was all about, didn't need to until now. I've been keeping our Macs running pretty good, but have let my Mac education dwindle.

So, to which link that I posted are you referring? I understand now that I can connect our two G4s together via an ethernet cord, but since I only have one port for ethernet and it currently has internet cable coming from the D-L router in that port, I have no other eternet ports, do I? I have a D-Link router with 5 ports, but there are 3 computers, and one incoming internet cable, so I only have one port left. Not sure this even matters.

I don't know to which "manual" you are referring, sorry. The D7560 printer is not wireless. We could get a similar HP wireless, but I need CD/DVD disc label printing that comes with the D7560.

I know your time is valuable, but if you could only clarify for me a bit more what you replied, I think I'm getting so much closer to understanding.

Patt

 

[Patth9]

HA! I had forgotten I put this question out to the HP forum, this was the answer that was provided.

This particular product is a single USB connection. I see there are USB switch boxes that people are selling on the 'net, but they are not going to be something that is supported by HP. If your Macs have Airport cards, your best bet would be to get a printer with a wireless radio in it and Setup a wireless network on one Mac and have the rest connect to it.
(Although I am an HP employee, I am speaking for myself and not for HP)

As you may have guessed, this is NOT the answer I was looking for. Chances are, this is a Windows person, and doesn't know how great Macs are.

 

[fisheromacse]

Just because HP doesn't support a device like the iogear doesn't mean it wouldn't work, just that support would come from the device manufacturer not the computer manufacturer.

 

[SYQUEST]

The link to which I was referring is in your original post, the one to HP. Now let's clarify your network. So your D-Link router has a 4-port data switch, and you have three computers connected to the router, yes? So your computers are already networked! Now that being the case, half your problem is solved! Install the HP driver software package on both computers,then connect the the USB printer to one of the computers and, set up printer sharing per fisheromacse's post above (2nd one from top) with the links to Apple's website for sharing printers. If you don't have the HP CD/DVD disc, go to HP's website and download it. Please read all the instructions and you should be printing shortly...

Hope this helps!

....JIM....

 

[Patth9]

See, I knew the answer was so easy, no one imagines that everyone doesn't know it. THANK YOU, very much for clarifying this for me. I have decided to go the USB switcher and two USB cables plus 2 USB2 cards, this way if one HP is off, it won't interfere with printing. And, the CD/DVD feature I need is so I can print labels directly on the disc. Besides, both Macs need USB2.

Now, I'm off to research the CISS.

http://www.supersmartelectronics.com/servlet/the-337/Continuous-Bulk-Ink-CIS/Detail

Another easy answer, I'm sure... Isn't there some way to hid a link under a word rather than spreading it out all over the page? Bet you're shaking your head now!!!

This old gal has been running along, slightly behind the crowd, since 1995 trying to solve what ever comes up with my Mac, and in two months I'll officially become a senior citizen (65). If not for the kindness of Mac people on forums I would have given up a long time ago.

You all on Tek-tips are the BEST, I don't even try on Apple.com anymore, they are so stiff.

Patt

 

[SYQUEST]

You are very welcome! Thanks for the star! We are all here to help...

Happy holidays, merry Christmas, happy Hanukkah, etc...

....JIM....