In March 1985, Apple took an unprecedented step beyond computers by launching the LaswerWriter, a high-performance laser printer that quickly overtook the industry giants and kick-started the desktop publishing revolution at the same time.
Compact, networkable, and powered by the same 68000 chip that the Macintosh used back then, the LaserWriter changed the expectations of print quality, affordability, and office workflows forever.
A Desktop Revolution: The Birth of the LaserWriter
On March 1, 1985, Apple introduced the LaserWriter at a list price of $6.995, which today would be nearly $14.000 after inflation. While it was too pricey for individual users, the printer’s combination of cutting-edge technology and great pricing represented a huge step forward in professional printing. At its core was the Motorola 68000 microprocessor, which the Macintosh was using as well, underscoring Apple’s commitment to deliver desktop-class performance in peripherals as well.
Laser printing itself wasn’t new back then, but Apple’s LaserWriter standardized PostScript printing and made it accessible to small businesses and design studios. Paired with Aldus PageMaker on the Mac, the LaserWriter ignited the desktop publishing era: suddenly, graphics and text could be composed on screen and output at near-professional quality without room-sized equipment. This was the first step to the democratization of print design, laying the foundation for modern digital workflows and changing small offices into capable publishing shops.
But the LaserWriter wasn’t just about performance. The design philosophy, something we see on Apple’s top devices even nowadays, challenged conventions. It was small enough to sit on a desktop (24 x 47 x 41 cm), blending form and function. At a time when competing laser printers from other brands like HP or Ricoh towered over workstations and carried price tags of $12.000, Apple was able to demonstrate that high-quality printing could be compact and cost-effective at the same time.
Networked Printing and Its Lasting Legacy
So… the LaserWriter was revolutionary because it was compact, cheaper, and high-quality, but that’s not the only trick on Apple’s sleeve. With AppleTalk, their proprietary protocol, the printer allowed up to 40 Macintosh computers to share a single device. This not only slashed per-user hardware costs, but it also improved office operations. In doing so, Apple redefined how organizations approached document workflows and resource sharing. It is something that the Cupertino brand is used to doing, as we saw with the original iPhone: a revolutionary device that was able to blend personal communication and play at JackpotCity Casino without any issues.
The success of the LaserWriter was reflected in its market longevity. It remained on sale until February 1988, when Apple started introducing upgraded models. Even in 1991, Apple used the basis from the LaserWriter to release the StyleWriter series, this time targeting home and small-office users with lower-cost inkjet technology.
However, Apple ended up stepping away from the printer market. Nowadays, Apple is focused on other niches, as the iPods, the iPhones, or the iWatches show. Still, the retired office workers from the ‘80s remember the revolution Apple’s printer was.
