Printer · The Beige Era · 1988
LaserWriter II
LaserWriter II turned Apple’s PostScript printer into a family, from personal office models to networked professional versions.
Modular LaserWriter family for different office budgets.
Personal LaserWriter (1990)
LaserWriter II: key facts
When was the LaserWriter II released?
The LaserWriter II arrived in January 1988. Apple discontinued it in 1991.
How much did the LaserWriter II cost?
The LaserWriter II launched at $4,599 in 1988, about $12,394 in today’s money (approximate, US CPI).
What specs stand out?
Key specs: 68000 / controller variants at 12 MHz, 1 MB RAM, AppleTalk / serial / parallel options.
Why does the LaserWriter II matter?
Modular LaserWriter family for different office budgets.
Full specifications
| CPU | 68000 / controller variants · 12 MHz |
|---|---|
| Cores | 1 |
| Memory (RAM) | 1 MB (up to 4 MB) |
| Storage | — |
| Display | — |
| GPU | — |
| Ports | AppleTalk / serial / parallel options |
| Weight | Varies by model |
| Dimensions | Modular laser-printer family |
| Operating system | Driver/firmware support |
| Released | January 1988 |
| Discontinued | 1991 |
| Launch price | $4,599 |
How the LaserWriter II compares to today
A 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro has about 16,400× more memory than this device shipped with.
At 12 MHz, the clock is roughly 267× slower than a single performance core of a 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro, and that is before counting cores, width and IPC.
Launched at $4,599 in 1988, about $12,394 in today’s money (approx., US CPI).
Method note: clock comparisons use frequency only; price conversions use US CPI.
Sources
Specs checked against Apple technical specifications archive, EveryMac, Mactracker, Wikimedia Commons image credits.
Related Printer models
Open the LaserWriter II in the interactive archive →
Last updated: 2026-08-11