Printer · The Beige Era · 1986
LaserWriter Plus
The Plus refined the LaserWriter with more memory and built-in fonts, strengthening the Mac’s grip on design and publishing.
Expanded fonts and memory for Apple’s PostScript printer.
LaserWriter II (1988)
LaserWriter Plus: key facts
When was the LaserWriter Plus released?
The LaserWriter Plus arrived in January 1986. Apple discontinued it in 1988.
How much did the LaserWriter Plus cost?
The LaserWriter Plus launched at $6,598 in 1986, about $19,266 in today’s money (approximate, US CPI).
What specs stand out?
Key specs: Motorola 68000 at 12 MHz, 1 MB RAM, AppleTalk / serial.
Why does the LaserWriter Plus matter?
Expanded fonts and memory for Apple’s PostScript printer.
Full specifications
| CPU | Motorola 68000 · 12 MHz |
|---|---|
| Cores | 1 |
| Memory (RAM) | 1 MB |
| Storage | — |
| Display | — |
| GPU | — |
| Ports | AppleTalk / serial |
| Weight | Varies by model |
| Dimensions | Laser printer |
| Operating system | Driver/firmware support |
| Released | January 1986 |
| Discontinued | 1988 |
| Launch price | $6,598 |
How the LaserWriter Plus 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 $6,598 in 1986, about $19,266 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 Plus in the interactive archive →
Last updated: 2026-08-11