Printer · The Beige Era · 1985
Apple LaserWriter
The LaserWriter was expensive, but paired with PageMaker and the Mac it made professional-looking desktop publishing possible from an office desk.
Helped create desktop publishing with PostScript and the Macintosh.
LaserWriter Plus (1986)
Apple LaserWriter: key facts
When was the Apple LaserWriter released?
The Apple LaserWriter arrived in March 1985. Apple discontinued it in 1987.
How much did the Apple LaserWriter cost?
The Apple LaserWriter launched at $6,995 in 1985, about $20,810 in today’s money (approximate, US CPI).
What specs stand out?
Key specs: Motorola 68000 at 12 MHz, 512 KB RAM, AppleTalk / serial.
Why does the Apple LaserWriter matter?
Helped create desktop publishing with PostScript and the Macintosh.
Full specifications
| CPU | Motorola 68000 · 12 MHz |
|---|---|
| Cores | 1 |
| Memory (RAM) | 512 KB |
| Storage | — |
| Display | — |
| GPU | — |
| Ports | AppleTalk / serial |
| Weight | Varies by model |
| Dimensions | Laser printer |
| Operating system | Driver/firmware support |
| Released | March 1985 |
| Discontinued | 1987 |
| Launch price | $6,995 |
How the Apple LaserWriter compares to today
A 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro has about 32,800× 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 $6,995 in 1985, about $20,810 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.
Did you know?
It had a faster CPU than the original Macintosh it printed from.
Related Printer models
Open the Apple LaserWriter in the interactive archive →
Last updated: 2026-08-11