Printer · The Beige Era · 1985
Apple ImageWriter II
The ImageWriter II became Apple’s dependable printer of the 1980s and early 1990s: noisy, rugged, and common in homes and classrooms.
Apple ImageWriter II: key facts
When was the Apple ImageWriter II released?
The Apple ImageWriter II was released in September 1985. Apple discontinued it in 1996.
How much did the Apple ImageWriter II cost?
The Apple ImageWriter II launched at $595 in 1985 — about $1,770 in today’s money (approximate, US CPI).
What are the Apple ImageWriter II’s specs?
The Apple ImageWriter II used a N/A, with None of memory. It ran Driver / firmware support.
Why does the Apple ImageWriter II matter?
Long-lived color-capable dot-matrix workhorse.
Full specifications
| CPU | N/A |
|---|---|
| Cores | — |
| Memory (RAM) | None |
| Storage | — |
| Display | None |
| GPU | N/A |
| Ports | Serial / AppleTalk option |
| Weight | Varies by model |
| Dimensions | Dot-matrix printer |
| Operating system | Driver / firmware support |
| Released | September 1985 |
| Discontinued | 1996 |
| Launch price | $595 |
How the Apple ImageWriter II compares to today
Launched at $595 in 1985 — about $1,770 in today’s money (approx., US CPI).
Cross-architecture speed figures are clock-only and approximate; inflation figures use US CPI.
Did you know?
With a color ribbon, it could print in multiple colors long before inkjets were common.
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Open the Apple ImageWriter II in the interactive archive →
Last updated: 2026-06-27