# ImageWriter

> product line of dot matrix printers formerly manufactured by Apple

**Wikidata**: [Q3796543](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3796543)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ImageWriter)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/imagewriter

## Summary
ImageWriter is a product line of dot matrix printers formerly manufactured by Apple Inc., primarily designed for early Apple computer systems like the Macintosh.

## Key Facts
- Instance of: printer model
- Manufacturer: Apple Inc.
- Included the original ImageWriter model: 9-pin dot matrix printer with 144 DPI resolution and approximately 120 characters per second (CPS) speed
- Included the ImageWriter II model: 9-pin dot matrix printer with 160x144 DPI resolution and 2-6 pages per minute speed
- Associated with Apple Inc., a technology company headquartered in Cupertino, California
- Freebase ID: /m/01r0f2
- Wikipedia available in English, Italian, and Dutch languages
- Sitelink count: 3

## FAQs
### Q: What type of printer was ImageWriter?
A: ImageWriter was a dot matrix printer product line, utilizing impact technology to create text and images by striking an ink ribbon against paper.

### Q: Which Apple computers used ImageWriter printers?
A: ImageWriter printers were designed primarily for early Apple systems including the Macintosh and Apple II series, though exact compatibility dates are not specified in the source material.

### Q: How did ImageWriter II differ from the original?
A: ImageWriter II upgraded resolution to 160x144 DPI (vs. 144 DPI in the original) and increased speed to 2-6 pages per minute (vs. 120 CPS), while maintaining 9-pin dot matrix technology.

## Why It Matters
ImageWriter represented Apple's early foray into peripheral hardware during the 1980s personal computing boom. As one of the first dedicated printers for Macintosh systems, it addressed critical output needs for graphical user interfaces before laser printers became affordable. The product line demonstrated Apple's vertical integration strategy by providing end-to-end solutions from hardware to peripherals. Though technically simple by modern standards, it enabled widespread adoption of home and office printing, directly supporting the Mac's success in education and creative fields. Its development timeline coincided with Apple's growth into a multinational technology company, anchoring its ecosystem beyond just computer hardware.

## Notable For
- 9-pin dot matrix technology providing affordable printing for early Macintosh systems
- Upgrade path from original ImageWriter (144 DPI) to ImageWriter II (160x144 DPI) resolution
- Character-based printing speed of approximately 120 CPS in the original model
- Pages-per-minute throughput of 2-6 pages in the ImageWriter II variant
- Role as part of Apple's hardware expansion beyond computers into peripheral accessories

## Body
### Model Specifications
- **ImageWriter (Original)**  
  - Pin configuration: 9-pin dot matrix  
  - Resolution: 144 DPI  
  - Speed: Approximately 120 characters per second (CPS)  
  - Target systems: Early Apple computers including Macintosh and Apple II

- **ImageWriter II**  
  - Pin configuration: 9-pin dot matrix  
  - Resolution: 160x144 DPI (upgrade from original)  
  - Speed: 2-6 pages per minute  
  - Notable improvement: Higher resolution and throughput compared to predecessor  

### Manufacturer Context
- Produced by **Apple Inc.**, headquartered in Cupertino, California  
- Part of Apple's hardware portfolio alongside computers and accessories  
- Released during the 1980s era of personal printer proliferation  

### Documentation
- Referenced in Wikipedia with articles in **English, Italian, and Dutch**  
- Classified under **printer model** in structured data  
- Freebase identifier: **/m/01r0f2**