OS X Mountain Lion Portable Genius

Setting Up a Printer

Installing a printer in OS X is a snap, provided that everything the Mac needs to communicate with the printer is installed (software and drivers) and the necessary hardware (devices and cables) is functioning as it should.

Before you purchase a printer, make absolutely certain that it is Mac-compatible (the vast majority sold today are, but it’s best to be sure). Don’t just trust the well-meaning employees at the electronics superstore — check it out yourself by going to the printer manufacturer’s web page and checking the specifications for the printer.

You can also look for familiar Mac logos on the printer box. Logos to look for would include the large X logo with the Made for OS X tagline and the happy Mac, as shown in Figure 13.1, which also appears on the left side of your Dock as the Finder icon. If you buy your printer directly from Apple, it’s a given the printer is Mac-compatible.

13.1 Look for the familiar Mac logos on the box of the printer you want to purchase.

There are three main steps that you must take before you can use your printer with your Mac:

1. Install the software that came with your printer.

2. Connect your printer to your Mac or network.

• If your printer has a USB connection, connect one end of the USB cable to the printer and the other to your Mac.

• If your printer has a network or Ethernet interface, use an Ethernet (or ...