Printing to PC based 9900 from Mac

[Duffy Pratt]

I've run into a snare with my new Mac.

I have a Canon i9900 connected to an XP box. It works fine with my other laptops, through my wireless router. (The computers see it through the XP box. It is not directly connected to the router.)

It also works fine if I unplug it from the XP box, and plug it into my Mac.

But I can't get it to work properly from the Mac through the network. I can see the printer through the network. But the driver that the printer uses does not appear on the list of available drivers.

I've been on the phone with Mac (for several hours). They punted to Canon. Canon in turn said that the i9900 doesn't support networks and has no network drivers, so I should be thankful that it worked on the PC only network, but there's nothing they will do. They suggested, for some reason I don't quite get, that I call Linksys.

Does anyone know anything about this? Am I really going to have to get within cable proximity every time I want to print a photo? That's, like, so 3 years ago.

Thanks,

Duffy

[Concisus Cognatus]

Have you installed the printer driver onto the Mac? Since there are no network drivers, I would think installing the printer driver locally would be the way to go, provided there is a Mac version.

[Dobick]

I think that there are a couple of ways to accomplish what you are looking for. If the MAC is stationary, then you could plug the printer into the mac, and then just set up a "share" for the printer on the mac, so that your windows machine will be able to see it.

with an additional purchase of hardware, you should be able to find a linksys device that acts as a print server (if I remember, they will have a usb port on them, and you can physically plug in the printer) it will then have a network IP address, and you can then add a local printer using standard TCP/IP port instead of an Lport.

You also might try adding it to the mac as a local device with a standard tcp/ip port.

Network printers are one reason that I was not crazy about Macs. They were one of the few things that were less intuitive than on a PC for me. (not to start a MAC vs pc debate here, just an observation)

[Duffy Pratt]

I did install the printer driver on the Mac.

It's a MacBook Pro, so it won't be stationary. That would have made it simple.

Before I go out and buy some hardware, I would have to know that the hardware works. And the solution would need to cost less than a new printer.

Thanks for the tips. I may look more into a printer server.

Anyone else?

Duffy

[Spec A!]

Ask a Genius at your local Mac Store (Galleria- ask Craig (mgr) or Nathan (Genius). Either one of them will know. If you want to go the hardware route I'd suggest a Apple Airport Express. We have one at home (refurbed for $79) and not only is it a print server, it's also an access point and can stream your music wireless from your Macbook Pro to any speaker you have plugged into the Express.

Sorry I can't be of more help! Definitely ask the guys at the store- Craig will know for sure.