Apple Macintosh LC - Manual (Page 133)

Connecting a printer
You connect most printers to the Macintosh through the printer port. This
port is a serial port -- a type of port that transmits the bits that make up
the computer's information in single file, or serially.
Some printers, such as the LaserWriter IInt and LaserWriter IIntx, are
designed for use on a network. Others, such as the ImageWriter II and
ImageWriter LQ, can operate either as stand-alone printers for one Macintosh
or as network devices. In either case, you connect these printers to the
printer port.
The only Apple printer that you do not connect to the printer port is the
LaserWriter IIsc, which you connect to the SCSI port.
If necessary, a non-SCSI printer can be connected to the modem port, which is
also a serial port. You use the Chooser to select the port to which a printer
is connected.
Refer to the manual that accompanies your printer for specific connection
instructions.
See also: • "Choosing a Printer" in Chapter 12
• "Connecting a Modem" (next section)
Connecting a modem
The modem port on the Macintosh back panel is a serial port that is almost
identical to the printer port. You use it to connect an external modem, a
device that converts the computer's signals for transmission over telephone
lines.
This port is preferable for modem connection because the computer gives it
priority over the printer port when checking for activity, which helps to
assure that the modem's communications link will remain intact.
If necessary, you can connect a printer to the modem port or a modem to the
printer port, however.
Refer to the manual supplied with your modem for specific connection
instructions.
Connecting Apple Desktop Bus devices
On the Macintosh LC, you connect the mouse and the keyboard to the Apple
Desktop Bus (ADB) port. This port can also be used to connect a variety of
input devices, such as a graphics tablet, specialized keyboard, trackball,
light pen, or bar code reader.
Like the keyboard, many ADB devices have an extra ADB port that allows you to
daisy-chain additional input devices. The number of devices you can connect
is limited by the combined power they require and by their performance.
Performance of the devices is likely to be unacceptably slow with more than
three devices (including keyboard and mouse) attached to the port.
To use an ADB device other than the keyboard and mouse, you must either
unplug the keyboard and connect the other device in its place, or unplug the
mouse from the keyboard and connect the other device to the keyboard. (If the