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Thomas AnthonyFlag for United States of America

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How do I use a Dell printer with my iMac

I just bought a new iMac and have a Dell 2135CN that I would like to use with it. Dell doesn't offer Mac drivers for it. What are my options to get it to work?
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It sort of defeats the purpose of having a Mac if you have to cobble and hack your peripherals to it. The suggestion above may very well work, but I would not be tempted by the parallels route unless you were already planning on having parallels. A new printer may be in the stars.

Here is a $600 All in one that you should be able to find for $430.

http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11680189&cm_mmc=BCEmail_722-_-Focus-_-41-_-MarketingItemName

The other solution I would explore is a CUPS driver for that specific model.
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Take a look at the 3rd post in this link.
It's a hassle but I'd install the free VirtualBox on your Mac, dig up a copy of Windows XP, install it and the Dell drivers in a Windows virtual machine.

Otherwise follow mccrick's advice and trade in your Dell printer. Unfortunately Dell have no vested interest in supporting Apple's OS.

I run XP in VirtualBox on my MacBook Air just to run the Shorter Oxford English Dictionary. You only need to use about 200MB of your system RAM and XP runs smooth as silk.

:)
Actually I was referring to this answer in my previous post:
Matt Broughton
Re: Dell 2135cn Printer
Mar 13, 2010 5:18 PM (in response to djmahon)
The specifications provided by Dell at http://www.dell.com/downloads/global/products/print/2135cn_en.pdf indicate that this printer can use a PCL 6 driver. I would suggest using the Mac OS X packages for the pxlmono drivers from OpenPrinting.org http://www.linuxfoundation.org/collaborate/workgroups/openprinting/macosx/pxlmon o. When you set up the printer use the "Generic PCL 6/PCL XL Printer Foomatic/pxlcolor" driver.
I have no information on the how to use the scanner in Mac OS X.

In you decide to buy a Canon multifunctional, make sure the model is supporting Macs (and more than just printing). Check it with Canon support. Recently I was forced to run Windows to be able to set up the scanner module of a Canon Multifunctional for someone...
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I can print b&w to the generic PCL driver. I do have VMWare on the machine but was hoping to not have to go into a Windows session every time I wanted to print. Neither do I want to purchase a $400 printer just for a solution. If that is the ONLY solution, I understand.

I was hoping someone else has run across this issue before. We we a complete Dell shop until lately so all of our current printers are Dell.
Replace ALL of the Dell machines. - Sorry couldn't resist.