On the early Macintosh computers (128K and 512K), Apple Computer recommends using the LaserWriter driver 5.2 with System 3.2 and Finder 5.3.
On later Macintosh computers, Apple recommends the combinations of system software and LaserWriter driver indicated in the table with YES.
Items marked with an 'X' indicate that the combinations are compatible. However, you should use the recommended combinations.
| System Software |
| LW Driver | Driver Notes | Pre 6.0.7 | 6.0.7 | 6.0.8 | 7.0.x | 7.1.x | 7.5.x |
| 6.0.2 | | YES | X | X | | | |
| 7.1.x | | | YES | X | | | |
| 7.2 | | | | YES | X | X | X |
| 8.0 | | | | | | X | |
| 8.1.x | | | X | YES | X | X | X |
| 8.2 | 5 | | | | | X | X |
| 8.2.2 | | | | | | X | X |
| 8.2.3f | | | | | X | X | X |
| 8.3 | 6,7 | | | | YES (3) | YES | YES |
| 8.3.4 | | | | | | | X |
| 8.4 | 6,8 | | | | YES (3) | YES | YES |
| 8.4.3 | | | | | | X | X |
| 8.5.1 | | | | | | X | X |
| 8.6 | | | | | | | |
| Software Notes | | 10 | 2 | | 4 | |
This table is currently being revised, please check back later.
| System Software |
| LW Driver | Driver Notes | 7.6 | 7.6.1 | 8.0 | 8.1 | 8.5 | 8.5.1 |
| 6.0.2 | | | | | | | |
| 7.1.x | | | | | | | |
| 7.2 | | | | | | | |
| 8.0 | | | | | | | |
| 8.1.x | | | | | | | |
| 8.2 | | | | | | | |
| 8.2.2 | | X | X | X | X | X | |
| 8.2.3f | | X | X | X | X | YES | |
| 8.3 | | X | X | X | X | | |
| 8.3.4 | | X | X | X | X | | |
| 8.4 | | | | | | | |
| 8.4.3 | | X | X | X | X | | |
| 8.5.1 | | X | X | X | X | YES | |
| 8.6 | | | X | | X | YES | X |
| Software Notes | | | | | | |
| Notes | Description |
| 1 | The LaserWriter 8.1.2 driver was the last version of the LaserWriter 8.x driver tested with any version of System 6.x. | |
| 2 | System 6.0.8 should use the LaserWriter 7.2 or 8.1.2 driver. |
| 3 | System 7.0.x should use the LaserWriter 8.3.4 or LaserWriter 8.4 driver WITHOUT the Desktop Printing extension. |
| 4 | Desktop Printing requires System 7.1 or greater. |
| 5 | LaserWriter 8.2 requires System 7.0 or greater. |
| 6 | LaserWriter 8.3 and greater with Desktop Printing requires System 7.1 or greater. |
| 7 | LaserWriter 8.3.4 can be found on Apple SW Updates and resolves the PCI Macintosh printing problem. |
| 8 | LaserWriter 8.4 is available on Apple SW Updates. It has many new features. If you have problems using the LaserWriter 8.4 driver. |
| 9 | LaserWriter 7.2 seems to work properly on newer version of the Mac OS, such as System 7.5.3. Although Apple has not received reports of incompatibilities, LaserWriter 7.2 was not tested with recent versions of Mac OS. |
| 10 | Apple recommends that customers who want to continue using System 6.0.x, upgrade to System 6.0.8. |