MACBook recognizes HP 1005; but no driver seems to exist; tried the hp1200; did not work. First time user of MAC;;;; all previous applications are Windows and automatically worked!!

thanks
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I'm not quite sure what you mean. Do you mean that the computer can "see" the printer but cannot print? Drivers for many printer manufacturers products are included with the OS.

If you have not already done so connect the printer with a known good cable and then turn the printer on. Now go to Applications/Utilities and run the Printer Setup Utility. Click add a printer and follow the directions. Let us know what happens.

HP does not produce an OS X driver for this printer.

CUPS (the native OS X printing sub-system) does not support this printer.

You may find some help from Gutenprint. It lists the LJ 1010, 1012 and 1015 as supported, but not the 1005. I would try this before giving up completely.

The low-end HP printers are host-based printers. They rely on the operating system and CPU for all print processing, having no capability within the printer itself. They are generally supported only on Windows. I hate to say it, but you may be best served by a new printer that is of higher quality and supported by OS X.