It is installed with USB, bu I just don't see
paying $8 for a USB cord when I have several
parallel cords and an empty parallel socket on my
computer.
I've been spending $5.00 each for my USB cables... local biglots store.
That is if my other equipment doesn't come with a USB cable that I
didn't use. In the past when i've absolutely needed a USB cable and
the only option was a big retail store, I ended up buying other
equipment like a low end card reader which came with a A to B usb
cable.
I can only think of a two reasons to do what you are asking.
1. You lack or don't have enough USB ports You don't want to open
your PC to add more.
2. The USB ports you have are of an older type that windows can't use
as is the case with some pentium machines... circa 1997 or so, and they
just don't work.
I can think of a few reasons to go USB.
1. The cable is a good deal smaller
2. Generally it is much faster, even in 1999 when the printer port
speed was technicaly higher than USB, I observed a PPM benifit on USB.
Current USB speeds are much higher.
3. You can disable those legacy ports all together
4. Chances are the parallel to usb adapter will cost more than just a
sub $10.00 cable.
5. They don't always work perfectly. Parallel is a flacky technology
when talking bi-directional communications. Chances are it will work
well enough to print.
6. Parallel isn't hotswapable. You "can" do it, but it is possible to
short out that port if you are not careful hot swapping, the port was
dumb enough to deal with equipment disapearing and reapearing without
blinking an eye.
I do understand where you are comming from. The cost of USB cables is
very annoying and they don't typicaly come with printers, where they do
come with cable and dsl modems. Retail stores see these things as a
means to profit from loss leader products like printers.
I spent a good deal of money on parallel cables in the past, even a
couple of extra length with the go faster gold contacts, not that i
needed gold it was just the only option at that store for extra long
cables. But going with a parallel to usb adapter won't make any of
your old cords useful as the standard cable on the pc was a 25pin male
to 36pin centronic, where these parallel to usb adpters are likely
going to be just a small box that attaches to the printer port with a
little usb cable comming out the end. The only "cord" I can think of
that would be useful would be a 25pin m to 25p f, but most of those
were designated big arse modem cables and sometimes all the wires are
not connected.
But hey... if you can find a parallel to usb adapter for less money
than a simple usb cable.... more power too you. It should work. As we
are dealing with a regular printer with little communication to the PC
other than error messages from time to time you should enjoy long life.
