parallel to usb

[apple]

looking to buy a new computer the one I am looking at does not have a
parallel port. the printer I have only has a parallel port. can I use an
adapterfrom parallel to usb? will I need any speial software?

thanks,
apple

 

[Eric P.]

looking to buy a new computer the one I am looking at does not have a
parallel port. the printer I have only has a parallel port. can I use an
adapterfrom parallel to usb? will I need any speial software?

thanks,
apple

Better buy a PCI parallel card instead!

 

[Gerard Bok]

looking to buy a new computer the one I am looking at does not have a
parallel port. the printer I have only has a parallel port.

can I use an adapterfrom parallel to usb?

Yes, you can. (Well, you'll need an USB2parallel adapter.)

will I need any speial software?

No.

But this is probably not the road you want to travel!
Buy a brand new printer. One with USB support.

It will set you back almost as much as an USB to Parallel adapter
will. But then, you get a brand new printer in the deal

 

[kony]

Yes, you can. (Well, you'll need an USB2parallel adapter.)


No.

But this is probably not the road you want to travel!
Buy a brand new printer. One with USB support.

It will set you back almost as much as an USB to Parallel adapter
will. But then, you get a brand new printer in the deal

Buying a new printer when one doesn't need it is often a bad
idea. Today's USB inkjets have the technology to make ink
refills more expensive or impossible and lasers as cheap as
an adapter aren't going to be anywhere near as good as what
he already had (if a laser), including higher cost per page.

Photo printers (or regular good quality inkjets used for
photos) might be a different story, in the past half dozen
years or so they have made good strides towards higher
quality output.

A USB to parallel adapter is going to be cheap, probably
less than $30. I doubt a $30 printer is worth having,
they're usually the cheapest build possible meant to get
people to buy overpriced refills which can be a false
economy because the refills may be smaller capacity.

 

[apple]

Buying a new printer when one doesn't need it is often a bad
idea. Today's USB inkjets have the technology to make ink
refills more expensive or impossible and lasers as cheap as
an adapter aren't going to be anywhere near as good as what
he already had (if a laser), including higher cost per page.

Photo printers (or regular good quality inkjets used for
photos) might be a different story, in the past half dozen
years or so they have made good strides towards higher
quality output.

A USB to parallel adapter is going to be cheap, probably
less than $30. I doubt a $30 printer is worth having,
they're usually the cheapest build possible meant to get
people to buy overpriced refills which can be a false
economy because the refills may be smaller capacity.

Kony,
you are right. I really dont want to get rid of my perfectly good HP
laserjet printer I have put at least 4 toners cartridges in it and it still
works a good as the day I plugged it in. So the question is should I but a
PCI parallel card or go with the belkin cable?

 

[Eric P.]

Kony,
you are right. I really dont want to get rid of my perfectly good HP
laserjet printer I have put at least 4 toners cartridges in it and it still
works a good as the day I plugged it in. So the question is should I but a
PCI parallel card or go with the belkin cable?

Not all parallel to usb adapters/cables seem to do the job well while a
real parallel port like on a PCI parallel card does.
Check before!

 

[John McGaw]

looking to buy a new computer the one I am looking at does not have a
parallel port. the printer I have only has a parallel port. can I use an
adapterfrom parallel to usb? will I need any speial software?

thanks,
apple

A USB-to-parallel adapter should work fine for your purposes and aren't
expensive. If you have a network you might also consider a mini-print
server instead. I have a Netgear PS101 on the back of my Laserjet 5P and
it works beautifully.

http://www.netgear.com/products/details/PS101.php

This model of printer has an odd connector placement so I did a little
creative carving of the plastic cover so that it would fit precisely
around the end of the PS101 and now it looks like a piece of original
equipment.

 

[DaveW]

Not that I know of.

 

[kony]

Kony,
you are right. I really dont want to get rid of my perfectly good HP
laserjet printer I have put at least 4 toners cartridges in it and it still
works a good as the day I plugged it in. So the question is should I but a
PCI parallel card or go with the belkin cable?

I have an old Laserjet III that refuses to die, it's been
through a few hundred thousand pages which is probably about
2 dozen refill carts. I can't imagine paying for a new
printer so I could then pay over 2X as much per page for
carts, but I have it even better, I usually buy bulk toner
and refill carts 3 or 4 times. Sadly printing will never be
this cheap again.

If you have the spare PCI slot and you're sure it's not
needed for something else, go with the PCI card. The price
du jour is $11,
http://www.pricewatch.com/controller_cards/274-1.htm

 

[paulmd]

looking to buy a new computer the one I am looking at does not have a
parallel port. the printer I have only has a parallel port. can I use an
adapterfrom parallel to usb?

will I need any speial software?

Belkin, No
Epson, Yes.


Better Off with a Parallel card, Adapters aren't always a reliable
solution.