parallel - USB ?

[Peter Joh. Brunner]

A friend of mine bought a new computer wich has no more a parallel port
output. But she has 2 good printers with parallel ports!

Windows Vista
HP Deskjet 1120C (A3 format!)
Minolta Page Pro 8L (laser printer)

Is there a possibility to use the printers again?

There are adapters parallel to USB.
Can these be used without problems?
Is a special driver necessary?

Maybe this matter was treated already, but I'm new to it.

Thanks,
Pit

 

[me]

A friend of mine bought a new computer wich has no more a parallel port
output. But she has 2 good printers with parallel ports!

Windows Vista
HP Deskjet 1120C (A3 format!)
Minolta Page Pro 8L (laser printer)

Is there a possibility to use the printers again?

There are adapters parallel to USB.
Can these be used without problems?
Is a special driver necessary?

Forget USB to //. Put a $20 PCI parallel port card in it.

 

[Warren Block]

A friend of mine bought a new computer wich has no more a parallel port
output. But she has 2 good printers with parallel ports!

Windows Vista
HP Deskjet 1120C (A3 format!)
Minolta Page Pro 8L (laser printer)

Is there a possibility to use the printers again?

Yes. The Minolta should be fine, and the 1120C will probably work.

There are adapters parallel to USB.
Can these be used without problems?

Yes, as long as the operating system is up to it and the printer isn't
host-based. Vista has a driver for the 1120C, and the HP LaserJet IIP
driver should work on the Minolta.

Is a special driver necessary?

If needed, a driver should be included with the USB to parallel adapter.

 

[IntergalacticExpandingPanda]

A friend of mine bought a new computer wich has no more a parallel port
output. But she has 2 good printers with parallel ports!

Windows Vista
HP Deskjet 1120C (A3 format!)
Minolta Page Pro 8L (laser printer)

Is there a possibility to use the printers again?

There are adapters parallel to USB.
Can these be used without problems?
Is a special driver necessary?

Maybe this matter was treated already, but I'm new to it.

You can attach any given parallel printer to a given system via

1) USB -> centronics (parallel)
2) PCI centronics
3) Centronics -> network (wifi or wired ethernet)
4) Centronics header (motherboard support required)

With a usb or PCI solution, you'll need the driver that comes with it,
though often such things have generic drivers that windows will
automatically install.

The network solution requires no extra drivers, only the native
windows network printing support.

 

[Arthur Entlich]

I tend to agree with the suggestion below, if you have the extra slot.
Parallel to USB cables are usually more costly, and some can be a bit
"funky" (I've heard may reports of them working with one printer but not
another) You can use a parallel switch box to go between the printer,
as required.

Art


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[measekite]

A friend of mine bought a new computer wich has no more a parallel port
output. But she has 2 good printers with parallel ports!

Windows Vista
HP Deskjet 1120C (A3 format!)
Minolta Page Pro 8L (laser printer)

Is there a possibility to use the printers again?

There are adapters parallel to USB.
Can these be used without problems?
Is a special driver necessary?

Maybe this matter was treated already, but I'm new to it.

Thanks,
Pit

Goto Frys or someplace like that and get a parallel port card. Put it in
your computer and connect the old printer. No issue.

 

[measekite]

I tend to agree with the suggestion below, if you have the extra slot.

You really should post inline or at the bottom and not say you agree with
something below. When you get to heaven if you ever do then you can make
a statement of that kind.

 

[IntergalacticExpandingPanda]

I tend to agree with the suggestion below, if you have the extra slot.
Parallel to USB cables are usually more costly, and some can be a bit
"funky" (I've heard may reports of them working with one printer but not
another) You can use a parallel switch box to go between the printer,
as required.

I've not shopped around for Parallel port cards. I do have laptops
without them, but I print through the network. No problem.

I question whether it's cheaper to go PCI. I'll agree they are likely
to be less troublesome.

Newegg lists options between $10-$40 for a PCI Parallel port card.
Their USB -> centronics cables are also $10 to $40.

Most expensive is "StarTech" which is about $25 for the USB-

Centronics, $40 for the PCI->centronics.

It's safe to presume that users of a Centronics printer already have
the cable, but in terms of cost alone, USB seems to be a winner.

Obviously the PCI is preferred for reliability.

For flexibility, I'd consider Centronics -> network. The cost is
higher, but it has the benefit of not requiring you to open your case,
no switch box is required.


I can't say I ever used a switchbox. ISA Centronics ports were dirt
cheap back in the day I would have considered one.

 

[William R. Walsh]

Hi!

There are adapters parallel to USB.
Can these be used without problems?
Is a special driver necessary?

For printers, they usually work perfectly. For multifunction devices that
print and scan...they don't work very well most of the time.

Two drivers may be needed--there is one for the adapter and another for the
printer. If your operating system is new enough, it may have both built in.
If not, get the drivers you need from the maker of each device.

Maybe this matter was treated already, but I'm new to it.

I use an HP OfficeJet 500 and a DeskJet 870CSE on a Dell Dimension 8300.
This system has a parallel port, but it's only got one and all the PCI slots
are in use. So I got a cheap USB to Parallel port adapter from Hawking
Technologies and used that with the 870. The OfficeJet got the parallel port
since it is a multifunction device.

Everything works fine. Both units are fully functional.

William

 

[Angelo Campanella]

For printers, they usually work perfectly. For multifunction devices that
print and scan...they don't work very well most of the time.

snip.

OK, I have another relatrd question:

I still need, on occasion to print via parallel; i.e. my old self-made
software puts ou its result to LPT1 ahich is the old parallel port. I
still have a printer (HP DJ6122) that is still functioning, but its days
are limited. I solved the problem for the time being by maintaining my
DJ6122, but the time may come when the next laptop out will not have a
parallel output.

On the other hand, My DJ6122 may finally expire, and i will be forced
to use USB printers only, since new printers with a paralel connecttor
are fast becoming extinct.

SO I need to know two things: 1- what device is available to make a USB
printer accept parallel port cables, and 2- what hardware/software is
available to convert parallel commands internal to DOS ("Commans
prompt") into USB compatible port output to a USB printer?

Angelo Campanella