Printer cable (parallel? ) to USB

thewolfe · Post by **thewolfe** » Sat Feb 28, 2009 2:36 pm

A friend has an old printer which uses a parallel cable (I think that's what it's called) and he has a fairly new laptop with USB ports.

Is there a cable available so he can use his old printer.

I'd look it up but not sure what the older printer cable is/was called.

Capm · Post by **Capm** » Sat Feb 28, 2009 7:21 pm

You would need to get a print server that has a parallel connection. They should be pretty cheap, less than 100 bux I'm sure

EngDrewman · Post by **EngDrewman** » Sat Feb 28, 2009 7:31 pm

Skip the print server- they make USB to parallel printer cables. However, sometimes you can't teach an old dog new tricks, and the old printer simply won't work with newer computers. Your best bet is to buy a new printer- even the cheapest USB printer you can find at an office or computer supply store is going to be WAY faster and have WAY better quality.

Capm · Post by **Capm** » Sat Feb 28, 2009 7:34 pm

There is no such thing as a usb to parallel cable.

EngDrewman · Post by **EngDrewman** » Sat Feb 28, 2009 7:39 pm

Capm wrote:There is no such thing as a usb to parallel cable.

http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductP ... t_Id=20651

Capm · Post by **Capm** » Sat Feb 28, 2009 8:43 pm

*sigh* Okay, but technically, its not a cable, its a usb device.

Spidey · Post by **Spidey** » Sat Feb 28, 2009 8:45 pm

Capm wrote:There is no such thing as a usb to parallel cable.

I use a USB to Parallel cable with my XP box and Xante 8200, but I must admit, it’s much slower than the parallel to parallel on my ME box.

TechPro · Post by **TechPro** » Sat Feb 28, 2009 8:45 pm

Epson makes them too.

\"PK3\"
\"Pk4\"

Tho you might have to hunt around to actually find one to purchase. Historically, gett USB to Parallel adapters to work reliably is \"hit and miss\". You're really much better off to avoid that approach.

Spidey · Post by **Spidey** » Sat Feb 28, 2009 8:49 pm

DELL has em...

And the one they sold me with my machine works with “windows” drivers. (came with no drivers)

When I got my XP box there weren’t many alternatives, I never did find a PCIe parallel port adapter, had no serial port either, and the printer has no Ethernet adapter.

Canuck · Post by **Canuck** » Sat Feb 28, 2009 11:36 pm

I have one collecting dust on the shelf with the driver floppy. Which I doubt that lappy has.

If buddy has a wireless network get a print server. Those cables are for Win 95/98 and usually USB 1.1, and as previous posters have said sloooow.

fliptw · Post by **fliptw** » Sat Feb 28, 2009 11:39 pm

They have PCI adapters with printer ports

http://www.usbgear.com/computer_cable_d ... C882%2C909

you'll never find a PCI-E card with a printer port tho.

Canuck · Post by **Canuck** » Sat Feb 28, 2009 11:44 pm

Hows that fit in a laptop? Dremel and a hammer?

Floyd · Post by **Floyd** » Sun Mar 01, 2009 7:31 am

Canuck wrote:Hows that fit in a laptop? Dremel and a hammer?

DIY PCI-to-PCMCard adapter

Printer cable (parallel? ) to USB

Printer cable (parallel? ) to USB

Re:

Re:

Re: