Dear Lazyweb

[chezmax]

My Grandfather bought a new computer, which apparently has no parallel ports. He has an older model HP Laserjet, which apparently has no USB ports, but has a parallel port, and an E10 port (I have no idea what an E10 port is, do you?).

Is there anything I can do or buy to make his old printer work with his new computer?

Comments

[graphxgrrl.livejournal.com]

I'm pretty sure Belkin makes an adapter of some variety.

[chezmax]

I've heard of USB to Serial adaptors. There are parallel ones too?

[graphxgrrl.livejournal.com]

Looks like: http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Product_Id=20651

[hedgegoth.livejournal.com]

I had a USB to Parallel adapter for an Epson deskjet a few years back, I think I've seen them at the store as well.

Also, the LJ might have the ability to add an ethernet card, but that might be pricey.

[chezmax]

OK. Let's hope Future Shop has one or something similar. :)

[graphxgrrl.livejournal.com]

I'm not holding my breath. ;)

[chezmax]

I don't think it's an ethernet capable LaserJet. I'm glad to hear there's USB/Parallel adapters.

[da-lj.livejournal.com]

I had one, it was called a linux print-server. I think you probably don't want to bother with that answer. :)

Best of luck with the roads here -> there -> back!

[kraig.livejournal.com]

E10 might be a custom HP port. I seem to recall they had some sort of high-density cable that they used. I always thought the other end terminated in a standard Centronics parallel connector, but I could be wrong.

[dwaggie.livejournal.com]

Could always buy a cheapie print server, as well. Takes parallel turns it into ethernet.

[odiedragon.livejournal.com]

http://www.google.com/products?q=usb+parallel+converter&sourceid=mozilla-search&ie=UTF-8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&um=1

[balatro.livejournal.com]

As graphxgrrl said, USB to Parallel adapters. I'd think that was an imaginary thing like unicorns but I've seen one sitting in a box in our NYC office so I know folks make them. :)

[gandalfgreyhame.livejournal.com]

You could always buy a new printer, they're not all that expensive these days. :)

[linchiq.livejournal.com]

There are adapters. They are usually pretty expensive, so if you can make one yourself it is a lot cheaper. I think the prices we saw in the local office store were $50 or so, which was surprising to us.

[stpdfool.livejournal.com]

If there's a wifi network, you can get a Centronix-to-WiFi adapter, which has a built-in printer server. Fairly easy to set up. However, if it's one of the really old HP LaserJets, big and boxy, that has a side panel that pops off for the connection plugs, you're going to have to get a Centronix male-to-female extension for it. (I have one of these, and need the extension cord myself for the old LaserJet that I have, because it won't fit otherwise.)

[compwizrd.livejournal.com]

that's an EIO slot, you can get adapters, but yes, they cost more then the printer, even on ebay.

otherwise, a jetdirect EX Plus, or a 300X or a 170x(offhand, can't remember for sure if those are the right numeric models) will let you put it on the network and everyone can print to it without going through his computer.

windows 2000, xp, vista and linux have native support to use jetdirects, and win95/98 can be made to work with them.

[chezmax]

I ended up getting the Future Shop "Dynex" USB<->Parallel adaptor, which, thankfully, Vista knew what to do with. It was $40, but still cheaper then a new Laserjet. :)

[compwizrd.livejournal.com]

and idiot proof is always handy :) unfortunately vista doesn't have drivers for some of the older printers, and god help you if you have a 64bit version of vista or xp, the driver support for printers is just horrid.

[chezmax]

It's a pretty generic PCL6 printer, so it was good. :)