On Fri, Aug 15, 2008 at 10:33:50AM -0700, Bob McGowan wrote: > Mike Fontenot wrote: >> My new PC doesn't have a parallel port on the back (or anywhere else), >> and I need one for my HP1200 B/W laser printer. I've seen inexpensive >> PCI cards that have one or two parallel ports, and also some cables that >> convert between USB and parallel.
(They convert from a parallel port printer to a USB host, which is what you need. The other way around is more complicated) >> Any advice on which of these >> alternatives is likely to give me the least trouble getting printing to >> work (with etch or lenny)? >> >> Mike Fontenot >> >> > > The absolute least trouble would seem be to get the PCI card, since it > will use "standard" chips that will work, out of the box, with Linux. > But the USB is easier, since you just need to plug it in, no opening the > case with associated potential for breaking something physically. And > USB to parallel support should not be an issue, though I'm no expert on > that aspect. USB printer support (usblp) works well in recent kernels. "recent" also includes the Etch kernel. > > Other issues to consider: > > How many PCI slots are available? Will there be a need for other PCI > cards, now or in the future? The answer here may indicate the USB route > is better, as it conserves PCI slots for future use. > > Speed over USB will be limited to the PP port speed at max but could be > impacted by other devices on the USB bus, if there are any. Speed? Even USB1.1 is about the same speed of a parallel port (probably faster). And with USB2 you have nothing to worry about with the speed. > > If it were me, I'd factor in the cost, as well. If they were close, I'd > probably choose the USB interface path, mostly due to not needing to > open the chassis to implement it. -- Tzafrir Cohen | [EMAIL PROTECTED] | VIM is http://tzafrir.org.il | | a Mutt's [EMAIL PROTECTED] | | best ICQ# 16849754 | | friend -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]
