usb or parallel

[rickn]

I just got a new printer, and it can be hooked up either way. Is there much difference? It will be hooked up to a pentium 111

[Sparky]

Hook it up with the USB port. Technically, it is a faster connection. You probably won't see the difference unless your printer has onboard memory. USB also allows you to plug and unplug with the computer still on and not cause any problems. With a parallel port they usually suggest powering down the computer to connect.

[rickn]

thanks, sparky

[Homer]

Sparky's right, but don't throw away your parallel cord just yet. If you add additional devices to your computer in the future, you may run out of available USB ports. If that happens, you can always switch your printer over to the parallel port and free up space for another USB device.

[Box]

For about $20-$30 you can get USB hubs that allow more USB hook ups. If you need more USB hookups than a 4 or 8 hub allows, you have a lot of toys and should pick up another computer ;)

Anyway, USB is great and the hubs work fantastic. I.e:
-Sindewinder game pad
-HP scanner
-HP printer
-USB optical mouse
-Sandisk flash card reader
are all hooked up on my USB's.

I wish Lowrance would go USB insteal of serial... oh well :)

Good luck!
-Box

[chadk66]

Just a little food for thought on the matter. I do technical support for a major computer mfg'er and my experience with usb vs. parallel port is as follows. I have yet to have a printer have communications problems with the computer through a parallel port or have install problems with parallel port printers. But have had to deal with numerous complications via usb. Granted usb is probably faster but you won't notice much difference as a general rule. The problems encountered are usually after a format reload if the usb printer is left plugged into the unit during the process. Upon reloading the OS, there is so many plug and play devices being detected and asking for the software that usually what happens is the printer software load gets botched and will not load properly. Then removing the botched software is extremely difficult if you not familiar with going into the registry and deleting the Vid Keys that are left behind. We don't have this problem with parallel printers for whatever reason. The same holds true for other usb devices as well. Just a little something to keep in mind and if you do go the usb route, and you ever have to write zero's to the hard drive or format and reload, make sure it is unplugged from the computer until the OS is completely reloaded and all other drivers for the pci,agp,isa cards are installed. Then introduce the printer, scanner, etc.

[Eyez]

Good points. Back in the "olden days" (win95 osr2) the biggest problem with USB was getting the windows driver to work, to this day I still don't trust usb printers, especially if there is anything else attached to the chain. Most of the time they work fine, but the chance of having a problem is higher than with a parallel printer. You can hot swap a parallel printer, unless it's using some fancy monitoring program to tell the driver when to send the job to the parallel port.

Little history:

There is absolutely nothing wrong with a parallel printer, it is not slower, or obsolete, and it will work just fine. The reason that many printers now are USB is so that hardware mfr's can work towards the day when serial and parallel ports are no longer standard on computers. serial and parallel are old technology, and for many of today's devices, they are too slow, but not for printers.

So, use whichever you want, it really doesn't matter, if one doesn't work use the other :)


whew, that's my techie rant for the week :)


Eyez

[tly]

You can always go to a USB hub.

[tly]

Back again. The techies are quite right. USB is a plane above the daily stuff. Especially now with the choice of O/S available. No one has ever mis interpretted parallel save those with A/B boxes.

If you have a single computer, a finite set of objectives, then stick with parallel. Don't bother spending $$$ on the iEEE ??? expensive bi-directional cable tho. That is a niche most folks do not need to go to.

If ya gotta make choices do it in tackle.

TLY

[Box]

hehe... Stick with the wooden boats - those aluminum and glass models are new fangled thingies - glass can get gel cracks and rivets can loosen ;) so wood must be better.

USB is no longer "new". Parallel is just fine, that is true. But most printers now come with either a USB cable or none. USB cable is also easier to stretch across the room and to hide, and you can get longer cables if you want. Yes, they say there is a limit on length, but... hehe... they also say not to install things with your virus software running, but how many of us listen to that? I don't, and I guarantee I install more software (and uninstall, all on the same machine(s) ) than just about anyone, save for other gamer producers/coders.

I make computer games for a living and USB gets my vote for everything, when it is available. The post about USB being icky on win95osr2 was right, but now it is just the thing to use. Kinda like cordless phones - you don't need one, but would you go out and actually buy one with a cord attached? :)

Wait till the next generation of USB hits. That will be cool! :)

Just having fun,
-Box

[rickn]

Thanks to all for the help. I went to my nieghbor who sells this stuff, and all he had on hand was a usb cable, so I got it. It cost 7.40, so if I don't like it, I'm not out too much. Thanks again, Rick

[Gumbo]

>I guarantee I install more software (and uninstall, all on the same
>machine(s) ) than just about anyone, save for other gamer
>producers/coders.

I doubt it.

USB is fine for devices that traditionally required a SCSI or proprietary interface, but for printers? ...you gotta ask yourself why. Same goes for USB mice. Where's the logic there?

USB is a great concept, and for the most part it works great. But today, USB-connected printers are more troublesome than their parallel counterparts.

[Box]

You doubt that I install uninstall more than most? :) Evaluating games by the truckload might not count. Whatever...

As for USB for printers... I believe he is talking about home applications. Hardly complicated systems. Even on my little local network, my USB printer cables have been working flawlessly for over a year, granted my home network is only 4 computers.

USB for mice, why use them? Good question. Simple answer is convenience, and it comes with an adapter, so use whatever you like. And my optical USB has been working flawlessly. They will also work for PS2 along with a USB keyboard, for any of you who like console gaming (big kids) on your kids stuff.

Same principle as USB printers. Simple answer is convenience. And as stated, for most applications, either is just fine. I just hate when people hear "the sky is falling" for no good reason. Of course - IMHO.

As you can tell, I simply like typing useless info on my USB keyboard ;)

-Box

[TJ]

USB will be "obsolete" by this time next year. There is a new USB standard that is coming out next year called, you guessed it, USB 2.0! It promises transfer rates of 480 Mbps, or more than 40 times faster than the current version of USB. This, if it works as advertised, will be even faster than FireWire (IEEE 1394) at 400 Mbps.

To anyone thinking of buying a new PC, WAIT until early next year when you will be able to order one with USB 2.0 ports. The rest of us will be able to buy adapter cards.

Faster IS better!

[Eyez]

I would venture a guess that us network admins and techs move as much software around as most programmers. :) I guess that's really not the issue, as I don't see how installing/uninstalling games or any other software has anything to do with USB.

The facts here are:

1. USB is much more complicated than parallel, and the odds of you having problems with a USB printer are at least 10x higher (in my professional opinion) than they are of having problems with a parallel printer. Though the future of printers is certainly something other than parallel, USB is not the answer either.

2. USB as we know it now is doomed. USB 2.0 might not be any better, and I doubt that we'll see it anytime in the next year, but if not, firewire will gain popularity. The biggest problem for USB is the fact that it's not all it was cracked up to be. The only peripherals that I've ever used that actually have an advantage being USB are scanners and digital cameras, and that's only because most users are intimidated by SCSI cards, and parallel/serial scanners/cameras are just too dang slow.

USB for mice is nothing more than a marketing gimmick. PS2 is the by far the best interface for mice and keyboards right now. I own a USB optical mouse too, and it works most of the time, but don't try to use the hibernate mode in windows 2000 or xp, cause it shuts the USB ports down, and it takes about 5 minutes after the computer comes back on to re-detect the mouse. It's faster to reboot.


The search for one bus (port) that can replace all the legacy busses in a computer is still on, because USB and firewire aren't quite there yet.


Eyez

[Box]

About the installing and uninstalling - you are right, nothing to do with USB. That was more reference to messed up registries from an earlier post... not real important.

As for USB, I certainly will agree that it could get complicated or troublesome for network admins or network techies, but for the average home user (you mentioned most people may be intimidated by SCSI)... hehe... USB should be just dandy for just about everybody.

If not, go parallel. :) But by the same argument, you shouldn't get an HPDI, Optimax, FICHT or large HP 4-stroke. And actually, that is what we did in getting a Merc EFI ;)

Anyway, happy holidays, and I won't take up anymore typing space here.

-Box

[Eyez]

Hey box, I didn't want this to turn into a grudge match, but I'm afraid it did. I guess in the end, USB is a step in the right direction, and it'll never get better if everyone rejects it outright. I'd like to see the day when my processor runs more efficient because it doesn't have to be backwards compatible for every piece of legacy technology on the market, and USB is a step towards that (albeit a small one :) ).


Eyez

[Box]

No grudge on my part. Either cable is fine. I just wanted to end needless banter, most on my part :)

-Box

[Glenn_S]

And the death of the floppy was predicted years ago, but my company still makes millions of them a year. USB in it's present form will be here for a good long while. So will parallel and serial ports...

Glenn

[Sparky]

Besides, you can already buy computers with the USB2 ports. My
new one has 4 of them and they are backward compatible. Use whatever
works best for you. I haven't had any problems with the USB or USB2
ports yet. Hopefully, I won't find out what they're talking about.
Is it springtime yet?