Uncreative Labs

Guest

I work in a Computer Store. Embarassed

We sell a device that allows a parallel IEEE 1284 printer to attach to a USB port. I have a not so nice customer come in who wants to hook his USB printer to the Parallel port. I tell him it can't be done. He then tells me, "Your full of s***t. If you can hook a parallel printer to USB you can go the other way around. I tell him that isn't possible. The device we sell provides backwards compatibility with legacy hardware. You are looking for something upwards compatible and for your USB printer the only thing that will work it a USB port. if you don't have anymore buy a hub or USB 2.0 card. I haven't seen a cable or device that will do what you want it to do. He then basically told me that I was an idiot and have no business working in a computer store. Rolling Eyes

I have never seen a device that allows USB devices to attach to the parallel port. I have done google searches to no avail. I have heard from one other person years back that such an animal does exist. But I haven't seen them and seeing is believeing for the skeptical mind that I am. Do you guys know where I can get such a device?

Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Posts: 377 Location: Stuttgart, Germany

I have never seen one of those devices either. I know PS/2 to USB, Gameport to USB and parallel to USB, even serial to USB, but no USB to parallel.

Posted: Sun Sep 25, 2005 10:10 pm

It's time to do a little research... I'd be willing to bet that USB can emulate the other signals, but the other signals cannot emulate USB.

In the computer world, if it can go one way that's no guarantee it can go the other. If you need USB support just spend the $20 on a USB PCI card. Unfortunately, manufacturers have been quick to abandon proven technologies to give you something "more advanced" (read: more expensive).

Joined: 20 Nov 2004 Posts: 589 Location: Shandong, China

I am sure it is very possible that a USB to parallel converter could exist, but i can almost promise it would be quite costly. Unless this person is using a machine with an outdated expansion bus, it would probably be a lot cheaper to just get the damn PCI card. It would work a lot faster anyway.

Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Posts: 377 Location: Stuttgart, Germany

Anonymous Coward wrote:

I am sure it is very possible that a USB to parallel converter could exist, but i can almost promise it would be quite costly.

Yeah and it's called a PC with a parallel printer, usb onboard, usb direct link, and a printer share Wink

No serieously: Get an expansion card. Just out of curiosity: are there any isa usb cards? I realize that it would be slow as heck, but sometimes it's most important that the usb device can be accessed, and not so much at what speed it can be accessed.

Joined: 20 Nov 2004 Posts: 589 Location: Shandong, China

Nope. I already looked into this one. It seems USB is really PCI centric. I heard that USB controllers require a 32-bit expansion bus. I didn't really read much into it at this point.

Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Posts: 594 Location: Western NC

Quote:

I have a not so nice customer come in who wants to hook his USB printer to the Parallel port. I tell him it can't be done. He then tells me, "Your full of s***t.

At that point, he no longer becomes a customer. He becomes a jackass and not worthy of your time. I've had a few like that and I always just send them off on a wild-goose chase ("yeah, WallyWorld may have something like that--I'm sure if they don't they can find someone that has it ...")

My contribution to the "global expansion" of China...

Guest

to avoid arguments, I would suggest that it is possible.
also: " i want the green cheese franchise for the moon"
but not available as yet,
tell him/her / them that You try to keep up with the latest
literature and reports and such a device, while not available thru your distribution channels, may well be abailable in " a year or so" ( note MAY)

if he has a magazine article or a web page with such a device , tell him your compamy will attempt to "special order it for him" as the customer is always right.
and ... please bend over right now! ( get a cash deposit)

Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Posts: 594 Location: Western NC

Quote:

as the customer is always right

In most businesses I'd say that's true. In the computer business I'd say that it's more like "the customer is 95% of the time misinformed or uneducated".

Face it, a lot of people just don't need to be operating a computer before they learn some of the basics...

Posted: Wed Sep 28, 2005 7:03 pm

Quote:

Face it, a lot of people just don't need to be operating a computer before they learn some of the basics...

And just what basics are you refering to, T-R-A? Are you suggesting some kind of test or license to operate a computer?

The best thing to do is to write an unsupported book that is included with all new PC purchases detailing how to do many tasks on the computer and most of all how to keep the computer SAFE. Most people know better than to go outside in the middle of winter without a coat, right? It's just like running without a firewall.

There are still people out there that read the manual, so including a nice thick book won't bother them at all. (Charge them $20 more for including it in the box, if you must.) Don't put the manual on CD, as that means they still have to use the PC to get the manual.

Guest

Yes there are DEFINATELY ISA USB adapters, photos were posted at the old forum, but really who wants to spend $150 for a buffered ISA to USB card?

Also they would not be very slow, USB 1.0 normally only really talks to printers and other devices at a whopping 1-2mb/sec (if they are lucky) ISA can handle 8mb/sec depending on how it is setup.

Then there is the ISA -> SCSI -> USB converter on converter method
or the

http://www.buffalotech.com/wireless/_SUPPORT/_LEGACY/_Peripherals/ISABUSADAPTER.html

ISA -> PCMCIA -> USB method

Cheers

Posted: Wed Sep 28, 2005 9:58 pm

http://www.simtec.co.uk/products/EB1161ISA/intro.html

Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Posts: 594 Location: Western NC

Quote:

Are you suggesting some kind of test or license to operate a computer

No, but how many people do you know that have purchased a computer; don't know what they're going to use it for (besides getting on the internet/play a specific game); and when they actually need to do something (like burn a CD or write a resume) don't have the slightest clue about how to do it...

Half of my time used to be spent explaining "the basics" to people...

Joined: 20 Nov 2004 Posts: 589 Location: Shandong, China

Show me how to connect USB to SCSI. Very Happy

I'm a crazy SOB, so I'd do it regardless of the cost.

Posted: Fri Sep 30, 2005 3:10 am

You could just simply wait until the technology's obsolete and pick it up cheap---but don't wait too long otherwise it won't be available.