laptop printing

[carpeliam]

i'm working with a dell laptop that doesn't have a 16-pin printer port (is it 16-pin? i think so). i've heard that you hook up a printer using the network port? is that true? or is there another way of printing? are the new dell laptops for usb printers? (in which case i'm in trouble..)

Liam Morley
lmorley@wpi.edu
"light the deep, and bring silence to the world.
light the world, and bring depth to the silence."

 

[SYAR2003]

You could use a small print server ,
connected to the network.
Linksys has some small ones
Have a look here

http://www.linksys.com/products/group.asp?grid=34&scid=32

 

[SYAR2003]

Or something like this one
if direct connection between only one pc and the
printer is required.

http://www.asante.com/products/adapters/usb-parallel/index.html

 

[comtec17]

Or if you have a usb port you can use this:

http://shop.vendio.com/shething/item/618595025/index.html?s=1070794993

I have one for my serial and parallel.

 

[BitFuzzy]

Or if you have another system on the network, that can be used as your 'network' print server

*note both the other computer and the printer will need to be on in order to print, and the printer will need to be setup as a 'shared' device

 

[carpeliam]

well i wanted to know if i plug my printer into my network port or my usb- i don't have a network printer, so that's not an option. (i have a printer cable with an ethernet plug which fits in my network port, but i can't seem to set my printer up by plugging it in there- i've also got a network-to-16-pin adapter, but of course that doesn't help.) when i set up a printer, it of course gives me options on what port i've plugged my printer into - LPT1, LPT2, etc - but i'm not sure which port is which. <p>Liam Morley<br><A HREF="mailto:"></A><br>&quot;light the deep, and bring silence to the world.<br>light the world, and bring depth to the silence.&quot;

 

[SYAR2003]

If you study the link you have been posted
you will se that you dont need a network printer.
ftp://ftp.linksys.com/pdf/efsp42ug.pdf
This is for the small linksys printerservers
wich you can connect a regular printer with
LPT printerport interface.
With product like this the printer can be used
by several pc's on a home network provided
that the driver cd is installed on all pc's.


The other links for usb-Parallel adapter is the easyest
and cheapest solution

PC's USB----------->Printers parallel port.
Installed driver cd for the adaper.

 

[carpeliam]

i didn't check the link because i don't want to buy anything if i don't have to... i'm not going to buy a $75 print server when i could possibly use what i already have. that's a bit ridiculous.<br><br>i asked where to plug the cables, you tell me to buy a print server. <p>Liam Morley<br><A HREF="mailto:"></A><br>&quot;light the deep, and bring silence to the world.<br>light the world, and bring depth to the silence.&quot;

 

[BitFuzzy]

imotic:

He answered your question correctly.

> i've heard that you hook up a printer using the network port?

You've got 2 options:
(1) buy a print server
(2) use another system already on your network as a print server.

I'd be suprised if your laptop didn't have a paralel port behind a hatch in the back of your laptop.

Alternatly you can purchase a paralel to usb cable

 

[edfair]

Printer port would be 25 pin.

You can't use the network to hook up directly.

You probably have USB. That seems to be the direction of the industry.

I've heard of usb to parallel converters, but I've never seen or used one.


Ed Fair
Give the wrong symptoms, get the wrong solutions.

 

[SYAR2003]

Well if you manage to use what you have and get it working.
Please tell us how.

I was only trying to help out .

 

[SYAR2003]

Bitfuzzy !
It's a sad thing really . New laptops today is
nearly impossible to find with good old com ports and LPT.
I need both so i'm stuck with a Toshiba 700mhz pIII .

 

[BitFuzzy]

Syar2003;

This is because they want you to spend the extra 200+ on a port replicator.

Nearly every laptop MFG has one available which typically include parallel, VGA, USB, network, and DVI-D

Interesting gimmick if you think about it lol

 

[SYAR2003]

Yea but what about Com1 port .
Can't carry a port replicator around .
On toshiba i have to order archived models....

 

[BitFuzzy]

syar2003;

a simple purchase of 20.00 may help

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=123071&Sku=C184-26886

 

[SYAR2003]

Don't work in dos.
Use old programs for programming old equipment.
Thanks for the tip though.

 

[BitFuzzy]

syar2003;

You're right it won't

the only thing you're more than likely going to be able to use is an older machine.. (which you already know)

The good news is that you'll be able to get replacements &quot;cheap&quot; on ebay heh

 

[edfair]

Liam,
it looks like you're going to spend money no matter which way you go.

Alternative , use the serial port and a serial/parallel converter.

Ed Fair
Give the wrong symptoms, get the wrong solutions.