ksmith | Fun with cables

I was pretty excited a few days ago when

karentraviss's LJ referred me to a site that had Mac drivers for my favorite old faithful parallel-only HP 1100 LaserJet, as well as to an online shop that sold parallel-to-USB adapters. I downloaded the drivers, then purchased the cable and waitedwaitedwaited until today when the cable arrived--and I opened the box--only to find--that the cable didn't fit.

Most adapters are apparently Type B parallel-to-USB. My HP1100 uses the less common Type C parallel connector, dammit. C-to-USB adapters are apparently rare to nonexistent. There was even a discussion about it in one of the HP chatrooms--that's how I found out what type of adapter I needed.

Well, Belkin claims that if they don't have an adapter in stock, they will make it. I will give them a call tomorrow and see whether they can tackle this.

Now, isn't there an issue when printer cables are too long? The cable I do have is a Type C (Centronics 36F) to a DB25M. Add a DB25F to USB A and I should be good to go, unless the 12' or so cord is an issue.

The things I'm going through to try and get this printer going...

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When

tappu worked tech support for a software company/ISP, she had a number of clients who had bought Lexmark inkjet printers for $30. They were trash, basically, and didn't work well with any of the company's software. Of course, she also tended to support general printer problems, because most users can't distinguish between software-related and not.

When they would run out of ink, as would happen, they discovered something shocking. The cost of a new inkjet cartridge was more than they had paid for the whole printer.

Of course, I got a printer free when I bought my first Mac back in late 2000. It's still going strong, amazingly enough, but we're considering a replacement. All-in-ones have gotten rather inexpensive, especially of the inkjet variety, and we'll probably be going that route relatively soon.

All-in-ones have gotten rather inexpensive, especially of the inkjet variety, and we'll probably be going that route relatively soon.

Speaking as someone who likes the concept of All-In-Ones, and indeed owns one...I'm on my third one in 6 years. I bought the first one, iirc, in 1998 or 1999, an HP OfficeJet 600. After 2.5-3 years, the paper feeder went south and I don't recall if it was an easy fix or not. I don't think it was easy, because if it had been I would have done it. I wound up shipping the thing to a techie friend, but I don't know if she ever got it going.

I bought the G85 from the HP site as a refurbished unit. It lasted about 2 years--completely died last December. Wound up getting the current model, an OfficeJet 6110.

I like having a fax machine/flatbed copier scanner available at home. But the things are about as rugged as glass hammers.

I like having a fax machine/flatbed copier scanner available at home. But the things are about as rugged as glass hammers.

I'd like one, but a 2 year lifespan is too short--I tend to use things for YEARS, and that's the way I like it. You're too patient with something at won't cooperate, though--at least for me. I had a glorious printer back in Ye Olde Days--paid $1600 for it, and that was a steal. It worked something like 10 years, but it became increasingly hard to get connective technology to work with newer computers. The print was better than anything, including a laser, but it was am IBM typeball--nothing like those little hard letters for a crisp manuscript.

I finally gave up when the converter box guaranteed to work with ANYTHING turned out to be a lie--they had forgotten, you see, that some people bought the parallel cards (for better print transmission) not the serial cards...

The old Royal looks good on those days.

Fun with cables

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