Parallel Port for Laptop

September 8, 2006 8:28 AM

Any recommendations for parallel ports on a laptop?

I have a Dell laptop that does not have a parallel port. I need this port in order to program certain mobile radios. I have been told by the manufacturer of these radios that a USB-parallel adapter will not work.

Does anyone have experience with PCMCIA parallel port cards? I need to know if they are true parallel ports.

posted by vansly to Computers & Internet (4 answers total)

They're right that a USB < -> Parallel adapter won't work because they're typically not bidirectional. (It's okay when you just want to send data to a printer, but not so good when you need the device to send any information back.) The PCMCIA one that I found (sorry, no link) did work, but it ran close to $200 USD.

(This was a couple years ago when I had one of the few laptops without a parallel port. I'm sure there more options now and better prices. Just make sure they list themselves as being fully bi-directional. I believe you're looking for an "EPP" capable parallel port. At any rate get one with a good return policy.)
posted by Ookseer at 8:43 AM on September 8, 2006

found through froogle. (there were others on there too; I just searched for pcmcia parallel.)
posted by mrg at 8:54 AM on September 8, 2006

Googling "bi-directional usb parallel port adaptor" gets a few candidates
posted by Popular Ethics at 9:30 AM on September 8, 2006

You might want to try and find a used docking station.
posted by kcm at 10:03 AM on September 8, 2006