Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!comp.vuw.ac.nz!canterbury!phys169 From: phys169@csc.canterbury.ac.nz Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc Subject: Re: Should I connect printer serial or parallel? Message-ID: <1991Jan30.124950.78@csc.canterbury.ac.nz> Date: 30 Jan 91 00:16:53 GMT References: <55304@eerie.acsu.Buffalo.EDU> Lines: 22 In article , stanley@phoenix.com (John Stanley) writes: > v087mxgb@ubvmsa.cc.buffalo.edu (Shawn E Thompson) writes: > >> In article <6117@spdcc.SPDCC.COM>, jin@spdcc.COM (Jerry Natowitz) writes... >> >I have an Epson LQ800 printer that I will connecting to my not yet >> >received PC. Is there any performance advantage to using the parallel >> Shawn coverred just about all the points. The only other considerations are: (1) that serial lines can be longer than parallel; some people need to have the printer more than 50 feet from the computer - then serial is a must. (2) you might need the serial line for something else (e.g. a mouse, communications with another computer, etc). (3) some spooling programs don't work with serial ports Summary: Use parallel, unless you need a very long cable, or need to get data back from the printer (not relevant to LQ800's as much as PostScript & some other fancy printers). Mark Aitchison, Physics, University of Canterbury, New Zealand.