Epson 850 and HotWheels PC?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Neil Turkenkopf
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Neil Turkenkopf

Hi folks!

I have an old Epson 850 that I'd like to hook up to a relative's computer.
The problem is, the PC is also an older model by today's standards (a "Hot
Wheels" by Mattel!) and it doesn't have a printer port. The Epson 850 is
parallel port, and the only thing open on the back of the HotWheels is a
serial port. Is this do-able? In other words, is there some kind of adapter
that would allow me to connect a parallel printer cable to a serial port?
Would it even work?

(The HotWheels PC is running smoothly with WinXP pro, so I don't think there
will be any other issues.)
Thanks in advance!
 
[This followup was posted to comp.periphs.printers and a copy was sent
to the cited author.]

I have an old Epson 850 that I'd like to hook up to a relative's computer.
The problem is, the PC is also an older model by today's standards (a "Hot
Wheels" by Mattel!) and it doesn't have a printer port. The Epson 850 is
parallel port, and the only thing open on the back of the HotWheels is a
serial port. Is this do-able? In other words, is there some kind of adapter
that would allow me to connect a parallel printer cable to a serial port?
Would it even work?

(The HotWheels PC is running smoothly with WinXP pro, so I don't think there
will be any other issues.)
Click to expand...

It must have at least a USB port. You could try one of those USB-to-
parallel adapters. That said, buying a super-cheap throw-away printer
couuld be cheaper than the adapter! Or, if the computer has an avilable
PCI slot, get a parallel port card.
 
Hello Andrew, and thanks for your quick reply!

I can't believe that I didn't think of USB - Duh! :-)
Yes, there is one unused USB port left. Even though it's the older 1.1
style, I'm sure it will be fast enough for their occasional use.
I checked on NewEgg and actually found a USB-Parallel Adapter for only $5,
so that sure looks like the way to go!

Thanks for your help!
--
Neil |¬D
...............................................

| [This followup was posted to comp.periphs.printers and a copy was sent
| to the cited author.]
|
| In article <X1%vf.476$sa4.76@trnddc07>, (e-mail address removed)
| says...
| > I have an old Epson 850 that I'd like to hook up to a relative's
computer.
| > The problem is, the PC is also an older model by today's standards (a
"Hot
| > Wheels" by Mattel!) and it doesn't have a printer port. The Epson 850 is
| > parallel port, and the only thing open on the back of the HotWheels is a
| > serial port. Is this do-able? In other words, is there some kind of
adapter
| > that would allow me to connect a parallel printer cable to a serial
port?
| > Would it even work?
| >
| > (The HotWheels PC is running smoothly with WinXP pro, so I don't think
there
| > will be any other issues.)
|
| It must have at least a USB port. You could try one of those USB-to-
| parallel adapters. That said, buying a super-cheap throw-away printer
| couuld be cheaper than the adapter! Or, if the computer has an avilable
| PCI slot, get a parallel port card.
|
| --
| If there is a no_junk in my address, please REMOVE it before replying!
| All junk mail senders will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the
| law!!
| http://home.att.net/~andyross
 
The problem is, the PC is also an older model by
today's standards (a "Hot Wheels" by Mattel!) and it
doesn't have a printer port.
Click to expand...

That would be the Intel BP-810 motherboard. It doesn't have it because
it's older, it doesn't have it because intel didn't put it in.
Anything unusual isn't an issue with age but design. Patriot Computer
Corp released it if i'm not mistaken also in a Barbie edition.

The default offering would have been an Apollo printer
http://www.usb-drivers.com/drivers/22/22663.htm. I imagine you can go
out of your way to get a usb to parallel adapter. That you're talking
about is well... possible, but not something that is done nor would be
be supported. A usb to centronics adapter would really be the ticket,
or a usb printer.

http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=USB2DB25M&cpc=SCH&srm=0

These things run $20 to $40 in stores. $10 is on the cheap side.

Or... not to be insulting, but computers in the pentium III 450mhz
range and above are hitting goodwills everywhere.
 
Hi Z, and thanks for the input!

The HotWheels PC is not mine, but my 4year old niece's. We got it free, and
I cleaned it up for her and installed XP Pro on it.
It's running amazing well, and we just came into another freebie - the Epson
850 printer. I know that they're both older machines and I never would have
tried to pair them up on purpose, things just turned out that way. <g> The
USB-Parallel cable is already on its way from NewEgg, so we'll see what
happens in a few days!

(I'm pretty sure it's the same cable that you've suggested, just a different
brand.)
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16812156005
For under $14 with tax + S&H, it sure beats $40+ at CompUSA, eh?
--
Neil ¦¬D
.....................
|> The problem is, the PC is also an older model by
| > today's standards (a "Hot Wheels" by Mattel!) and it
| > doesn't have a printer port.
|
| That would be the Intel BP-810 motherboard. It doesn't have it because
| it's older, it doesn't have it because intel didn't put it in.
| Anything unusual isn't an issue with age but design. Patriot Computer
| Corp released it if i'm not mistaken also in a Barbie edition.
|
| The default offering would have been an Apollo printer
| http://www.usb-drivers.com/drivers/22/22663.htm. I imagine you can go
| out of your way to get a usb to parallel adapter. That you're talking
| about is well... possible, but not something that is done nor would be
| be supported. A usb to centronics adapter would really be the ticket,
| or a usb printer.
|
| http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=USB2DB25M&cpc=SCH&srm=0
|
| These things run $20 to $40 in stores. $10 is on the cheap side.
|
| Or... not to be insulting, but computers in the pentium III 450mhz
| range and above are hitting goodwills everywhere.
|
 
I can't believe that I didn't think of USB - Duh! :-)
Yes, there is one unused USB port left. Even though it's the older 1.1
style, I'm sure it will be fast enough for their occasional use.
I checked on NewEgg and actually found a USB-Parallel Adapter for only $5,
so that sure looks like the way to go!
Click to expand...

If needed, you can always buy a USB hub to expand that one port into 4
or more.
 
Excellent idea, we may just do that!
(Thanks again.)
--
Neil |¬D

| In article <eVawf.1138$sa4.1056@trnddc07>, (e-mail address removed)
| says...
| > I can't believe that I didn't think of USB - Duh! :-)
| > Yes, there is one unused USB port left. Even though it's the older 1.1
| > style, I'm sure it will be fast enough for their occasional use.
| > I checked on NewEgg and actually found a USB-Parallel Adapter for only
$5,
| > so that sure looks like the way to go!
|
| If needed, you can always buy a USB hub to expand that one port into 4
| or more.
|
| --
| If there is a no_junk in my address, please REMOVE it before replying!
| All junk mail senders will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the
| law!!
| http://home.att.net/~andyross
 
Hi group,

Just wanted to let anyone interested in this "odd couple" that all went
well.
The USB-Parallel cable (combined with a 4-port mini-hub) was the perfect
choice!
(I wasn't able to install until today, or I would have reported sooner.)

Thanks for your help, and I hope this may make it easier for someone else!
--
Neil ¦¬D

| Excellent idea, we may just do that!
| (Thanks again.)
| --
| Neil |¬D
|
| || In article <eVawf.1138$sa4.1056@trnddc07>, (e-mail address removed)
|| says...
|| > I can't believe that I didn't think of USB - Duh! :-)
|| > Yes, there is one unused USB port left. Even though it's the older 1.1
|| > style, I'm sure it will be fast enough for their occasional use.
|| > I checked on NewEgg and actually found a USB-Parallel Adapter for only
| $5,
|| > so that sure looks like the way to go!
||
|| If needed, you can always buy a USB hub to expand that one port into 4
|| or more.
||
|| --
|| If there is a no_junk in my address, please REMOVE it before replying!
|| All junk mail senders will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the
|| law!!
|| http://home.att.net/~andyross
|
|
 
Great to hear your problem was solved. Thanks for informing us, as it
helps to add to the collective knowledge of the group members.

Art
 
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