New Printer with USB 2.0 - Old PC with USB 1.1 Ports - Will it work?

  • Thread starter Thread starter pokee
  • Start date Start date
P

pokee

I am FINALLY getting around to getting a new printer - but I have a 4
year old laptop that has two USB 1.1 ports. Will a new printer with a
USB 2.0 connection work with my laptop? I heard it will - but will be
slower than designed to be. I am planning on getting another HP
OfficeJet (my old one lasted 7 years!!!!).

Also, can I use a regular USB 1.1 cable? Is there a difference between
USB cables (2.0 different than 1.1?).

Thanks!
Paula
 
I am FINALLY getting around to getting a new printer - but I have a 4
year old laptop that has two USB 1.1 ports. Will a new printer with a
USB 2.0 connection work with my laptop? I heard it will - but will be
slower than designed to be. I am planning on getting another HP
OfficeJet (my old one lasted 7 years!!!!).

Also, can I use a regular USB 1.1 cable? Is there a difference between
USB cables (2.0 different than 1.1?).

Thanks!
Paula
Click to expand...

Really, the only reason that the printer would run USB 2.0 is if it's
one of the printers with a digital camera card reader built in. The
print function itself really doesn't benefit unless the printer has a
huge amount of memory, otherwise it has to spool the document on the
computer anyway.

USB 2.0 cables supposedly have better shielding than 1.1. Don't go to
Office Depot or Best Buy, their markup is between 5 - 15x markup. I
used to sell them for $10 and still made over 50% profit on them
without the benefit of getting massive wholesale discounts. You can
get them on eBay these days /with/ shipping for less than at most
stores. At the very least, try Wal-Mart.

--

http://www.FenrirOnline.com

Computer services, custom metal etching,
arts, crafts, and much more.
 
I am FINALLY getting around to getting a new printer - but I have a 4
year old laptop that has two USB 1.1 ports. Will a new printer with a
USB 2.0 connection work with my laptop? I heard it will - but will be
slower than designed to be. I am planning on getting another HP
OfficeJet (my old one lasted 7 years!!!!).

Also, can I use a regular USB 1.1 cable? Is there a difference between
USB cables (2.0 different than 1.1?).

Thanks!
Paula
Click to expand...

USB cables and ports are backward compatible, i.e,
they work regardless of designation. I noticed a
speed up when I changed from a 1.1 to a 2.0 card
in my machine using an HP 970 (1.1 USB). I would
suspect that a new 2.0 USB printer will print
slower with a 1.1 connection that with a 2.0
connection. Won't make any difference to you
since you won't know how fast it prints with a 2.0
computer connection. But your new printer will
probably be slower than what the manufacturer
says, even if you had a 2.0 connections.

Essentially all cords are the same and some of
those labeled 1.1 are really 2.0, and probably
vice versa. A 6 foot cord should cost less than $2.
Here's a place you can buy one and not even pay
shipping:
http://www.pcmicrostore.com/Topsellers.aspx
Click to expand...

Look at the item about 10 down
PCMS 6FT USB 2.0 A TO B CABLE
SKU: CABLE-USB2-6-AB
Click to expand...

Note that they also have 10 foot and 15 foot cables.
I bought a new Canon and expected it to have a
cable, which it didn't, so I ordered from this
place and had it in 3 days. Cheapest locally were
about $7 and many were $10. Good luck!
 
Although USB 2.0 has a potentially much faster throughput to USB 1.1,
the difference in printer data flow may be minimal, because there are
other bottlenecks in the data speed such as the speed at which the
printer can print. Yes, most USB 2.0 peripherals will work with USB 1.1,
but possibly much more slowly.

Don't expect the same lifespan with a new printer that you received from
your seven year old one, they aren't designed or built as ruggedly.

Yes, the cable connections didn't really change, however, the spec for
USB 2.0 is more demanding, and some USB 1.1 cable might lose data at the
speed used for USB 2.0. You can buy USB 2.0 cables in the "dollar
store" for literally about one dollar that are designated USB 2.0 data
transfer, and so far they work, and they come with a 5 year warranty ;-)
Cheaper to buy a new one than to ship it to the company for a warranty
repair, however.

Art
 
Back
Top