Printer cable
Encyclopedia
Printer cable refers to the cable
that carries data between a computer
and a printer
.
There are many different types of cables, for example:
Parallel port printers have been slowly phased out, and are now difficult to find for the most part, being considered as an obsolete legacy port
on most new computers. Those who have printers and scanners with only parallel port may still be able to connect the devices via the use of USB adapters a.k.a. Parallel-to-USB cable. Generally, FireWire's very high speeds of up to 800 Mbit/s are excessive for printers.
Due to request from retailers, printer manufacturers have gradually stopped including the necessary printer cable to connect the printer to a computer. Retailers usually make a huge profit on selling cables, as much as 3000% (a cable costs about $1 to produce and package, then sold at retail stores for as much as $30) .
Cable
A cable is two or more wires running side by side and bonded, twisted or braided together to form a single assembly. In mechanics cables, otherwise known as wire ropes, are used for lifting, hauling and towing or conveying force through tension. In electrical engineering cables are used to carry...
that carries data between a computer
Computer
A computer is a programmable machine designed to sequentially and automatically carry out a sequence of arithmetic or logical operations. The particular sequence of operations can be changed readily, allowing the computer to solve more than one kind of problem...
and a printer
Computer printer
In computing, a printer is a peripheral which produces a text or graphics of documents stored in electronic form, usually on physical print media such as paper or transparencies. Many printers are primarily used as local peripherals, and are attached by a printer cable or, in most new printers, a...
.
There are many different types of cables, for example:
- Serial: RS-232RS-232In telecommunications, RS-232 is the traditional name for a series of standards for serial binary single-ended data and control signals connecting between a DTE and a DCE . It is commonly used in computer serial ports...
, EIA-422EIA-422RS-422 is a technical standard that specifies electrical characteristics of a digital signalling circuit. Differential-mode signals can be sent at rates as high as 10 million bits per second, or may be sent on cables as long as 1200 metres. Some systems directly interconnect using RS 422 signals,... - ParallelParallel portA parallel port is a type of interface found on computers for connecting various peripherals. In computing, a parallel port is a parallel communication physical interface. It is also known as a printer port or Centronics port...
- FireWire
- USBUniversal Serial BusUSB is an industry standard developed in the mid-1990s that defines the cables, connectors and protocols used in a bus for connection, communication and power supply between computers and electronic devices....
Parallel port printers have been slowly phased out, and are now difficult to find for the most part, being considered as an obsolete legacy port
Legacy port
A legacy port is a computer port or connector that is considered fully or partially superseded. The replacement ports usually provide the functionality of the legacy ports with higher speeds, more compact design, or plug and play and hot swap for greater ease of use; special USB adapters are often...
on most new computers. Those who have printers and scanners with only parallel port may still be able to connect the devices via the use of USB adapters a.k.a. Parallel-to-USB cable. Generally, FireWire's very high speeds of up to 800 Mbit/s are excessive for printers.
Due to request from retailers, printer manufacturers have gradually stopped including the necessary printer cable to connect the printer to a computer. Retailers usually make a huge profit on selling cables, as much as 3000% (a cable costs about $1 to produce and package, then sold at retail stores for as much as $30) .