USB Capable Macintosh: Connecting Serial, LocalTalk, or Parallel Devices

With the proper adapter, a serial, parallel, or LocalTalk printer can be connected to your computer's USB or Ethernet port. Sometimes, a new printer driver is required. Check with the adapter's vendor for compatibility information.

To determine how your printer was designed to communicate with your computer, refer to its owners guide. Once you know whether the printer is serial, parallel, or LocalTalk, refer to the proper section below for adapter information.

Popular Ink Jet Printer Adapters

For connecting some of the more popular ink jet printers via USB.

• The Epson Stylus Color 740 has built-in USB support. Epson offers a USB/Parallel Printer Adapter Kit for use with many of their other printers. Further information is available at: http://www.epson.com/northamerica.html
• The Hewlett Packard (HP) Printer Cable Kit, which allows HP's Deskjet 670C, 672C, 690C, 692C and 694C printers and others to connect to the USB port. Further information is available at: http://www.hp.com

USB to Parallel Adapters

For connecting printers with a parallel port to the USB port.

• USB Parallel Adaptor by Belkin: http://www.belkin.com
• Strydent Software offers PowerPrint USB, which enables you to print from many common ink jet printers. http://www.strydent.com/

USB to Serial Adapters

For connecting printers with a serial port to the USB port.

• USB Serial Adaptor by Belkin: http://www.belkin.com
• Keyspan USB Serial Adapter by Keyspan: http://www.keyspan.com/
• Stealth Serial Port by GeeThree: http://www.geethree.com/stealth/index.html

Ethernet to LocalTalk Adapters

For connecting a LocalTalk device via the Ethernet port.

Check the following web sites for additional information on Ethernet to LocalTalk Adapters:

• Asante: http://www.asante.com/

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Related Articles on Connecting Older Peripherals to iMac:

• article 43028: iMac: Where Can I Get a Floppy Drive?
• article 43025: iMac: Can I Use My Old Joystick?
• article 43026: iMac: Can I Use My External SCSI Hard Disk?

• For further information about USB peripherals, visit http://guide.apple.com/uscategories/usb.html
• For further information on USB in Apple products, visit http://www.apple.com/usb/