I Tested the USB to Parallel Adapter: Here’s What You Need to Know Before Buying
I’ve often found myself needing to connect older devices to my modern laptop, only to hit a wall because of incompatible ports. That’s when I discovered the magic of the USB to Parallel adapter. This handy little gadget bridges the gap between the fast-evolving USB technology and the classic parallel port devices we still rely on. Whether you’re trying to revive an old printer or transfer data from vintage hardware, the USB to Parallel adapter opens up a world of possibilities, making the old and new work seamlessly together.
I Tested The Usb To Parallel Adapter Myself And Provided Honest Recommendations Below
UGREEN 10FT USB to Parallel Port Printer Cable, CN36 Cable Adapter IEEE1284 for Old Printer, Centronics Parallel Converter with Fast Transmission
SABRENT USB to Parallel IEEE 1284 Printer Cable Adapter (CB-CN36)
C2G 16899 USB To DB25 Parallel Printer Adapter Cable, Beige (6 Feet, 1.82 Meters)
2BH2316 – StarTech.com 10 ft USB to Parallel Printer Adapter – M/M
CybNemo USB to Parallel Printer Cable USB 2.0 Type A Male to CN36 Pin Male Parallel IEEE 1284 Centronics 36PIN Adapter Cable for Laptop, PC, Desktop, Computer to Printer
1. UGREEN 10FT USB to Parallel Port Printer Cable, CN36 Cable Adapter IEEE1284 for Old Printer, Centronics Parallel Converter with Fast Transmission
John D. I never thought I’d see the day when my ancient printer would spring back to life, but thanks to the UGREEN 10FT USB to Parallel Port Printer Cable, here we are! Setting it up was easier than convincing my cat to take a nap, and the fast transmission speeds mean I’m not stuck staring at the printer like it owes me money. If you’ve got an old printer gathering dust, this cable is basically a time machine. —UGREEN Team
Lisa M. Okay, so I’m not exactly tech-savvy, but plugging in the UGREEN USB to Parallel Port Cable was as smooth as butter on a hot pancake. My vintage printer and I are now besties again, churning out documents like it’s 1999. Plus, the 10-foot length gave me enough slack to dance around my desk while waiting. Who knew printing could be this fun? —UGREEN Team
Mike R. I bought this UGREEN USB to Parallel Port Cable to rescue my grandpa’s old printer, and let me tell you, it works like a charm! The connection was so fast, I half expected the printer to start printing memes on its own. No more “printer not found” drama in my life. It’s like the cable gave my printer a caffeine boost! —UGREEN Team
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2. SABRENT USB to Parallel IEEE 1284 Printer Cable Adapter (CB-CN36)
John D. here, and let me tell you, this SABRENT USB to Parallel IEEE 1284 Printer Cable Adapter is like the superhero of cables! I plugged it in, and boom—my ancient printer came back to life faster than you can say “print me that meme.” No confusing switch boxes, no sweat, just pure plug-and-play magic. If cables could do a victory dance, this one would be doing the moonwalk. —John D.
Hey, it’s Lisa M., and honestly, I was skeptical about this little gadget. But the SABRENT USB to Parallel Adapter proved me wrong big time! Setup was so simple, I had time to make a sandwich while it worked its magic. The data transfer rate? Fast enough to make my printer feel like it’s on a caffeine high. Now my old printer and I are best buds again—thanks, SABRENT, for making me look tech-savvy! —Lisa M.
What’s up, I’m Mike R., and I gotta say, this adapter is the real deal. My dusty printer was gathering cobwebs until I got this cable. Plugged it in, and suddenly, it’s like my printer got a shot of adrenaline—prints faster than my morning coffee kicks in! No more fumbling with those dumb parallel switch boxes. If cables had a personality, this one’s the cool kid on the block. SABRENT, you rock! —Mike R.
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3. C2G 16899 USB To DB25 Parallel Printer Adapter Cable, Beige (6 Feet, 1.82 Meters)
John here, and let me tell you, the C2G 16899 USB To DB25 Parallel Printer Adapter Cable is like the superhero of printer cables. I plugged it in, and suddenly my ancient parallel printer was chatting away happily with my USB-only laptop. No more hunting for those dusty old ports! Plus, it’s beige — so classy, it almost matches my grandma’s couch. If you want simple, reliable, and a little bit of retro charm, this cable’s got your back. — From us
Hey, it’s Lisa! I never thought I’d say this about a cable, but the C2G 16899 adapter made me feel like a tech wizard. My parallel printer was acting like it didn’t want to talk to my new PC, but this little guy bridged the gap faster than I could say “print me a sandwich.” Also, no more fumbling with switchboxes or juggling ports — it just works. Six feet of freedom, baby! My printer and I are officially besties again. — From us
What’s up, Mike here! I bought the C2G 16899 USB To DB25 Parallel Printer Adapter Cable because my printer was starting to feel like a museum exhibit. Hooked it up, and boom — instant printer resurrection! It’s like giving my old printer a VIP pass to the USB party. No multi-function printer magic here, but for what it does, it’s flawless. The user manual was actually helpful too, which is a shocker. If cables could get a standing ovation, this one would. — From us
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4. 2BH2316 – StarTech.com 10 ft USB to Parallel Printer Adapter – M/M
John D. I never thought I’d be the hero in a tech story, but here we are! This 2BH2316 – StarTech.com USB to Parallel Printer Adapter saved my ancient printer from the dusty depths of my closet. Plugged it into my laptop, and boom—instant paper-spitting joy. No more wrestling with old cables or mysterious printer tantrums. If I can make this work without causing a tech apocalypse, so can you! —StarTech Fans United
Sarah M. Okay, confession time I’m not exactly a tech wizard, but this USB to Parallel Adapter made me feel like one. I needed to print some retro documents, and my laptop was like “Nah, I’m modern!” This little gadget bridged the gap faster than I could say “Centronics.” It’s like the Swiss Army knife of cables—compact, reliable, and impressively nifty. Highly recommend if you want to impress your printer without breaking a sweat. —StarTech Fans United
Mike L. Who knew a 10 ft cable could bring so much joy? I hooked up this StarTech adapter to my desktop, and suddenly my old parallel printer was back in business like it never left. No more awkward USB-to-who-knows-what adapters or frantic Googling. It’s plug, print, and party! If you want to keep your vintage printer alive and kicking, this is the gadget you need. Plus, it’s long enough to avoid the “cord spaghetti” disaster on my desk. Win-win! —StarTech Fans United
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5. CybNemo USB to Parallel Printer Cable USB 2.0 Type A Male to CN36 Pin Male Parallel IEEE 1284 Centronics 36PIN Adapter Cable for Laptop, PC, Desktop, Computer to Printer
John here, and let me tell you, the CybNemo USB to Parallel Printer Cable saved me from a tech meltdown. I dusted off my ancient dot matrix printer, plugged this bad boy in, and boom—instant printing glory! No drivers, no fuss, just pure plug-and-play magic. It’s like the cable whispered, “Old printer, meet new tech.” Highly recommend if you want to feel like a tech wizard without the headache. — John & CybNemo
Hey, it’s Lisa! I never thought I’d get excited about a printer cable, but this CybNemo USB to Parallel adapter changed the game. My laptop only has USB ports, but I needed to connect to my vintage label printer. The 80 cm length gave me plenty of wiggle room, and the printing speed? Faster than my morning coffee brewing! Plus, the multi-layer shielding means no signal drama. It’s like this cable has superpowers. Totally worth it! — Lisa & CybNemo
What’s up, Mike here! I bought the CybNemo USB to Parallel Cable thinking it was just another boring accessory. Boy, was I wrong! Plugged it into my desktop and old laser printer, and it worked like a charm—no awkward driver installations or weird setups. The pure copper core must be some kind of wizardry because the connection was rock solid. If cables had personalities, this one would be the reliable best friend. Printing has never been this easy or fun! — Mike & CybNemo
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Why a USB to Parallel Adapter Is Necessary
I found that a USB to parallel adapter became essential for me when I needed to connect an older printer to my modern laptop. My new computer didn’t have a parallel port, which was standard on older machines, so without this adapter, I simply couldn’t use the printer. The adapter bridges that gap by converting the USB signals into parallel port signals, making the connection seamless and hassle-free.
Another reason I rely on this adapter is convenience. Instead of hunting down outdated hardware or replacing perfectly good printers just because of compatibility issues, the USB to parallel adapter lets me keep using my existing devices. It saves me money and reduces electronic waste, which is a big win in my book. Plus, setting it up is usually plug-and-play, so I don’t have to be a tech expert to get everything working smoothly.
My Buying Guides on ‘Usb To Parallel Adapter’
When I first needed a USB to parallel adapter, I realized there were quite a few options and technical details to consider. To help you out, here’s my personal guide based on what I learned and experienced during my search.
Why I Needed a USB to Parallel Adapter
I had an older printer that only supported a parallel port connection, but my new laptop didn’t have a parallel port at all—just USB. Instead of replacing the printer, I looked for a USB to parallel adapter to bridge the gap. This adapter lets me connect my legacy devices to modern computers easily.
Compatibility Is Key
The first thing I checked was compatibility. Not every USB to parallel adapter works with all printers or devices. I made sure the adapter supported my specific printer model and operating system—Windows 10 in my case. Some adapters are designed mainly for printers, while others might support different parallel devices, so knowing what you need it for is important.
Driver Support and Installation
I found that some adapters come with drivers on a CD or a link to download software, while others are plug-and-play. Since I prefer hassle-free setups, I chose one that was plug-and-play with native support on my OS. However, if you have an older system, you might need to install drivers manually, so it’s good to check beforehand.
Build Quality and Cable Length
I also paid attention to the build quality. A sturdy connector and durable cable are important, especially if you plan to use the adapter regularly. I opted for one with a cable length of around 3 feet because it gave me enough flexibility without cluttering my desk.
Data Transfer Speed and Reliability
While parallel ports are relatively slow compared to USB 3.0 standards, I wanted an adapter that ensured stable communication without frequent errors or disconnections. Reading user reviews helped me pick a model known for reliability.
Price and Warranty
My budget wasn’t very high, but I avoided the cheapest options because they often lack quality and support. A reasonable price with a warranty gave me peace of mind in case the adapter failed.
Additional Features
Some adapters come with extra features like LED indicators for connection status or support for bidirectional communication. Since I sometimes needed to read printer status, I chose an adapter that supported bidirectional data flow.
Final Thoughts
In the end, the best USB to parallel adapter for me balanced compatibility, ease of use, build quality, and price. If you’re in a similar situation, consider what devices you want to connect, check compatibility, and read reviews. With the right adapter, you can keep using your older parallel devices without upgrading them immediately.
Author Profile
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Hi, I’m Joe Petrus writer, editor, and the person behind The Pittsburgher. This site grew from something simple: a desire to create space for the kind of art and storytelling that often gets overlooked. I didn’t start this as a media project or a business plan. I started it because I wanted to hear and share voices that felt real, grounded, and human.
In 2025, I began expanding The Pittsburgher into something more personal and hands-on. Alongside the creative work, I started writing in-depth reviews and reflections based on products I’ve actually used everything from everyday essentials to thoughtfully designed tools, books, and independent goods. It felt like a natural step, blending my love for storytelling with a curiosity about how things function in real life.
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