Laptop with parallel port

[gaz_l]

A long shot, but here we go..

At work we have a laptop that is used for software development (Infineon C166 series, for fans of specifics). The laptop (an old Dell Inspiron 5100) is dying - we have lost one slot of memory and last week lost the other, so it conked out completely. A quick scan of t'internet suggested overheating, causing dry joints on the RAM connectors, and with a quick re-touch of the joints and a couple of Helsyn sleeves shoved under the memory cover to ensure they're pushed in properly we're sorted for now. But the laptop is years old and it's clear its days are numbered.

We'd quite happily spring for a new laptop, but here's the rub - the dev system is protected using an old parallel port dongle, and to upgrade to the latest version (which doesn't require a dongle) is a £2K+ outlay, which is just dead money - we don't need any of the new functionality or processor support. I'd much rather the money was spent on other stuff - I could buy a micro lathe with that.

So, people, with the chances of finding a laptop with a parallel port these days being slightly slimmer than the chance of catching a snowball in hell, what are my options? My boss has tried various USB-parallel converters without success, apparently they only work for printers (and you have to take your chances with that).

Cheers,

Gaz

 

[davidjpowell]

Would this help?

Lindy USB / parallel cable - 4 PIN USB Type A - M - (DB-25) - F - 1.5 m - PC

Now read the whole post - apparently not!

ETA - Pretty piss poor support from the Dev System. My mothers 8 year old label printer would not update to Windows 8 as the version was too old. Dymo's solution was to send her a new printer at no cost. I'd be bending the dev's ears somewhat for what good it may do.

 

[grober]

You might??? [ no guarantee] be able to use a PCMCIA card [direct to the bus] if you can get hold of a laptop with a PC card slot---- lasted longer than the parallel port???

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000SR2H4W/?tag=amazon0e9db-21

according to Wikipedia = DELLS XFR notebook

Dell Latitude D630 XFR Core2Duo T7500 2.2GHz 2GB 160GB 90 Day Warranty F6GGWH1 | eBay

 

[Alex]

CS-Lab - CSMIO - CNC Ethernet Controllers- inexpensive solutions - CS-Lab.s.c

Parallel to Ethernet converter. Used in CNC so not sure if any good for your software development. They have a UK Rep which may be able to answer technical questions. Cheapest model is under £200.

 

[RTaylor]

What about this ?

http://www.lindy.co.uk/1-port-parallel-expresscard-34/51535.html

Should be able to get a laptop with pci express card slot

Sent from my iPad using MBClub UK

 

[Rayny]

Does it have to be a laptop?

Desktops were more likely to have a parallel port, so you should be able to obtain an old desktop with a parallel port for very little money.

I just looked and found a desktop PC with 25 pin parallel port - It is on my sideboard. From memory it is running Win98.

 

[asinrutee]

I have a weather station that requires a parallel port, I have an HP laptop running windows 7 that doesn't have a parallel port. I use a virtual parallel port its a driver from silicon labs cp210x USB to UART bridge. I plug the station into a usb port, point the driver at the com port the station is using. It then thinks it's connected via a parallel port.
I don't fully understand it, all I know is it works.

 

[Colin_b]

Ebay is your friend. Lots of cheap and cheerful lappies with the right ports, assuming you aren't using cutting edge OS or apps...

 

[Benzowner]

Can't you install a parallel port card into a new laptop?

 

[gaz_l]

Thanks for all the replies. We would prefer to continue to use a laptop as sometimes it has to get taken off-site to modify firmware at the customer's premises. The Dell doesn't have a parallel port and we're actually using a PCMCIA adapter at the moment so we know that works.

If possible we'd rather buy new than secondhand as we want to try and extend the life of the system for as long as possible. If push comes to shove I've got an old IBM thinkpad (with a parallel port) shoved in the back of the wardrobe, although it's donkey years old now it was only used for ~12 months when it was new so with luck we could see some service out of that. A bit slow maybe but those old thinkpads were tough as old boots.

Cheers,

Gaz

 

[ExW205and204]

At work we had a similar issue.

We needed new Laptops but still needed to support parallel and serial devices.

We bought some new Dell Laptops, then added these;
Dell E-Legacy Extender for Select Dell Latitude / Precision Mobile WorkStations : Laptop Accessories | Dell

 

[markjay]

It's difficult to say of any of the workarounds will work with your software dongle, the solution might be to buy an old laptop or desktop off eBay.

 

[gaz_l]

At work we had a similar issue.

We needed new Laptops but still needed to support parallel and serial devices.

We bought some new Dell Laptops, then added these;
Dell E-Legacy Extender for Select Dell Latitude / Precision Mobile WorkStations : Laptop Accessories | Dell

That looks promising. Thanks for the tip..

Cheers,

Gaz

 

[dtextra]

I think you can buy a docking station for dell latitude laptops which includes parallel and serial ports.