This chapter contains general rules and standard specifications
for parallel and serial printing. For more specific information
on your printer, see the printer's documentation or owner's
manual.
The majority of printers use parallel cabling because both
installation and operation are fast and trouble-free. Serial printers
offer greater cabling distances, but these distances are usually
not needed because network printers can attach to any DOS workstation
or NetWare® server.
The following chart illustrates the basic differences between
parallel and serial printers.
Table B-1 Parallel
Versus Serial Printers
Item | Parallel | Serial |
|---|
Speed | Potentially
much faster than serial | Slower
than parallel |
Distance | 10
feet standard maximum. Some cables guarantee 150 feet | 25
feet standard maximum. Some cables guarantee 500 feet or more |
Error
checking | Limited
because relatively error-free | Parity
(reduces speed by about 10 percent) |
Software | Installer
sets interrupt | Installer
sets interrupt, XON/XOFF, parity, baud rate, data bits, and stop
bits |
Hardware | Universally
compatible | Installer
may need to check and set pin settings |
 |
| |
|
 | NOTE: Hewlett-Packard recommends that you use parallel printing
instead of serial whenever possible. This greatly reduces your risk
of having printing problems. |
|
| |
|
Printable version
