I have a scanner that has a parallel output, and my new computer doesn't have a parallel port to attach it to. This old scanner works really well and I hate to spend a bunch of $$$ to replace it. I use it to scan pics for on line auctions and its plenty fast enough. Can I use one of the Parallel to USB cables and make it work? I only see a few flatbeds out there for under a hundred bucks. I only paid $39 for this one at Sam's club. Any advice will be greatly appreciated Joel

Parallel to USB cables are very finicky and mainly for printers. In the UK can buy new scanners for under £30.00.......

You might consider slapping in a parallel port card. Inexpensive and easy to do. I wonder what'll happen if I do this ?

A little searching found this page ( http://www.ramelectronics.net/html/... ) where it states "USB to parallel port converters are for printers only!". That may just apply to the ones that company sells. But, even if a converter cable works, it would cost at least 1/2 as much as the price of a new scanner. You can get a new scanner for less than $40. It would probably be faster and better quality thatn the one you have. I only say that because parallel scanners haven't been available for quite a while now. Michael J

http://search.ebay.com/search/searc... ===================================== If at first you don't succeed, you're about average. M2

The other problem that you are pretty certain to find is that even if you have a parallel port, you are almost certain not to be able to get drivers that will work with XP. Because of this, you can pick up a second-hand parallel scanner in the UK for a couple of pounds (a few dollars). These scanners never were very high quality, so I would just look for the cheapest USB scanner you can find, and give the old one to somebody still running an older OS.