Using a parallel port printer with USB?

I have a laptop that doesn't have a parallel port, but it has several USB and a firewire port(s). The printer in question is a HP 6p which has been and still is behaving just fine. I hate to replace it. Is there a gadget out there that will permit a conversion or handshake from the laptop to the printer? I know the printer has an IR port, but the required alignment and positioning make this impractical.
Thanks.

 

Buy a print sever that you can wire into your network or be bold and buy a wirless print server.

 

I know this is late, but there is another way. Belkin used to make a USB to parallel adapter. You might be able to find a used one somewhere. The adapter works only with printers, not with other parallel devices.

 

USB-Parallel adapter

Thanks Hotaru,
I'll try and locate one.
Vic

 

I believe that Office Depot still sells the printer adapter

 

Parallel-USB adapter

Hi,
I found a bunch of them on ebay. They look to be nothing more than a cable with a USB connector at one end and a parallel printer end at the other. They can be had for anywhere from ~$9 to $30, shipping included.
Thanks very much for your kind help.
Vic

 

You found em!!!

That is all they are. Just an adapter that you plug in between the computer and the actual printer cable.

Just make sure that you get the right gender of adapter!!

You want to take a parallel printer and plug it into USB on the computer... NOT take a USB printer and plug it into a parallel port on the computer.

As in dateing, gender does tend to matter.