I would like to buy HP's Photosmart printer but I already have a HP 722c printer and a zip drive connected to my parallel port. Would a parallel port switchbox work in this situation? Anyone else have this problem? Thanks, Geraldine

-- Geraldine Wilson (sadiemae@wanweb.net), December 14, 1998

Answers

I have a data switch box hooked to 3 printers on my computer. The HP Photosmart being one of them. I just switch back and forth among the box options. I first installed the printers directy hooked to the computer, one at a time of course. After that I then hooked them to the switch box. It has worked fine for some time now. I hope this information will be helpful to you.

-- Ruthann Dreyer (biski@adsnet.com), December 14, 1998.

I'd vote against the switchbox. Get a extra parallel port and plug it in. This does not use a IRQ and only requires a I/O address that you can look at the card and choose a free one from the list under system information. My 722 went back as did my 697c, I bought a Photosmart printer and a Xerox XJ6C for text. You'll never be sorry for getting the Photosmart Printer. WOW!! If you have a scanner, run a calabration sheet on both printers and I'm certain that your reaction will be jubiliant. The Photosmart only claims 300 or so resolution but the layering claimed for "other" HP printers really works for this "one trick pony" as so many call it. For photos GET IT! mhaid

-- mhaid (mhaid@roman.net), December 16, 1998.

SIIG has a dual parallel printer port that works great. I have 3 printers hooked up at the same time to three different printer ports. No switching, just select the printer wanted during print setup and oh yes, don't forget to turn the printer on.

One printer is selected as the default printer (mine is the HP 3p laser) and the other two must be selected. I have no problems printing from all three. In fact I had all three printing at once just to try it. The only restriction is the print job has to be cleared to the printer before the next job is sent to the next printer.

If you want to have 2 or 3 printers hooked up at the same time, its the best solution that I have found.

Bob

-- Robert Johnson (rjjohnson@silverlink.net), March 26, 1999.