Sharing a Printer

[DogTown]

Um buy a Cat 5e Patch cable, create peer to peer network using patch cable between lappy an PC, set up sharing on printer (as NickFitz said)?

Obviously assuming you have a spare network socket on both desktop an lappy!

Cost = couple of quid for cable + your time setting up. I'm sure you can Google the howto, man, faq etc.

[Fred Bloggs]

Thanks all.

I like the usbswitch ones but it looks like it will be cheaper just to buy a low end Print/Copy/Scan machine instead. Which on second thoughts maybe a good idea to have a backup printer anyway

Yes but watch the running costs. I use a Colour Laser on the network at home with Photo inkjet printers for the kids. The laser is the default printer because it seems that pence per sheet it is way cheaper.

[Badger]

Thanks all.

I like the usbswitch ones but it looks like it will be cheaper just to buy a low end Print/Copy/Scan machine instead. Which on second thoughts maybe a good idea to have a backup printer anyway

[Gonzo]

Do you have a linky for that?

I have this one.

http://www.dabs.com/productview.aspx...ey=11179,50909

Ok, not really "cheap" after all, but it is wholly and exclusively for business purposes.

Would agree with getting a modern printer though, the USB hub was just for connecting to a black and white laser printer that only had a USB connection. You can probably buy a new laser printer now for the same money as the USB hub.

[swamp]

You may be better off buying a new (decent) printer. Recently bought a CANON MX700 for printing/scanning/copying etc. Very good and network ready.

[lilelvis2000]

http://www.usbswitch.com/index.html

could do the trick

[Badger]

I use a cheap Belkin one as described by Faqqer for a printer that only has USB connection.

The box plugs into the router so all computers on the network can see it, then it is USB cable to the printer.

I did not find any other way to achieve this, but networks are not my field of expertise.

Do you have a linky for that?

[VectraMan]

I think all I'm looking for is a simple thing like a USB 1 into 2 splitter, but can't find one. Printer plugs into the 1 end, 1 of the 2 into the desktop, the other one spare for occasional use.

Will that work?

USB doesn't work like that. You have one computer that can control many devices, but not the other way around.

I guess some kind of switch would work, but since print sharing has been built into Windows for years and those print sharer boxes are dirt cheap, it would be a little pointless to try.

[Gonzo]

I use a cheap Belkin one as described by Faqqer for a printer that only has USB connection.

The box plugs into the router so all computers on the network can see it, then it is USB cable to the printer.

I did not find any other way to achieve this, but networks are not my field of expertise.

[Badger]

I think all I'm looking for is a simple thing like a USB 1 into 2 splitter, but can't find one. Printer plugs into the 1 end, 1 of the 2 into the desktop, the other one spare for occasional use.

Will that work?

[Moscow Mule]

I thought this was a forum for computer contractors, but maybe it's for cattle drovers or something.

Ooo arr. That reemoinds mee, I needs to go and get dat silage trough unblocked, ooo arrr.

[bogeyman]

You could always use the network and save yourself the price of an extra USB cable, I suppose

No way! You crazy chimp!

Printers must always be hard-wired and hand-plugged. Otherwise God only knows what might happen!

I thought this was a forum for computer contractors, but maybe it's for cattle drovers or something.

[TheFaQQer]

Belkin do a USB print router fairly cheap - plugs into your router using standard network cable and into the printer via USB. I used one for a while before buying a printer with a network connection.

[NickFitz]

You could always use the network and save yourself the price of an extra USB cable, I suppose

[Badger]

What adapter do I need to be able to share a printer?

The printer is set up on the desktop, but I occaisonally will need to use it from the laptop. I don't want to keep pulling the desktop out and unplugging the usb from the desktop and plugging it into the laptop and vice-versa I just want the printer to have 2 usb cables, one permanently plugged into the desktop, the other 'spare' until I need it for the laptop.

Thanks