Take a look at our
ThinkPads.com HOME PAGE
For those who might want to contribute to the blog, start here: Editors Alley Topic
Then contact Bill with a Private Message

What's the smallest laptop that has a parallel port?

Talk about "WhatEVER !"..
Post Reply
Message
Author
pianowizard
Senior ThinkPadder
Senior ThinkPadder
Posts: 8545
Joined: Tue Jun 28, 2005 5:07 am
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Contact:

What's the smallest laptop that has a parallel port?

#1 Post by pianowizard » Fri Jan 20, 2012 10:39 pm

I need a laptop with a built-in parallel port, but due to a lack of space this laptop's footprint needs to be as small as possible. Any suggestions? It doesn't need to be a Thinkpad. Thanks.
Dell Latitude 7370 (QHD+, 2.84lb); HP Pavilion x2 12-b096ms (1920x1280, 3.14lb); Microsoft Surface 3 (1920x1280, 2.00lb);
Dell OptiPlex 5040 SFF (Core i5-6600); Acer ET322QK, T272HUL; Crossover 404K; QNIX QHD2410R; Seiki Pro SM40UNP

RealBlackStuff
Admin Emeritus
Admin Emeritus
Posts: 23812
Joined: Mon Sep 18, 2006 5:17 am
Location: Loch Garman, Éire

Re: What's the smallest laptop that has a parallel port?

#2 Post by RealBlackStuff » Fri Jan 20, 2012 10:58 pm

No idea, bu this little yoke might help: http://www.pridopia.co.uk/952me-pr1.html
Lovely day for a Guinness! (The Real Black Stuff)
Lenovo: X240, X250, T440p, T480, M900 Tiny.

PS: the old Boardroom website is still available on the Wayback Machine
.

tom lightbody
Junior Member
Junior Member
Posts: 366
Joined: Fri Jul 07, 2006 1:07 am
Location: cleveland

Re: What's the smallest laptop that has a parallel port?

#3 Post by tom lightbody » Fri Jan 20, 2012 11:19 pm

240x has parallel port
the way up and the way down are the same (heraclitus)

davidgurvich
Freshman Member
Posts: 99
Joined: Fri Mar 19, 2010 8:07 am
Location: New York, NY

Re: What's the smallest laptop that has a parallel port?

#4 Post by davidgurvich » Fri Jan 20, 2012 11:59 pm

The X30 and other X3x models have a parallel port in the ultrabase. If you don't have any issues with height that's a fairly small footprint. You also get a serial port(very useful for some cisco equipment) and some other ports.
Egregious overbidder

RealBlackStuff
Admin Emeritus
Admin Emeritus
Posts: 23812
Joined: Mon Sep 18, 2006 5:17 am
Location: Loch Garman, Éire

Re: What's the smallest laptop that has a parallel port?

#5 Post by RealBlackStuff » Sat Jan 21, 2012 6:32 am

Actually, I have a HP T5700 Thin client lying around here.
http://h18000.www1.hp.com/products/quic ... 3_div.HTML
Dimensions H x W x D (approximate)
Without stand: 2.2 x 8.2 x 7.8 in (55 x 205 x 195 mm)
With stand: 9.2 x 4 x 7.8 in (230 x 100 x 195 mm)

It has Embedded XP installed, as well as a 6GB Hitachi MicroDrive.
This has a parallel port, but needs an external keyboard/mouse/monitor to set up or change things.
If power goes out, it self-boots when power comes back on.
This might be an option.
PM me if interested.
Lovely day for a Guinness! (The Real Black Stuff)
Lenovo: X240, X250, T440p, T480, M900 Tiny.

PS: the old Boardroom website is still available on the Wayback Machine
.

pianowizard
Senior ThinkPadder
Senior ThinkPadder
Posts: 8545
Joined: Tue Jun 28, 2005 5:07 am
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Contact:

Re: What's the smallest laptop that has a parallel port?

#6 Post by pianowizard » Sat Jan 21, 2012 9:12 am

tom lightbody wrote:240x has parallel port
Having owned three 240's, one 240X and one i1124 (240Z's twin), I realized that they have parallel ports but I am hoping for something that's even smaller, more modern, and more novel-to-me (I always like to try something different). If such a laptop doesn't exist, I may just get a 240/X/Z but hopefully I won't have to.
RealBlackStuff wrote:Actually, I have a HP T5700 Thin client...This has a parallel port, but needs an external keyboard/mouse/monitor to set up or change things.
The keyboard/mouse/monitor part would be a problem. If I went with a desktop, the size of the main box doesn't matter at all because I could just put it under the desk, on the floor. It's desk space that I need to conserve. However, if I can get a tiny external keyboard with a trackpoint and a sub-12-inch external monitor, then your Thin Client might work.
Dell Latitude 7370 (QHD+, 2.84lb); HP Pavilion x2 12-b096ms (1920x1280, 3.14lb); Microsoft Surface 3 (1920x1280, 2.00lb);
Dell OptiPlex 5040 SFF (Core i5-6600); Acer ET322QK, T272HUL; Crossover 404K; QNIX QHD2410R; Seiki Pro SM40UNP

RealBlackStuff
Admin Emeritus
Admin Emeritus
Posts: 23812
Joined: Mon Sep 18, 2006 5:17 am
Location: Loch Garman, Éire

Re: What's the smallest laptop that has a parallel port?

#7 Post by RealBlackStuff » Sat Jan 21, 2012 9:17 am

A KVM comes to mind, since you have already keyboard/video/mouse from your desktop!
And since this thing can stand up, it takes up only ca. 8"x4" of real-estate when on its stand.
Lovely day for a Guinness! (The Real Black Stuff)
Lenovo: X240, X250, T440p, T480, M900 Tiny.

PS: the old Boardroom website is still available on the Wayback Machine
.

pianowizard
Senior ThinkPadder
Senior ThinkPadder
Posts: 8545
Joined: Tue Jun 28, 2005 5:07 am
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Contact:

Re: What's the smallest laptop that has a parallel port?

#8 Post by pianowizard » Sat Jan 21, 2012 10:21 am

RealBlackStuff wrote:A KVM comes to mind
I just don't like KVM's.
RealBlackStuff wrote:since you have already keyboard/video/mouse from your desktop!
How could you guess? You are indeed correct. The desktop is under the desk, but the monitor (my 23" Dell sp2309w) and keyboard need to be on the desk and this desk is very small, leaving barely enough room for a tiny laptop. (And I must use this desktop, because I need several PCI slots.)

The reason I am looking for a laptop with a parallel port built in is that I worry that for a parallel port added via ExpressCard/USB/PCMCIA, its address (e.g. 0378) might change randomly. I absolutely must have a parallel port address that never changes. If someone could assure me that the address of a USB/EC/PCMCIA parallel port never changes, then I would pursue this route and would probably get a 9" netbook e.g. the Asus T91 or the Dell Mini 9.
RealBlackStuff wrote:And since this thing can stand up, it takes up only ca. 8"x4" of real-estate when on its stand.
But I would still put it on the floor like I would a desktop computer.
Dell Latitude 7370 (QHD+, 2.84lb); HP Pavilion x2 12-b096ms (1920x1280, 3.14lb); Microsoft Surface 3 (1920x1280, 2.00lb);
Dell OptiPlex 5040 SFF (Core i5-6600); Acer ET322QK, T272HUL; Crossover 404K; QNIX QHD2410R; Seiki Pro SM40UNP

RealBlackStuff
Admin Emeritus
Admin Emeritus
Posts: 23812
Joined: Mon Sep 18, 2006 5:17 am
Location: Loch Garman, Éire

Re: What's the smallest laptop that has a parallel port?

#9 Post by RealBlackStuff » Sat Jan 21, 2012 11:59 am

Since you have some desktops, why not use the one from your desktop?
If need be, add a PCI card with another parallel port to the desktop!
Use your imagination...
Lovely day for a Guinness! (The Real Black Stuff)
Lenovo: X240, X250, T440p, T480, M900 Tiny.

PS: the old Boardroom website is still available on the Wayback Machine
.

pianowizard
Senior ThinkPadder
Senior ThinkPadder
Posts: 8545
Joined: Tue Jun 28, 2005 5:07 am
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Contact:

Re: What's the smallest laptop that has a parallel port?

#10 Post by pianowizard » Sat Jan 21, 2012 12:08 pm

RealBlackStuff wrote:Since you have some desktops, why not use the one from your desktop?
Not so simple, for reasons I won't get into because they would take pages to explain.

I need a separate computer with a parallel port. Did any 10.4" Toughbooks have one?
Dell Latitude 7370 (QHD+, 2.84lb); HP Pavilion x2 12-b096ms (1920x1280, 3.14lb); Microsoft Surface 3 (1920x1280, 2.00lb);
Dell OptiPlex 5040 SFF (Core i5-6600); Acer ET322QK, T272HUL; Crossover 404K; QNIX QHD2410R; Seiki Pro SM40UNP

RealBlackStuff
Admin Emeritus
Admin Emeritus
Posts: 23812
Joined: Mon Sep 18, 2006 5:17 am
Location: Loch Garman, Éire

Re: What's the smallest laptop that has a parallel port?

#11 Post by RealBlackStuff » Sat Jan 21, 2012 12:35 pm

You could have my thin client incl. power supply for $75.- shipped to MI.
Tempting?
Lovely day for a Guinness! (The Real Black Stuff)
Lenovo: X240, X250, T440p, T480, M900 Tiny.

PS: the old Boardroom website is still available on the Wayback Machine
.

AMATX
Senior Member
Senior Member
Posts: 500
Joined: Mon Jan 25, 2010 12:17 pm
Location: SFO/HNL

Re: What's the smallest laptop that has a parallel port?

#12 Post by AMATX » Sat Jan 21, 2012 12:59 pm

Duh, time to get into the new millennium:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Belkin-F5U002V1 ... 1e6a43c1e1

pianowizard
Senior ThinkPadder
Senior ThinkPadder
Posts: 8545
Joined: Tue Jun 28, 2005 5:07 am
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Contact:

Re: What's the smallest laptop that has a parallel port?

#13 Post by pianowizard » Sat Jan 21, 2012 1:42 pm

RealBlackStuff wrote:You could have my thin client incl. power supply for $75.- shipped to MI.
Tempting?
It's a possibility though like I said, if I go the desktop route, size is irrelevant, because the unit would just stay on the floor, not on the desk, and so I would most likely just grab one of my many extra desktops. In my view, desktops should never be on the desk!

And if I end up using a desktop, this 7" monitor would work: http://www.thinkgeek.com/computing/usb- ... ID=3090776

Also, this mini keyboard might be small enough, though I wish it had a trackpoint so I wouldn't need additional space for an external mouse: http://www.ebay.com/itm/77-Keys-USB-2-0 ... 519343413a.
AMATX wrote:Duh, time to get into the new millennium:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Belkin-F5U002V1 ... 1e6a43c1e1
Wow, what's "USB"? Is it compatible with my abacus?

If you look at my previous posts you would know my reason for not using adapters. And BTW, your recommendation is a printer cable, not a parallel port. The parallel port is useful for many things other than hooking up printers. In this case, I use it for sending out a TTL pulse.
Dell Latitude 7370 (QHD+, 2.84lb); HP Pavilion x2 12-b096ms (1920x1280, 3.14lb); Microsoft Surface 3 (1920x1280, 2.00lb);
Dell OptiPlex 5040 SFF (Core i5-6600); Acer ET322QK, T272HUL; Crossover 404K; QNIX QHD2410R; Seiki Pro SM40UNP

AMATX
Senior Member
Senior Member
Posts: 500
Joined: Mon Jan 25, 2010 12:17 pm
Location: SFO/HNL

Re: What's the smallest laptop that has a parallel port?

#14 Post by AMATX » Sat Jan 21, 2012 3:46 pm

I'd suggest then, that you look for a 1995 model Thinkpad. That'd have just the ports you want :P

pianowizard
Senior ThinkPadder
Senior ThinkPadder
Posts: 8545
Joined: Tue Jun 28, 2005 5:07 am
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Contact:

Re: What's the smallest laptop that has a parallel port?

#15 Post by pianowizard » Sat Jan 21, 2012 6:12 pm

AMATX wrote:I'd suggest then, that you look for a 1995 model Thinkpad. That'd have just the ports you want :P
How about 1999 instead? The Thinkpad 240 briefly mentioned above was introduced in June 1999, and that would actually work for what I need.
Dell Latitude 7370 (QHD+, 2.84lb); HP Pavilion x2 12-b096ms (1920x1280, 3.14lb); Microsoft Surface 3 (1920x1280, 2.00lb);
Dell OptiPlex 5040 SFF (Core i5-6600); Acer ET322QK, T272HUL; Crossover 404K; QNIX QHD2410R; Seiki Pro SM40UNP

Puppy
Senior ThinkPadder
Senior ThinkPadder
Posts: 2821
Joined: Sat Oct 30, 2004 4:52 am
Location: Prague, Czech Republic

Re: What's the smallest laptop that has a parallel port?

#16 Post by Puppy » Sat Jan 21, 2012 7:30 pm

davidgurvich wrote:The X30 and other X3x models have a parallel port in the ultrabase.
X31 has built-in parallel port, see http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/5572.jpg
ThinkPad (1992 - 2012): R51, X31, X220
Huawei MateBook 13

RealBlackStuff
Admin Emeritus
Admin Emeritus
Posts: 23812
Joined: Mon Sep 18, 2006 5:17 am
Location: Loch Garman, Éire

Re: What's the smallest laptop that has a parallel port?

#17 Post by RealBlackStuff » Sat Jan 21, 2012 10:32 pm

And I also happen to have two very nice X31 machines (2672-B2U and 2885-PWU) for sale at a very reasonable price.
The -PWU even comes with the original box, manual, charger etc.!
PM me if interested.
Lovely day for a Guinness! (The Real Black Stuff)
Lenovo: X240, X250, T440p, T480, M900 Tiny.

PS: the old Boardroom website is still available on the Wayback Machine
.

Post Reply
  • Similar Topics
    Replies
    Views
    Last post

Return to “Off-Topic Stuff”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Bing [Bot] and 37 guests