2 usb printers and 2 PCs

I would like to be able to print from either PC to either printer. One PC
is a laptop and since it's a work PC I can't network it with my standalone
PC. Hence the question.

Any ideas?

On Mon, 31 Jan 2005 13:57:28 -0000, "Fred" <(E-Mail Removed)0m> strung
together this:

>One PC
>is a laptop and since it's a work PC I can't network it with my standalone
>PC. Hence the question.
>
>Any ideas?
>
Er, no. If you can't connect the two machines together you're not
going to be able to print to anyhting.

You can set up a sort of network to allow printing over it, it depends
how your laptop is setup.
--

SJW
Please reply to group or use 'usenet' in email subject

"Fred" <(E-Mail Removed)0m> wrote in message
news:41fe3957$0$5539$(E-Mail Removed)...
> I would like to be able to print from either PC to either printer. One PC
> is a laptop and since it's a work PC I can't network it with my standalone
> PC. Hence the question.
>
> Any ideas?
>
>

Why can't you network it? If you use DHCP at work (and most companies with
portables do) then buying a DHCP capable router will mean you plug in and
voila, you're networked.

Now there _are_ concerns about securiy but I would hope your portable
already has ZoneAlarm or similar suitably hardened to protect against being
"attacked" whilst connected to your home network.

Paul DS.

On 31/01/2005 Fred wrote:

> I would like to be able to print from either PC to either printer.
> One PC is a laptop and since it's a work PC I can't network it with
> my standalone PC. Hence the question.
>
> Any ideas?


You can get a 'data switch' that takes two parallel port cables and
feeds on to one printer, there are manual and automatic versions.

Since parallel ports are fast disappearing may be worth checking if
there is a USB equivalent.

--
Jeff Gaines
Posted with XanaNews 1.17.1.2

In article <41fe3957$0$5539$(E-Mail Removed)>, "Fred"
(E-Mail Removed)0m says...
> I would like to be able to print from either PC to either printer. One PC
> is a laptop and since it's a work PC I can't network it with my standalone
> PC. Hence the question.
>
> Any ideas?
>
http://www.netswitcher.com/product_info.htm

"Lurch" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> On Mon, 31 Jan 2005 13:57:28 -0000, "Fred" <(E-Mail Removed)0m> strung
> together this:
>
> >One PC
> >is a laptop and since it's a work PC I can't network it with my
standalone
> >PC. Hence the question.
> >
> >Any ideas?
> >
> Er, no. If you can't connect the two machines together you're not
> going to be able to print to anyhting.
>
> You can set up a sort of network to allow printing over it, it depends
> how your laptop is setup.
> --
>
> SJW
> Please reply to group or use 'usenet' in email subject

Thanks but the laptop is networked at work and I don't want to fiddle with
that. I was hoping for a hub type solution which could switch either PC to
either printer similar to an active printer switch I've used in the past.

"Jeff Gaines" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> On 31/01/2005 Fred wrote:
>
> > I would like to be able to print from either PC to either printer.
> > One PC is a laptop and since it's a work PC I can't network it with
> > my standalone PC. Hence the question.
> >
> > Any ideas?
>
>
> You can get a 'data switch' that takes two parallel port cables and
> feeds on to one printer, there are manual and automatic versions.
>
> Since parallel ports are fast disappearing may be worth checking if
> there is a USB equivalent.
>
> --
> Jeff Gaines
> Posted with XanaNews 1.17.1.2

You have hit the nail on the head. Is there any such beast?

"Rob Morley" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed) t...
> In article <41fe3957$0$5539$(E-Mail Removed)>, "Fred"
> (E-Mail Removed)0m says...
> > I would like to be able to print from either PC to either printer. One
PC
> > is a laptop and since it's a work PC I can't network it with my
standalone
> > PC. Hence the question.
> >
> > Any ideas?
> >
> http://www.netswitcher.com/product_info.htm

Interesting tool. I was really hoping for a USB - hub like solution but
will bear it in mind as a last resort.

On 31/01/2005 Fred wrote:

>
> "Jeff Gaines" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> > On 31/01/2005 Fred wrote:
> >
> > > I would like to be able to print from either PC to either printer.
> > > One PC is a laptop and since it's a work PC I can't network it
> > > with my standalone PC. Hence the question.
> > >
> > > Any ideas?
> >
> >
> > You can get a 'data switch' that takes two parallel port cables and
> > feeds on to one printer, there are manual and automatic versions.
> >
> > Since parallel ports are fast disappearing may be worth checking if
> > there is a USB equivalent.
> >
> > --
> > Jeff Gaines
> > Posted with XanaNews 1.17.1.2
>
> You have hit the nail on the head. Is there any such beast?


I've not used one but a Google for 'usb printer switch' threw up:
http://www.lindy.com/uk/catalog/07/00c/index.php



--
Jeff Gaines
Posted with XanaNews 1.17.1.2

> Thanks but the laptop is networked at work and I don't want to fiddle with
> that. I was hoping for a hub type solution which could switch either PC
> to either printer similar to an active printer switch I've used in the
> past.

Why dont you find out what the DHCP range at work is and set your network
to use the same range, assuming its a private address range.

Dave

--
For what we are about to balls up may common sense prevent us doing it
again
in the future!!