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PowerPrint USB 5.0

By Mel Beckman
Macworld
At a Glance

Expert's Rating

Pros

  • Supports scanning on multifunction
  • Supports any parallel-port printer
  • Transparent to applications

Cons

  • Expensive

Our Verdict

The latest Macs lack the serial printer port that has been the mainstay of printer attachment since 1984, leaving owners of new Macs and old-style printers in limbo. Infowave offers a solution in the form of its PowerPrint USB 5.0 adapter and software. By adding a parallel printer port to USB Macs, PowerPrint brings Mac-compatible printers with both serial and parallel ports back to life.

Installation is simple: load the software, connect the USB-to- parallel-port cable to your printer, and print to your heart’s content. The only downside is the $99 price tag: for about the same price, you can buy a brand-new USB ink-jet printer.