Are printer usb cables different than the usual usb cable? Or is HP making me buy their own?

[jagr10]

I bought this MF device HP 7130 and it didn't come with a usb cable nor parallel port adapter. No, you can't plug a parallel cable into 'cause you need an adapter. No, you can't plug a regular usb cable in it because there's no regular usb slot. It does say in the manaul i need an HP USB cable or Bi-directional parallel cable.

WTF is that? What happened to the good old days of just attaching a parallel cable from the printer to computer? Is HP forcing me to by something of theirs?

UGGGHhhh!

Thanks for any help.

 

[minendo]

My HP printer uses a standard USB cable. Are you sure there is not an USB port on there?

 

[Corporate Thug]

regular usb cables are used on a printer

 

[Sheriff]

The USB cables come in 2 modes A&B. You probably need B

 

[Dim]

It will use any standard A-B USB cable - i.e., the ones with a flat connector on one end and a squar(ish) one on the other.

 

[jagr10]

Originally posted by: Sheriff
The USB cables come in 2 modes A&B. You probably need B

RIght on! I do need B by the pic. That's the exact shape of the port. Why a different shape?

So i'm guessing i can just walk into best buy and buy one of those? Or are they not common? I know nothing about USB.

 

[ViRGE]

Yep, walk right in, any office supply/computer store sells them.

 

[jagr10]

Originally posted by: ViRGE
Yep, walk right in, any office supply/computer store sells them.

Ok, thanks for your help guys! Now how hard would it be for HP to include the fricken cable with the printer. Talk about being cheap.

 

[earthman]

You would be surprized how many peripheral manufacturers don't include them.

 

[james182]

I work at OfficeMax and the only Printer/Multifunction that we have that includes a USB cable is the HP 3320, its like a 40 dollar printer. Even with the USB cable included you still need to buy the black cartridge in addition to the printer, its not included.

Oh, yeah the 7130 takes the type of cable in the pic that was posted.