Software Dongle

mect

Platinum Member
Jan 5, 2004
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I'm pretty sure it will, but I just want to double check that a pc card parrallel port adapter will work with a software dongle before I drop the $50 for it. Am I correct?
 

Peter

Elite Member
Oct 15, 1999
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From experience, hardly. All those dongles work by performing out-of-protocol things on legacy printer port interface chips. Typically you can't do those out-of-protocol things on PCI- or USB-based printer ports.

Tell your software company to wake up to the fact that it's 2006.
 

mect

Platinum Member
Jan 5, 2004
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I thought only usb did that. I don't know much about computer hardware protocols (anything really), but thought the pc card worked different than the usb and were recognized like an integrated parrallel port. Oh well. At least I asked before ordering.
 

phisrow

Golden Member
Sep 6, 2004
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Given the existence of a reasonable number of(probably well heeled) users who have to deal with parallel dongles I wouldn't dismiss it out of hand. There certainly would be a market for a PCMCIA dongle that actually works. As Peter says, though, it's no sure thing. If they explicitly assure you that it will, though, you'd probably have grounds to return it if it were to fail.