USB shared printer vs. Print Server - which is better?

[Razl]

I currently have my Epson 890 Photo Printer connected directly to my computer's USB. While pretty fast, I often print very large full picture often, ranging from 2MB to 40+MB (I have a Nikon Slide Scanner).

I need a Router, and was considering Linksys, with the built in Print Server. Unfortunately, it's a parallel vs. USB connection.

Will I see any performance boost using this Print Server? Or am I better off using the USB? I may share the printer on my home network from time to time, but my priority is for the fastest printing on my primary computer.

It's a Soyo D+, XP1700+ cpu, and 768MB PC2100 DDR


Thanks in advance!!

 

[BuckleDownBen]

i think the main advantage of the print server is that your main computer doesn't have to be on to use the printer, as it would if you are using a shared printer.

 

[BreakApart]

Get a nice print server, in the long run it will save power and headaches.

If you want it to print faster check to see if you can increase the memory in the printer, or get a better printer that can. Adding an additional 64mb to my HP Laserjet 1200 was $22.

 

[CraigRT]

If I had a dedicated server that was always on, i'd probably just hook the printer up to that, but if you want to be able to print all the time, and don't want to leave PC's on 24/7 for convenient printing, get a print server.. if it's just for home, those are basically the guidelines i would use for a decision, in and office you'd need to take into consideration things like traffic and cost... but at home, there should only be a few things to look at to make a decision.. i have 2 pc's and both are on 24/7.. i'd share the printer.. if you don't have this luxury, get a print server.

 

[Viper GTS]

Unfortunately, it's a parallel vs. USB connection.

Common misconception here:

USB 1.x is NOT faster than parallel. Parallel is faster, especially when the USB connection is polluted with other devices. USB 1.x tops out at 1.5 megs/second, whereas parallel is 2.0. So you'll get roughly a 33% boost in data transfer speed by switching to an ethernet based print server that connects to the printer via parallel.

Even if the printer was the only device on your USB controller, the parallel connection will STILL be faster.

So that is not a disadvantage, it's an advantage.

Viper GTS

 

[Razl]

So that is not a disadvantage, it's an advantage.

That's very interesting. Thanks everyone.

 

[Downgrade]

The only downside to hooking up to the print server on the router is that monitoring functions, such as ink level monitoring will not work. It will only transfer data one-way.