1.   The only interfaces that are almost universally supplied as standard are the parallel port and the serial port.

2.   Also, companies are starting to sell cables that convert a standard parallel port printer to USB.

3.   And by using the USB connection, you free up your parallel port for some other device.

4.   Another benefit of USB is that its data transfer speed is usually a bit faster than that of a standard parallel port.

5.   At this point, I have sworn off using the pokey serial and cantankerous parallel ports forever.

6.   A version is available with a parallel port adapter, but expect to see slower performance if you go this route.

7.   But it is a nuisance, since most computers have only one parallel port, generally occupied by the printer.

8.   But what about the adapters that are available that let you connect parallel port devices to a USB port?

9.   Data can move through these slots much, much faster than through a parallel port.

10.   Each PassPort box connects to the parallel port on a computer or printer.