I just wanted to get some opinions on whether or not I should keep my old PP2 chip burner. I just picked up a used Burn1 and USB ALDL cable for 100$. I have had my PP2 for long time, works fine. Just that it connects to PC from a parallel port, and my new Dell does not have one. So, I keep my very old WIN ME PC, slow and old, just for the parallel port chip burner. But i never use it much, havent even turned it on since last summer. I kind of want to get rid of it, since it just taking up space. The PP2 does have more versatility. I do have some 27C128 chips i could burn. And it could be used for other chips as well. The Burn1 is limited, but works. I got the software working on my Dell, but only read some chips, not flash any yet.
Do they make USB to parallel port converters cheap? I suppose i could buy a card with a parallel port connector?!
My laptop is also old, but does have a USB port, so that should work. I will need to get the ALDL cable working with TP RT. I always had trouble connecting with my homemade cable. I havent done much tuning/burning lately but want to get back into it this summer.
Thanks for any ideas.

 

Well, anyone? What you think? How much could I sell my old PPII for?

 

I'm not sure I follow completely...

The Burn1 will be USB, so you won't need a converter.

I looked for a USB to parrallel converter, when my other laptop died and all I had was the parallel port enabled programmer. The only thing I found was PCMCIA to parallel cards. They can be bought on ebay cheap, but I don't trust ebay, and the one I could get through my local computer store was more than buying a new USB programmer, so I went with a new programmer.

 

Well right now I have both programmers. You are right, the Burn1 is a USB device. I am just debating whether or not get some kind of adaptor so I can use the parallel port PPII. This would be for my DELL desktop PC, so I could just buy a new card and stick it in an open slot. I just want to get rid of my old 486 WIN ME machine.

 

I just was faced with the same delima. New burner or parallel port card. I bought a parallel port card frm newegg for about 10-12 bucks and it works fine. My Pic microcontroller programmer was also parallel so that was also a factor in decision.

I know I'll have to bite the bullet soon though and replace all my parallel port devices with USB versions, but a 12 dollar card has helped delay that a little bit longer.

 

I hear ya. But if the plug in card is only 12 bucks, i could go for that. But something must have stopped me before. Thus for my old Epson printer, I went out an bought an USB to printer cable, and that was like $30!! I will have to hit a local computer/electronics store, and see if I can still get one. I would like to keep my old PPII.

 

The reason it took me so long to go ahead and get a parallel port card was because I wanted to just run down to the store and pick one up. Years ago that was easy, now days not so much. I went to Best Buy, Office Depot, Fry's and a few computer stores. Nobody had any in stock. So one day I jusrt gave it up and ordered a Rosewill PCI parallel port crad from Newegg and had it a couple days later. I should have just treated it like I do most major computer hardware components and just ordered it online right away, but I was thinking I should be able to get one locally, which turned out to be a PITA.

If you decide to use a USB to parallel cable solution please post and let people know what brand used and if it works out. USB to serial converters are real hit-or-miss with critically timed bi-directional use, and I suspect that USB-to-parallel is even more complicated. But if you do have success with a cable solution I would be very interested in doing the same for my laptop and PP2, for on the road portability.

Good Luck.
Marvin