There are four basic types of connectors used to connect a printer to a computer. We will examine each and there uses below.

Centronics

Centronic connectors where to most common connector used until USB came out about 10 years ago. The connector had a Centronic 36 pin on one end and DB 25 pin on the other. Some printers today will still have this connector on the back as well as a USB connector. This is usually only found in laser printer today and not inkjets or all-in-one. This connector was much slower and very large; the new USB 2.0 is smaller and can transfer data much faster.

USB (Universal Serial Bus)

The USB connector was put into main stream use about 10 years ago. The USB connector was a digital option that allows the user to plug and unplug without having to reboot the computer. There are two versions of the connector, version 1.1 and version 2.0. They both look exactly the same but are very different in function. The version 1.1 is capable of transferring data at speeds up to 11mbps; the 2.0 version can transfer data up to 480mbps.

The speeds of the connection are not determined by the connector or cable, but buy the computers control chip and the device. Most computers today have USB 2.0 control chips and are backwards compatible with the USB 1.1. The greatest advantage to the USB connector is that most all computers and many other devices come with USB as a standard option.

Network (RJ45) Connector

Networking is become an everyday word the world of electronics and Internet. Network cables and connector allow us to connect all our device together and share information across the room or the world. A lot of the newer multi-function printer and color laser printer now come with a network server built right into the printer. This allows the printer to standalone; it doesn't need a computer to work over a network. Before printer severs if you want to share a printer with more than one computer you had to hook up all the computers together in a Network. Then you would take one of the computers, usually the fastest, and install the printer on that computer. Then you would share the printer to the rest of the network. If you had several computers and they printed a lot then that computer would really slow down, if the computer failed, not one could print. Network compatible printers don't care if there is one or several computers, it can stand alone, you can even install in a central location so everyone can get to it easier. Larger, nicer printers such as office laser printers can take information from several computers at once and print the information in the order it's received. If you have a home with a computer upstairs, down stairs and a laptop with wireless and they are all hooked together on a network to share the internet, you can buy one printer with network support instead of three and save a lot of money.

8 Pin Serial Din

This connector is really not used anymore; it was mainly used on MAC and apple computers. Some inkjet printer had this option and could be used on a PC or a MAC. When USB was introduced about 10 year ago, apple stopped using the 8 Pin Din and opted for the easier and more universal USB connector.