# Miffed **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 22, 2000, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/miffed/13000 "2000-01-22T22:36:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2000, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/miffed/13000/1 "2000-01-22T22:36:00Z")
Is there a good reason why Xoom didn’t include a printer cable with the new printer I bought from them? Are printer cables like extension cords – people just have them laying around? Step 1: Connect the power adapter. Sept 2: Connect an IEEE 1284-compliant parallel printer cable (not included). Is it because computers have different holed printer ports? Should I be miffed or did they do the logical thing? (I’m obviously not a computer expert.) ---
**Author:** ![OldBroad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ed655f/32.png) [@OldBroad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldBroad)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2000, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/miffed/13000/2 "2000-01-22T22:54:00Z")
Generally, printer cables are purchased separately. If you’re replacing a parallel printe with another parallel printer, just use the cable you used with the old printer. If it’s not a replacement printer, you’ll have to go out & get a cable. If you don’t have a computer retailer nearby, any Staples, Office Max, Office Depot, etc. will have what you need. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2000, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/miffed/13000/3 "2000-01-22T23:06:00Z")
It’s my first printer. Got along without one for over a year – then I found some good fiction sites and decided to get the printer. Guess I thought most connections would be the same, standardized, ya know? There’s an Office Max down the road a’piece. I’ll check it out. Could use a scanner too, now that I think about it. Humphfff, probably need a special cable for **that** too! ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2000, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/miffed/13000/4 "2000-01-22T23:09:00Z")
If its a parl scanner, youll need another parl port & cable too! Most scanners have a printer port on the back, though, so you might not need to do that. Printer cables you buy seperately, like almost all of the cables, cause they dont know how long of one you need. Power cords kinda set length. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2000, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/miffed/13000/5 "2000-01-23T00:54:00Z")
Thanks Handy – I didn’t even think of length as being optional. Makes sense. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2000, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/miffed/13000/6 "2000-01-23T01:27:00Z")
Weird. Cables have always come with any printer I’ve seen. Or any peripheral. Always comes included. I guess the rules are different down-under. * * * **-PIGEONMAN-** Returns! [The Legend Of PigeonMan](http://www.hotkey.net.au/~guanolad/pigeonman/) - **By Popular Demand!** Enjoy, enjoy! ---
**Author:** ![Rysdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7cd45c/32.png) [@Rysdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysdad)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2000, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/miffed/13000/7 "2000-01-23T01:31:00Z")
The cables have always come with the printers I’ve purchased, too. ::shrug:: ---
**Author:** ![OldBroad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ed655f/32.png) [@OldBroad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldBroad)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2000, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/miffed/13000/8 "2000-01-23T01:37:00Z")
I can’t imagine not having a printer!!! What do you use your 'puter for that you haven’t needed to print stuff? ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2000, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/miffed/13000/9 "2000-01-23T01:51:00Z")
Shhhhh. If you promise not to tell anyone else – if I found something on the 'net that I need to print, I forwarded it to my work e-mail and printed from there. Don’t tell, okay? ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2000, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/miffed/13000/10 "2000-01-23T01:53:00Z")
That didn’t answer your question – the computer at home is just for fun. One-list groups, this Board, the 'net, games, e-mail to the kids, shopping. All extremely vital stuff.