StarTech.com 6 ft. (1.8 m) USB to Parallel Port Adapter
Bottom line: The StarTech.com 6 ft. USB to Parallel Port Adapter ($18.95 on Amazon as of 2026-10-21 16:28 UTC): Connects 36-pin Centronics parallel printers to a USB-A 2.0 port; main trade-off: fixed 6 ft (1.8 m) length, not extendable.
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*Price sourced from Amazon.com. Last updated 2026-10-21. Price and availability subject to change.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- ✓ Connects 36-pin Centronics parallel printers to a USB-A 2.0 port
- ✓ Bus-powered at 0.9W, no external power adapter required
- ✓ Plug-and-play on Windows XP up, Linux 2.6+, macOS 10.6-13
- ✓ Prolific PL2305 chipset for stable legacy print jobs
- ✓ 2-year warranty plus lifetime 24/5 tech support
Cons
- ✗ Fixed 6 ft (1.8 m) length, not extendable
- ✗ Printer-only; won't drive non-printer parallel devices
- ✗ macOS support documented only through 13.0
- ✗ USB 2.0 caps throughput on very large print jobs
Manufacturer description
The ICUSB1284 USB to Parallel Interface Converter Cable allows PCs that support the USB specification to print to any standard parallel printer. The USB interface provides a much faster data transfer rate than a standard parallel port, thereby reducing the time waiting for a print job to be sent to your printer. This portable device is self-powered and provides Plug and Play installation to any USB-compliant computer running Windows 98/ME/2000/XP/Vista.
SpecPicks Verdict
SpecPicks scored StarTech.com 6 ft. USB to Parallel Port Adapter using a rating × review-volume × price-fit model applied to published specs and reviews across the PC & gaming hardware category. StarTech.com's PC & gaming hardware lineup sits within the broader category mid-tier; price and specs are the deciding factors over brand loyalty here. Judge it on the specification table and the price rather than on sentiment: check the figures that decide your use case, then put it side-by-side with two or three close alternatives in the Compare tool before clicking through.
Common buyer scenarios for PC & gaming hardware of this kind: matching it to an existing build, replacing a failing part, or upgrading from a previous-generation equivalent. Check the spec table below against your current setup — particularly socket / form-factor / power-rating fields — and confirm compatibility on the retailer's listing before purchase. Prices and stock are set by the retailer and may have moved since this page was last updated.
Key Features
- USB TO PARALLEL: The ICUSB1284 USB to Parallel printer adapter allows you to connect a 36-pin Centronics-equipped parallel printer to a computer via a USB-A 2.0 port
- LOW POWER: USB bus-powered operation, no external power adapter required (0.9W consumption, 5V at 0,18A)
- SPECS: USB-A male to 36-pin Centronics parallel male cable; 1.8m (6 ft) long; USB 2.0; Colour: Black; Material: Plastic; Chipset: Prolific PL2305
- COMPATABILITY: Provides Plug and Play installation on Windows based computers with USB; Supports Windows (incl. XP and up) Windows Server (2000 and up), Linux (2.6.X and up) and macOS 10.6 to 10.15, 11.0, 12.0, 13.0
- THE IT PRO'S CHOICE: Designed and built for IT Professionals, this USB to parallel cord is backed for 2-Years, including free lifetime 24/5 multi-lingual technical assistance
Full Specifications
| Brand | StarTech.com |
|---|---|
| Color | Black |
| Model | ICUSB1284 |
| SPECS | USB-A male to 36-pin Centronics parallel male cable; 1.8m (6 ft) long; USB 2.0; Colour: Black; Material: Plastic; Chipset: Prolific PL2305 |
| LOW POWER | USB bus-powered operation, no external power adapter required (0.9W consumption, 5V at 0,18A) |
| Cable Type | Converter |
| Item Shape | Round |
| Model Name | ICUSB1284 |
| Unit Count | 1.0 Count |
| Item Length | 182.88 Centimeters |
| Part Number | ICUSB1284 |
| Connectivity | USB |
| Compatibility | Mac, Linux |
| Connector Type | USB Type A |
| Number of Pins | 36 |
| Outer Material | Plastic |
| Maximum Current | 180 Milliamps |
| Maximum Voltage | 5 Volts |
| Number of Items | 1 |
| Special Feature | Not_Performance_Used |
| Full listing title | StarTech.com 6 ft. (1.8 m) USB to Parallel Port Adapter - IEEE-1284 - Male/Male - USB to Centronics Cable (ICUSB1284) |
Ready to buy?
StarTech.com 6 ft. (1.8 m) USB to Parallel Port Adapter - IEEE-1284 - Male/Male - USB to Centronics Cable (ICUSB1284) is listed on Amazon. Price, availability, shipping and returns are set by Amazon and its sellers — check the listing for current terms. SpecPicks earns a small commission on qualifying purchases — thank you for supporting independent review work.
*Price sourced from Amazon.com. Last updated 2026-10-21. Price and availability subject to change.
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