There is no need to get frustrated and think that you are missing out on something if you like your older printer but are sick and tired of the restrictions in having to keep it close to your machine because it is not wireless. You can turn any computer into a wifi printer with a wireless printer adapter.
US $35.00
This is nothing more than a plug in for your computer that allows you to take advantage of everything that a wifi printer has to offer without having to give up the old workhorse. You can literally turn any machine into a modern wifi printer with a USB wireless printer adapter. Instead of laying out a few hundred dollars for a new printer, all you need is about $20 and a few minutes to install.
One thing that can get a little crazy is trying to figure out which wireless adapter you can use on your machine. This is going to take a little research on your part and some detective work. You will need to check out the capabilities of your current printer and make sure that you match them up with the wireless adapter that you are considering for use. They are all pretty much in the same price range, but you will have to get the one that works with your current system.
Another thing to look for is the connection that the adapter is going to work with. For the most part, there are two different ones that you will see: 802.11a and 801.11g. The “g” adapters are going to cost more money, but they move data at a higher transfer rate. If you are using the wireless adapter in an office or have multiple users on the computer, this may be the better choice. For regular home usage, you can save a few bucks and go with the “a” version.
Price wise, you can spend as little or as much as you want. They vary from about $15 for a very basic adapter to about $150 for one of the better Belkin wireless printer adapters. Again, if you are converting a home machine that only cost you a few bucks, the cheaper adapter is the way to go. The higher end wireless printer adapters are aimed more at the office setting where a printer may have cost close to a $1,000 in the first place.
You will find that just about every major manufacture that is on the wireless game has an option for you. Any company that makes wireless printers will have some type of adapter and they will have several version of it at every price point. It will come down to brand loyalty and compatible features on your part to make the decision.
The day has finally arrived when you no longer have to have your printer anchored 6ft away from your computer. No more wires and no more clutter. You can turn that old clunker into a hot rod with a wireless printer adapter and finally come into the 21st century printer technology.
