new computer help

[studysession]

Hi -

I have been a long time user of Mach 3 and now need to replace the computer I have been using for many years. I had a break in and all my computers were stolen.

I go to best buy and couple of other places and find that most of the computers these days do not have parallel ports on them and only offer USB. Has anyone gotten Mach 3 to work with USB? What do I need to do to get it working with USB?
Can I use a USB top parallel converter?

Thanks -
Keith

[ger21]

The only way to use USB is with an external motion device like the Smoothstepper.

An easier option is to buy a PCI parallel port card. You can get them for $20-$25.

Also, if you plan on using the parallel port, do NOT get a PC with 64bit Windows 7. It won't work with Mach3 and the parallel port.

[studysession]

Interesting -
I don't want to mail order a PC. It it looked as if everything in the store was 64 bit Windows 7 today. I will have to do more looking at the PC's.

It would be easier to use USB with a NetBook. Those things take up very little space at all and I could use a low end one which would be cheap. Wish it would work on one of those.