On Wed, 25 Nov 2020 at 11:38:06, T wrote (my
responses usually follow points raised):
Hi All,

I have a machine shop customer with an air gaped
XP computer running Generic CAD. He is running
too many specialty things to upgrade the mess.

Problem: his HP OJ printer quit. He need a new

OJ = OfficeJet, i. e. an inkjet?

color printer. Letter size is fine.

Does it have to be colo(u)r?

You guys know of parallel port, XP friendly
replacement printer you would recommend?

I think the parallel port is more likely to be the difficulty than the
XP compatibility these days?

Many thanks,
-T

Last time I looked, at least one company was still making their impact
printers (what most people called "dot matrix", though everything other
than golfball/daisywheel actually uses a matrix of dots) - at a pretty
hefty price! They were more or less the same models from the '80s -
including the parallel port. XP has drivers for them. I don't know if
any _colour_ ones are still in production, though - there never were
that many colour ones. If you _can_ use one of these, they would match
the machine shop atmosphe they're mostly built like a tank, and
despite what people think, capable of fairly good quality output - just
slow (and noisy).

Failing that, and if no-one comes up with other models, you _might_ be
able to find a parallel port to _something_ converter.

Does not the XP computer have any USB ports (or slots for cards)? XP was
quite compatible with USB. [If it does but they're all in use for the
CAD kit, then either an additional card or a (powered if necessary) hub
should suit; that would then still leave you seeking a printer for which
you can still get XP drivers, but _might_ broaden the field somewhat, I
don't know.]

There again, you might have to tell him that to go with such old kit,
he's out of luck wanting _new_ - though finding a second-hand one _with
a parallel port_ might be difficult: probably not that they'd have been
discarded because they don't work, but junked because no-one needed
them: someone might have one in a cupboard somewhere. Though if inkjet,
probably clogged (if HP or another make where the heads are part of the
cartridge, that's no problem _if_ you can get the cartridges). If
dot-matrix and the ribbon's dried out, they can be rejuvenated
relatively easily (though I only know for sure with a B/W one).
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)Ar@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

He who prides himself on giving what he thinks the public wants is often
creating a fictitious demand for low standards which he will then satisfy.
- Lord Reith