While USB cables for printers are absolutely necessary for printers to run, they don't get the attention they deserve. There's nothing particularly new about USB technology but it's widespread use for linking devices and computers is something that shouldn't be ignored. Unlike old methods of data transfer and connectivity, the USB has made it's mark and now with the use of USB 2.0 there's no doubt that this technology will be around for a long time.
Count the number of PC peripherals you have and you'll notice most if not all of them have a USB connection. Old style cables with wide heads have become a thing of the past and are no longer being manufactured. These days it's not possible to buy a new PC that has legacy and parallel ports.
USB cables for printers are very small in size and slot into USB ports without effort. The parallel printer port and legacy port expended much of the available space on computers, especially laptops. Unlike older cables that have pins, USB cable connector heads do not break so easily.
It used to quite a common problem that printer cable pins would get damage and fail to transmit data correctly. Laptops can take advantage of the compactness of USB ports and have them in great numbers. The USB port is a truly universal port and allows hundreds of peripherals to be connected including USB cables for printers as well as other everyday devices like cameras, flash drives and iPods.
A computer with a limited number of USB slots can easily increase the number of available slots. There are many kinds of USB hubs to choose from and they all basically the same job of adding more USB ports to your computer.
If you use more than one computer, the chances are you own a USB flash card. It's incredible to think how useful a little USB card can be. USB memory cards are very convenient and don't require software to work even when being used on a number of different computers. It seems obvious how USB has developed into a vital and widespread form of connectivity.
Now with USB 2.0 as the new standard, people can enjoy even better reliability and faster transfer of information. It's now possible to transfer at up to 480 Mps which is a great deal faster than its predecessor. Hundreds of virtual electronic stores on the web exist making the replacement of a USB cable for a printer an effortless task. Many peripherals and devices use USB cables, so it may even be worthwhile to invest in a spare which will be convenient if one shall fail.