What Kinds of Printers Work on a Netbook?

Printers Using Parallel Ports or USB Ports to Connect

Netbooks typically have one to three USB ports. They do not have parallel ports to use to connect printers. Printers that work with a netbook need to have a USB connection. A printer that needs a parallel port to connect will need to use a parallel-to-USB cable to convert the printer to USB-port connectivity. Parallel-to-USB cables are available with either male-to-USB or female-to-USB cable connectors.

Most printers are "plug and play printers." Different brands of printer drivers have been installed on netbooks during manufacturing. After being connected, the netbook will recognize the printer. If the printer is not recognized, the Setup Wizard will open and a list of available printers to set up will come up. If the "plug and play printer" is not on the list, the printer can still be connected and work with the netbook by downloading the needed drivers from the manufacturer's website.

A printer may not be a "plug and play" printer and may require an installation program to enable the computer to recognize the printer and run the printer drivers. A netbook does not have a CD-ROM drive built in, so a printer installation disc cannot be used unless there is an external CD-ROM drive. A printer that is connected to a netbook needs to be either automatically detected by the netbook, or the installation and drivers need to be available for download from the manufacturer's site.

Wireless enabled printers work with a netbook by connecting to the printer through the wireless router. The printer is connected to the wireless router or the computer network, and can be seen on the list of devices connected to the router.

Most netbooks are Bluetooth-enabled, making it easy to connect a Bluetooth-enabled or -compatible printer. Printers can be bought Bluetooth-enabled or made Bluetooth-enabled by plugging a Bluetooth device into the USB port of a Bluetooth-compatible printer.