The FSF Has Certified A USB To Parallel Printer Cable For Respecting Your Freedom

[phoronix]

Phoronix: The FSF Has Certified A USB To Parallel Printer Cable For Respecting Your Freedom

The Free Software Foundation has certified a new batch of hardware for being libre and meeting their "Respect Your Freedom" requirements. This newly-approved hardware for free software enthusiasts includes certifying an USB-to-parallel printer cable in 2019...

http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=FSF-May-2019-Hardware

[andyprough]

Though not sure what you are going to connect to this USB-to-parallel printer cable as I don't believe there is any RYF-certified printers yet, let alone any making use of a parallel connection.

h-node lists two options for parallel port printing with FSF-approved printers:

HP Deskjet 940c - https://h-node.org/printers/view/en/...tibility/undef
and HP Laserjet 1100 - https://h-node.org/printers/view/en/...tibility/undef

[man-walking]

Let's send it into deep space

[eltomito]

Why do I get the impression that Michael Larabel finds the FSF ridiculous?

[flashmozzg]

Does it use the free HW? Did they sample the chips? Using a free software is not enough to guarantee it's not phoning to Beijing.

[Michael]

Why do I get the impression that Michael Larabel finds the FSF ridiculous?

They do both good and silly things.

[Bsdisbetter]

They do both good and silly things.

This is the latter.

[dos1]

Can this parallel port cable actually address individual pins or does it just show up in the system as USB printer? If it's the former, then it's actually way more useful than how you paint it.

[andyprough]

This is the latter.

No manufacturer or distributor is going to bother to go through the certification process unless there is a customer with a need. So, what is silly to you is important to someone else. I find it amusing that anyone would ever complain about free and open hardware.

[Michael]

No manufacturer or distributor is going to bother to go through the certification process unless there is a customer with a need. So, what is silly to you is important to someone else. I find it amusing that anyone would ever complain about free and open hardware.

Actually the RYF certification process explicitly forbids RYF'ing a product that also advertises "Works with Mac" or "Works with Windows", so generally, most any manufacturer hoping to sell a lot of hardware would avoid RYF from the start.