Todd Peterson wrote, quoting Rich Clemens:

>> Has anyone successfully link a PIC16F84 or similar chip to a Parallel
>> Printer?

> We've been selling our EDE1400 Serial to Parallel Printer IC for over
> a year now.  It accepts 2400 Baud serial data and directly controls
> the parallel printer port.

  I know they frequently use discretes, but isn't this essentially what
those "parallel port cable extenders" are?  Personally, I've never got
them to work!
--
  Cheers,
        Paul B.