[Techtalk] USB to parallel adaptors for linux?

[Anne Wainwright]

Hi, all

I carried my trusty HP5L home today with a new little usb adaptor to run
it from my laptop. (BAFO BF-1284 - the adaptor, not the laptop, a
chinese discard probably on 'special' for africa)

I didn't open the pack as the small print clearly listed Windows under
the list of requirements, and the contents include a CD with driver. Not
a mention of linux of course.

The manufacturer's site (www.bafo.com) also conveniently made no mention
of a linux driver. Doing a google I gathered no consistent information.

Is this a generic possibility due to the nature of the beast? I did
expect to just plug it in anyway, but the driver bit unnerved me, not
that I expect our local computer shop to produce a box with linux on it.

Anyone there with experiences using these devices? Dare I go ahead and
undo the unundoable packing? Is there maybe a different brand/model 
or particular anything that I should get for instant operability?

thanks
Anne