I have spend over 300.00$ and bought every single converter. NONE WILL WORK.
I bought a 150.00 PCMCICA slot to parallel and that didn't work.
I have bought laptops with a parallel port on them and they cause trouble.
The only laptops that will work are the ones that are build like portable desktops, like Alienware laptops.
I've spent many months figuring out ways, the only solution is the G-rex, or the future development of eithernet connection.
Maybe people can post a list of know laptops that work well with Mach2/3(I had a laptop that worked but would stall out the motors in jog mode).
Another thing to consider in both laptops and desktops are the dual core problem.