Parallel Port programming in VisualB can be a pain in the arse and really has more disadvantages than advantages. Because messages aren't sent by Windows on STROBE or other printer signals, you don't have an easy way to trigger your software on Recieve, etc. You can program events to monitor the STROBE pin, but doing this causes more CPU "polling". Since Windows already provides serial messages, Visual Basic makes use of these messages and provides the programmer an easy clean way with the OnComm Event.

Hell, the parallel port is soon to be dead anyway. USB is much faster, has more device capactity, and is as easy to program. The better question would be - "Why bother with parallel port?"

Phil