I've been rather upset since the release of OS X because I have an HP LaserJet 5L sitting in my computer room that I can use with OS 9 by way of PowerPrint, but not with X. I was hoping that Jaguar, with the inclusion of CUPS, would remedy that. But it seemed I was to be disappointed yet again. Both System Profiler and Print Center see the USB-Parallel Cable as a USB device, but in Print Center it is listed as "Driver not installed". I searched high and low on the web for a solution, but found nothing (the closest I got was some hints that a /dev/usb/lpt0 driver may need ported). I ended up printing to the goofy thing by borrowing an HP JetDirect EX Plus print server, overkill surely for a capable OS like X!
But tonight I happened on the REAL solution. It seems that CUPS can use that adapter through the magic of the option-click Add trick. I'd think that this potentially opens up the door for other printers too.
The really sneaky part is that the device has to be plugged in when CUPS starts. When I first started out, I was merely plugging in the USB cable and getting frustrated that it was unusable. However I lucked into the solution after rebooting my mac with the USB cable plugged in...by happenstance I ended up in the Print Center, option-clicked on Add and was presented with a NEW option at the bottom of the Device list: USB Parallel Cable. WOOOHOOO! I further determined that a reboot is NOT necessary to see the cable, merely a "HUP" of the CUPS daemon.
After that, you will find the device sitting at the bottom of the Device list after choosing Advanced in the Add window (which you see with an Option-click on "Add"). Simply select the cable as the device, choose the Printer Model (for my LJ5L, I find the ESP HP LaserJet Series does the nicest job), and click Add.
Hopefully Apple doesn't conveniently "break" this nice feature.
Mac OS X Hints
http://hints.macworld.com/article.php?story=20020919052739565