Hi guys, dumb questions, Jer I'm sure you know the answer to this, but is USB, like as in a USB cord, the same word in Spanish? Like when I go to find a cheap printer for the fall, and I want one that connects to my laptop with a USB cord, is that what I'm looking for, or is it called something else? Thank you! Oh yeah, any tips on where to buy a really cheap printer, or should I just wait for the usual random people leaving Spain sales? hmmm? Thank you! Besos, Joy
Posts: 541 | Location: Madrid (but from Boston) | Registered: 16 December 2002
Yep, the acronym for USB (Universal Serial Bus) is the same in Spanish as it is in English.
For the sake of knowing what to ask for, just request 'un cable USB para impresora' and the salesperson should 'pillar lo que quieres decir' (understand what you're referring to)...
Note: Keep an eye on each 'end' you are plugging in on your computer and printer and make sure that each 'USB' port opening matches the cable you're looking for. E.g., mine connects with the flat, thin rectangular opening that pretty much all USB plugs are associated with on the computer side, but connects with an almost 'square shaped' USB connector on the printer side. If you familiarize yourself with the way each side (printer & computer) looks, you should be ok.... a la hora de comprar...
Good luck!
poseso.... Tony --- English Unlimited... Un ambiente para aprender ingl�s... (An English Learning Environment)
Posts: 656 | Location: Madrid (Kansas City, USA) | Registered: 06 November 2001
Hey Joy, yep!!! A USB is a Universal Serial Bus no matter where in the world ya go (thank god some things are universal)
When you buy a printer, it will most likely not come with a USB cable, you will need to buy one seperately.
You can buy the cable wherever you get the printer or go to a specialty shop here in Madrid such as "CONECTROL" (see the thread HERE).
I am pretty sure ALL printers sold these days require a USB cable like the one pictured below...
...called an "A to B" USB cable. In Spanish it is "Cable USB A B". The Square end "B" goes into the printer and the flatter end "A" goes into your PC.
They are pretty cheap here but you could also get on back home and bring it over as it is universal.
There are soooooo many computer/office stores here & you can get a decent printer for about 60-80 Euros at any PC or electronics shop. PC CITY for example usually has good bargains and are all over Spain.
Hey Jer &/or Tony, question for you re computers. Approx how much does an Imac i-book (apple- but I'm sure you already knew that!)run these days in Spain. We're going to buy a notebook to take to Spain and I'm thinking i-book for design capacity (too poor for the G4 I'm afraid) or maybe I'll get the pc notebook and get the ibook later (to avoid conversion issues- especially since my mom will have a pc and neither her or my sister are very computer savvy.).
Also what do you think, buy it in the US or Spain?
Siguiendo mi propio Camino de Santiago
Posts: 387 | Location: Madrid | Registered: 19 October 2002
- rent or buy a cell phone from me for your stay in spain, more info at 
- already have a cell phone, get a spanish SIM card for it at 
Will do!
