Rivits
Windows7 has drivers for that HP Laserjet 4 built into the system as part of windows update. If you plug it in with a USB - parallel connection it should simply just work, though you may need to manually select the driver when PnP kicks in
As for the serial port - forget it. It was always a PITA to set up, and not supported in Win7
Keef
Canons don't have chips in the cartridges even now. They use a more subtle approach - UV/light chromatography to see if the cartridges have "their" ink inside. Much cheaper than a chip - if the ink shows the wrong absorption band then the warnings flash up. Canon cartridges are stil a lot cheaper than the others though
A for colour lazer - the economics don't work unless you run very large numbers or need something for high quality publishing
Gruntpuddock
You've got that the wrong way round
Epsons have the head in the cartridge - thats what the metal foils are
Canons have a separate replaceable head that acts as the "carrier" for the ink tanks