Connecting CD-R and printer

What is the best way to connect a CD-R to the mobo in a home PC, i.e. is it better to connect it as primary slave on the same ribbon as the HD or will it transfer data faster by being placed on the secondary IDE ribbon as the master?

If you know the answer to that, you may also know which makes an inkjet (HP840c) print faster – being connected directly to a free USB port, or LPT port on the back of the PC?