Tech: Need HP printer advice

Subject: Tech: Need HP printer advice
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 17 Nov 05 - 07:44 PM

Hi..we are buying a new printer soon to replace the wonder 4si which has lasted for years and all of a sudden is now doing wierd things (latest is that the left side does not print outside a 1" margin..

Anyway, we want to stay with HP, under $1k if possible...it has to be absolutely reliable as the 4si has been..we might do 2,000 copies on an average month, and zoom up to 1000 copies a day when we write a bunch of grants.

It will be black and white, should print up to 8.5 x 14 inches..does not need anything fancy..reliable is the main concern. We live far from techicians etc.

Subject: RE: Tech: Need HP printer advice
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 17 Nov 05 - 09:09 PM

For picking a model at least, you can go direct to HP Printers, jump from there or go directly to Home/Home Office B/W Laser printers.

HP has a habit of introducing new models frequently, so what someone has experience with probably isn't sold any more. FWIW we've gotten good service from our HP1200 series LJ for a few years now.

If it's convenient to order direct from HP, you might take a look at their refurbished and overstock models at HP Outlet Store

We do have a cheapo HP multipurpose inkjet (because it's easy to toss into the camper) and we've gotten better performance than a few other brands I've heard comments on; but I'd generally recommend staying with separate single-purpose printers for reliability, especially if a B/W Laser meets your needs. Lasers are a lot cheaper in printing costs than inkjet - as you probably know.

The cheapest printers are in the "Personal" category, but like most other makers HP tries to "automate" everything in ways that I find annoying. I'd stick with the "Home Office" level at least.

John

Subject: RE: Tech: Need HP printer advice
From: Anglo
Date: 17 Nov 05 - 09:37 PM

I've been using a 600 dpi HP 2300 LJ (about $400) for a while now, light duty in a home office, and I'm very happy with it. Looking at catalogs I've noticed this series seems to have been replaced by cheaper models with better specs. Stick with HP.

Subject: RE: Tech: Need HP printer advice
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 Nov 05 - 12:20 AM

I've had great luck with both HP laser printers I've owned. One was stolen last winter, and the replacement is a real treat--the size is that about of a box of the old computer paper. After rebate it cost about $300, it copies fast and does double-sided copying, there is an adjustable tray to larger paper you describe, it has an individual sheet feeder (it is very handy) and two different large capacity cartridges (one is about $70, the other is $120). None of them are cheap, but per copy, these are still excellent. This is an HP Laser Jet 1320.

SRS

Subject: RE: Tech: Need HP printer advice
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 18 Nov 05 - 07:20 AM

Have to add my voice to the general chorus of approval, though John's right about the frequent updating of models, and the newer ones often take different toner cartridges - a drag if, like me, you tend to stock up on them. Mine's a 2 or 3 -year old monochrome LaserJet 2200 D (the D is for duplex, meaning it will print on both sides of the page, something I would not now be without). It's reliable, not cranky, and less thirsty on the toner than my inkjet was on ink cartridges. I will definitely go for H-P again.

Subject: RE: Tech: Need HP printer advice
From: EBarnacle
Date: 18 Nov 05 - 12:27 PM

I have been enjoying my 4M+ for quite a while. Despite heavy use, it is still on its 4th cartridge. in all that time, I have had one paper jam. In addition to its reliability, its 8ppm is real, not the inflated value that other companies, such as L*****k, claim but fail to deliver. I will happily live with 300 dots per inch as long as this printer lives.

Subject: RE: Tech: Need HP printer advice
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 Nov 05 - 11:56 PM

I misspoke on my HP review--my 1320 doesn't "copy" fast, it PRINTS fast. It doesn't copy or scan at all.

SRS

Subject: RE: Tech: Need HP printer advice
From: open mike
Date: 19 Nov 05 - 03:26 AM

i have a copier/scanner/printer PSC2355xi
i am happy with the speed and quality
of the pages...and the photo memory card
insert slot which allows it to print pix

it does seem to go thru the ink quickly

the office store does do a trade for used
cartridges, a ream of re-cycled paper.

Subject: RE: Tech: Need HP printer advice
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 19 Nov 05 - 04:43 AM

open mike -

Inkjet printers like yours, whether in standalone printers or in multipurpose machines, generally eat a lot of ink, and generally are much more expensive on a cost per page basis than a B/W Laser printer where you don't need the color. The Lasers typically cost a bit more for the original purchase, but over the long haul will save you quite a lot in consumables.

With about equal numbers of pages per day, our small HP multipurpose (inkjet) eats a pair of $32 ink cartridges every month or two, but our HP1200 Laser ran for about 8 months on its last $65 toner cartridge.

John

Subject: RE: Tech: Need HP printer advice
From: Rapparee
Date: 19 Nov 05 - 09:46 AM

Our old, old HP Laserjet 4L has just stopped printing. I mean just that; I guess it's just given up the ghost, because everything I've tried has failed to resuscitate it.

So we've replaced it with a Laserjet 1020 -- 15 ppm, holds 150 sheets, and the one I have at work works without a hitch. You do have to purchase a USB2 cable, though, so it won't work on older computers.

I'll take the 4L down here to my computer (it's my wife who gets the new one) and see if I can make it work here. If not we'll give it a goodbye; 18 years of work makes me want to have a ceremonial funeral for it!

Subject: RE: Tech: Need HP printer advice
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 19 Nov 05 - 03:34 PM

Rapaire -

Our first Laser was an HPIIIP that cost us about $1,200. I added memory and a plugin PostScript cartridge for own own peculiar office requirements, which brought the total to about $3,000. For the specific requirements we had, it was the cheapest thing around. It ran for over 10 years before a wee little plastic part gave out.

We found a local authorized shop, who repaired it for about $50, but it lasted less than 2 months before another wee little plastic part gave out. My inspection then indicated that heat and age had made quite a few parts a bit brittle, so we finally - and sadly - replaced it.

During most of the time we used it, we averaged a bit over 2,500 pages per month through it, which was about 3x the use rate for which HP said the machine was designed. It was approaching a half million sheets on the page count when we retired it.

Our replacement HP1200 was about $350, including a kick up to double the standard internal memory (we still use PostScript occasionally). It has built in "PostScript emulation" which isn't quite as good as the old !PS cartridge, but is sufficient for present use. In PCL mode, it's about twice as fast as the old one. A test page shows we've run a paltry 40,289 sheets throught it but we've only had it for about 5 years so far and our printing needs are much lower now. For most home users, our current 40,000 pages would be close to 10 years use, or perhaps a bit longer, I suspect.

We expect it to outlast both of our current main computers.

John

Subject: RE: Tech: Need HP printer advice
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 20 Nov 05 - 12:30 AM

My HP series II (with add on post-script)is still running strong....cases and cases and cases and cases of paper, year after year after year... later. It is a dinosaur.(One repair on the "pick-up-bar" and sometimes a "dab" of glycerin)

One of HP-II strengths is the full replacment of the "polished drum" with toner replacement. OKI-Data's drum replacement could drive you to tears.

For a color equivilant to HP I would switch and go with the Cannon's ImagevCLASS MF8170c Laser Printer...I used its equivilent four years ago on the job (when I had a job)and placed next to a Time/USNWR magazine the image far surpassed ink on clay/cellulose.

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

Subject: RE: Tech: Need HP printer advice
From: Lady Hillary
Date: 20 Nov 05 - 10:17 PM

Gargoyle, Do you want a copy of "Your HP Laserjet Handbook," Alan R. Neibauer? It covers the II and seems to be comprehensive. If you want it, it's yours.

Subject: RE: Tech: Need HP printer advice
From: Rapparee
Date: 20 Nov 05 - 11:01 PM

Until recently I had an HP Laserjet II in my office. It was still working fine, so I put it down in the Circulation Office -- I only got a new machine because the old one was giving me "exceeds memory" messages too often. It's still cranking along....

When we bought the 4L we had a Leading Edge -- I don't remember how much RAM it had, but I remember thinking that the 20 MB hard drive would last for a very long time! That was more than a few computers ago....

I'm getting rid of all of the inkjets at work. We have an HP 4550 color laser, the PCs can be networked to it, the cost per copy is far lower, and I'll give the staff B&W lasers for ordinary stuff.

Heck, for some things (book labels, overdue notices) we still use tractor feed dot-matrix printers!