jlc@atux01.UUCP (Jim Collymore) (09/05/90)
I have been looking into possibly getting a laser printer. I'm wondering if any of you know or feel that one of these printers is better than the other and why. HP DeskWriter (for ~$700) HP DeskJet (for ~$500) or GCC Technologies Personal LaserPrinter IIS (~$1500) Please post your replies to this newsgroup. Thanks. Jim Collymore
isle@eleazar.dartmouth.edu (Ken Hancock) (09/05/90)
In article <114@atux01.UUCP> jlc@atux01.UUCP (Jim Collymore) writes: >I have been looking into possibly getting a laser printer. I'm wondering if >any of you know or feel that one of these printers is better than the other >and why. > >HP DeskWriter (for ~$700) >HP DeskJet (for ~$500) >or >GCC Technologies Personal LaserPrinter IIS (~$1500) The bottom line, in my opinion, is the GCC PLP II ($1399) or the PLP IIS ($1899). Both are LED printers (300dpi), the former being a 4ppm engine, the later a 8ppm engine. I've used both the DeskWriter and the PLP. The main differences I've noticed are 1) DeskWriter consumables are much more expensive than the PLP. 2) Although HP totes both the DeskWriter and the DeskJet as 300dpi, you can see a noticible difference between the two and a 300dpi laser printer at point sizes about 12 and under. (Maybe a little higher). 3) The DeskWriter ink is water soluble and will smear until it's completely set (a day or two). 4) The PLP II/S are more expensive. Those are the tradeoffs as I see them. Depending on your needs, the DeskWriter/DeskJet might be much better for you. If you're going to be using the printer a lot, though, I'd go with the PLP II/S as it'll be faster and cheaper in the long run. Ken -- Ken Hancock | This account needs a new home in MA... Isle Systems | Can you provide a link for it? isle@eleazar.dartmouth.edu | It doesn't bite... :-)
billlund@hpindwa.HP.COM (Bill Lund) (09/07/90)
I'm obviously biased, but I've found the DeskWriter to be an excellent machine for home use. Perhaps a better question to ask would be what will you be doing with the printer? For home use, where 300dpi is useful and nice, but not critical, the DeskWriter has met all of my needs. Regarding the ink smearing, that is a problem which will be fixed when new ink is available later this year. (It has already been announced, but I'm not sure what the actual date is.) The DeskWriter and DeskJet are the same printing mechanism, the major difference being the that the DeskWriter is specifically designed to run with the Macintosh and the DeskJet is a general purpose (eg IBM-PC) printer. I agree that I can see the difference between 300dpi on the DeskWriter and on a LaserJet II, but the cost difference is significant too. Based on what you want to use the printer for, the DeskWriter may be the right solution. Bill Lund HP Cupertino, Calif
wwtaroli@rodan.acs.syr.edu (Bill Taroli) (09/08/90)
In article <114@atux01.UUCP> you write: >I have been looking into possibly getting a laser printer. I'm wondering if >any of you know or feel that one of these printers is better than the other >and why. > >HP DeskWriter (for ~$700) >HP DeskJet (for ~$500) Well, I currently use an HP DeskWriter (2278A). Basically, there is no difference in the hardware of the two printers. However, the DeskWriter has been given I/O ports to match the Mac. Also, you'll find that the DeskWriter does not have a font cartridge slot since fonts are generated from the Mac. Another problem with using the DeskJet would be the requirement of a special cable and printer driver software. So, if you were to make a decision between these two printers, your best choice would, in fact, be the DeskWriter. It has Mac ports and driver software included. BTW, you will find two different versions of the DeskWriter out there. A now discontinued 2278A, and the newly released 2279A. The ONLY difference between these two models is that the 2279A adds support for AppleTalk. So, if you are using the printer in a single user environment and can save some money by getting a 2278A, do it! Also, amidst many confusing opinions, the DeskWriter DOES work with ATM. The DeskWriter comes with customized fonts that tend to scale better with HP's page generator (licensed from Agfa Compugraphic), but will coexist with ATM just the same. The process is: if HP font outline is installed, use it; otherwise, request 4X font. If ATM is available, it would be used to generate the 4X font, which would then be downloaded to the printer. If you have any other questions about the use of the DeskWriter with the Mac, mail me directly. Regards, Bill Taroli Hewlett-Packard Company Corporate Marketing Administration Systems Sales Order Statistics Group wwtaroli@rodan.acs.syr.edu -- ******************************************************************************* * Bill Taroli (WWTAROLI@RODAN.acs.syr.edu) | "You can and must understand * * Syracuse University, Syracuse NY | computers NOW!" -- Ted Nelson * *******************************************************************************
hammen@ddsw1.MCS.COM (Robert Hammen) (09/08/90)
In article <24058@dartvax.Dartmouth.EDU> isle@eleazar.dartmouth.edu (Ken Hancock) writes:
<basically recommends the GCC PLP II/PLP IIS over the HP DeskJet/DeskWriter>
One additional advantage of the GCC printers is that they can be upgraded
to a real live Adobe PostScript printer for $999 list. In addition to having
excellent print quality, they can print almost edge-to-edge on the paper...
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/ Robert Hammen | Macintosh enthusiast & publishing guru, looking for a job /
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