[comp.sys.mac.hardware] HP DeskJet -> DeskWriter coversion

bolden@gumby.cs.wisc.edu (Eric Bolden) (03/13/90)

I have an H-P DeskJet, which I have very much enjoyed using, but I would like
to upgrade it to a DeskWriter for the increase in speed. I know that the two 
are very similar in terms of the hardware, except for the logic board.

Does anybody out there know how (if possible) I would go about upgrading my
printer to the Deskwriter? HP doesn't feel like selling me a logic board, 
so I'm kind of up a creek. If I could get one, would I just swap it with the
old DeskJet board? (I know, it's never THAT easy, but one can always hope)

Brad Koehn
"Fly like an Emu!"

neff@hpvcfs1.HP.COM (Dave Neff) (03/15/90)

>Does anybody out there know how (if possible) I would go about upgrading my
>printer to the Deskwriter? HP doesn't feel like selling me a logic board,
>so I'm kind of up a creek. If I could get one, would I just swap it with the
>old DeskJet board? (I know, it's never THAT easy, but one can always hope)

This is not really feasible.  The DeskWriter has a different key panel,
a different top cover and a different bottom cover as well as the different
logic board.  You would still need to buy the driver as well.  The only
significant common parts are the mechanism and power supply.  Most
everything else is different.  If you have a DeskJet, rather than a
DeskJet+, the mechanism actually has a different motor than the DeskWriter
and you would even need to upgrade that.

I don't know what you mean by "HP doesn't feel like selling me a logic
board".  You should be able to buy any part for the DeskWriter -- if you
have the money.  A DeskWriter logic board is something like $250.
What HP won't do is give you $100 dollar trade in for your DeskJet logic
board (which we will do if you DeskJet logic board fails) in order to
upgrade.  It might be the case the HP wont sell the driver apart from
the printer, but my usual experience has been if it has a part number
you can buy it -- although you may have to get an entire assembly or
package and might not be able to individually buy each sub-part.

You would be better off to sell your DeskJet used and buy a DeskWriter.

Dave Neff
neff@hpvcfs1.HP.COM