nqdy@vax5.cit.cornell.edu (05/09/91)
SUMMARY: Deskjet -- Info / recommendation needed ORIGINAL POSTING ================ I am thinking of purchasing a Deskjet 500. I would appreciate any comments on this printer. Specifically, print quality, maintainance and available third party font support. I hear that one can use "Freedom of Press -- Lite" to print postscript files on this printer. Anybody done this with Freedom of press or any other postscript interpreter. RESPONSES ========= ------------------------------------------------------------------------- I have been using a DeskJet+ with Lasergo's 'GoScript' PostScript interpreter for more than a year now, and have had very few problems with it. Beyond limitations in the interpreter, the only visible differences between the output from the DeskJet and a Laserwriter are in the printable area on the page and a significant reduction in legibility at point sizes below five points, which is probably due to the specific font outlines used inside GoScript, and not directly attributable to the printer. The maintenance I've done consists of sucking dust out of the inside, changing print cartridges, and occasionally wiping the face of the print head with a damp paper towel to remove ink buildup when the printer has sat idle for several days (there is a buildup of ink on the printhead face as the cartridge is used; this doesn't affect the print quality, but I remove it as a precautionary measure). Sean Malloy ------------------------------------------------------------------------- I'm running a DeskJet 500 with QMS UltraScript+ (~$240). It works fine (with about 2MegByte allocated for QMS in the TSR mode). WordPerfect 5.1 Postscript driver is modified to go to LPT2. QMS grabs LPT2 stuff, reformats it for the DJ500 and sends it out LPT1. There have been times when the ink ran (generally, after I had not used the printer for several days, and I was trying to do an overhead with 30+ Point fonts). This ment that I had to run the page again. I don't have any specific comments or qualitative comparisons, but I'm generally pleased with the results so far. I admit that I use it for mostly overheads for my classes. - Dwight - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- I have a Deskjet 500 and am very pleased with it. It's a good, inexpensive laser quality printer. It is actually an original Deskjet, which I recently paid to upgrade to the 500. It is now faster and has more default fonts than the original Deskjet. It's one drawback was the smear-able ink, but HP has corrected that - the new ink is supposed to be smear proof. Can't speak to that, as I'm still using up old cartridges. I have purchased no third party fonts, but see numerous ads for them. Given that HP commands about three- fourths of the printer market, you are assured of good third-party support. Bill Gieske ------------------------------------------------------------------------- I've got a DeskJet 500, and am quite pleased with it. The print quality is "close" to that of a laser printer, although the ink tends to bleed just a bit (may be my paper). I've not tried anything fancy, like PostScript emulation or font cartridges. I've seen PD programs for converting LaserJet soft fonts, so you may want to check into this (at least it won't cost anything!). Dr. Warren G. Lieuallen ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Want it to look laser printed-buy the DJ500. You probably get the DJ for ~$450 as here-total steal. I have used Goscript (similar to Freedom of the Press)--looks great but there are occasional problems with special characters. The only way DJ output is distinguishable from laser is that when graphics with large dark areas are output, the fluid in the ink causes paper to curle slightly--I can deal with that. I must admit that I am in the process of thinking about considering a LJIIIp-they just came out. For ~$900, it is more than four times as fast as the deskjet, and is compatible with the LJIII. It isn't something I need since the DJ looks great, but DJ's can't be upgraded with a postscript cartidge. I forgot to mention: postscript text print at about 1/2 a page a minute but graphics can take HOURS--this is not a joke, I usually let it run overnight! Keep this in mind if postscript will be a major thing. Richard Burgess -------------------------------------------------------------------- FOR TeX USERS ============== Emtex's dvidrivers include a Deskjet driver. I think it's the "/od+" option for the Laserjet drivers. It's pretty good. Quite fast, fonts are OK (a bit skinny, but that's a matter of taste). Hy Tran and others ------------------------------------------------------------------------ MISC ==== PC Magazine (Nov 1990) reveiws a lot of printers incl. the Deskjet 500. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ That's all folks. Thanks to everybody who responded. sanjeev mohindra nqdy@vax5.cit.cornell.edu
ib4@crosfield.co.uk (imerio ballarini) (05/13/91)
In article <1991May9.124029.4629@vax5.cit.cornell.edu> nqdy@vax5.cit.cornell.edu writes: / SUMMARY: Deskjet -- Info / recommendation needed ... [most of summary deleted] / I have a Deskjet 500 and am very pleased with it. It's a good, inexpensive / laser quality printer. It is actually an original Deskjet, which I recently / paid to upgrade to the 500. It is now faster and has more default fonts than / the original Deskjet. / Bill Gieske [rest of article deleted] OK. What is this upgrade? How did you hear of it? How much did it cost? Can I have it done to my DeskJet here in the UK? Cheers. -- o----------------o-------------------------o--------------o Imerio Ballarini Crosfield Electronics Ltd ib4@cel.co.uk My opinions, not Hemel Hempstead, Herts, ib4@cel.uucp CEL's, got that? HP2 7RH, UK. +44 442 230000 o----------------o-------------------------o--------------o