CompuServe Messages

I bought the 4L about 4 months ago (at $615 discount it was affordable, just barely). Some observations: Usual HP high quality though everything metal in a 4 is plastic in the 4L. Good paper handling, high quality print, lots of built-in fonts. The 4L is NOT 600×600 like the 4/4M but 300×300 with the same ultrafine toner as the 4, Resolution Enhancement Technology (variable-size dots to smooth edges of shapes in graphics and fonts), ImageAdapt dither control, and toner-saving EconoMode (like "draft" in the DeskJet). The biggest improvement over the DeskJet for DTP is that halftone areas (shaded boxes and bitmapped graphics, for example) don't show the stripes that the DJ print head passes leave even under the best conditions (good paper, new cartridge). A professional look at last! My biggest gripe: There are no panel menu controls on the 4L (unlike all the other LaserJets). The only way to enable EconoMode is from the computer. The printer doesn't come with Amiga software (of course!). I haven't figured out the HP PJL command syntax (it's not in the manual) to send to the PAR: device. The freeware HP4 driver you see on all the boards does not support Economode ("draft") and neither does the Commodore LaserJet driver. I downloaded a demo called SetupPJL from the makers of the Studio printer control software. It controls all the main LJ4 features including Economode but requires lots of mouse moves and isn't suitable for WBStartup or startup-sequence use. So I use EconoMode lots less often than I should. If I had the $ I'd buy the 4M (PostScript), 4LM (ditto; you can't add a PostScript cartridge later to the 4L), or 4. But for the price I love the LJ4L.