#DeskJet output
12 messages in this thread
How does the output from a DeskJet compare with a 300dpi impact printer.
I'm currently using a NEC P2200 which has a graphics resolution of 300dpi
but prints dots which are significantly larger than 1/300 of an inch. The
net effect is, the output doesn't look like 300dpi…
Is the dot size for the DeskJet more in line with a true 300dpi printer?
I've been told that its output rivals that of the LazerJet. Is this true?
The DeskJet's output rivals the LaserJet. The 4-point font (supplied) I
use for the crueler parts of contracts is quite legible, if you use a
magnifying glass, so the dots must be fairly small and tidy.
The main curse on the DeskJet is that its ink is water-soluable, so rain,
tears, spittle, etc. can rinse it right off the page.
Thanks for the reply. That's just the type of info I was looking for.
Everyone else I've talked to has just said "it looks good". A legible 4pnt
font is something I can relate to.
A correction: the DeskJet Plus comes with a 5-point fixed-width font
standard. The 4-point Times Roman I use comes on the P cartridge. Also,
the appearance of any water-based ink's dots is going to vary with the
paper onto which they drip. Although I haven't tried it, I imagine the
coarse yellow stuff we used to water-color on in Art Class would yield
surreal effects. Good for printing the Necronimicon!
David,
When I went looking for a printer, I compared the output of a DeskJet+
and the HP IIP (InkJet vs. Laser). There was a differnece and I could see
it. The printing on the IIP seemed a little crisper and cleaner. Not by
much though. I ended up buying the DeskJet+ and really love it. I have
since found out that the print quality on the DeskJet will vary depending
on the type of paper you use. I've been using a heavy stock with beautiful
results. I do not regret getting the DJ+. My only complaint with it is that
the ink is water soluable (sp?) which means that anytime the page gets wet,
the ink will run or smear. Not great for doing mailing labels 🙂
Hope that helps…
Regards,
Allen
David, I agree with all that's been said. But as a side note a friend of
mine who is a Computer Factory sales rep (they are HP dealers) said that HP
is coming out with a new ink cartridge for the DJ+ that will use ink that
not water soluble.
-Paul-
Thanks Paul (and everyone else who replied) for the DeskJet+ info. It
sounds better all the time!
David– I have an NEC P2200, and an HP IIP. About the same time I got the
HP, a friend got a DeskJet. When we discovered that we'd both made printer
purchases, we compared output quality.
Both the DJ or IIP look a lot better than the P2200. At its best (with the
right paper), the DJ looks almost as good as the IIP. But the DJ can look
pretty bad with the wrong paper. The IIP looks great with darn near
anything you feed into it. The best paper to use with the DJ turns out to
be high quality laser printer paper. Both Hammermill Laser Print and
Nekoosa Laser 1000 work well.
My friend is very envious of the IIP and now refuses to look at anything
I've printed on it because it makes him mad that he got the DJ when he
could have got the IIP for $200 more.
If your needs change in the future, you can add postscript to the IIP (I
have already done so), but the DJ has no such upgrade path.
Hope this helps, Tom
Tom:
The DJ vs the IIP is a good arguement. Both have advantages, and
disadvantages. The DJ has the advantage that it doesn't need lots of
internal memory to do anything, as where the IIP needs more memory in order
to do much with full page graphics (adding cost to the IIP). The DJ otoh
doesn't have a Postscript cartridge available for it, so you need to use a
software PS interpeter if you need PS output.
-Mike Schiller
In sunny Fort Lauderdale
Thanks Tom. I took advantage of the HP rebate program and got a DeskJet
Plus. Everyone was right, the output looks great.
Thanks for the tip on paper for it. Just on a limited trial I've noticed
what a difference different paper can make.
Hi Tom,
Where could your friend get a IIP for $200 more than a DJ+? The DJ+ is
going for around $450 street price these days (rebate from HP). When I was
looking at the IIP, I figured it was gonna cost me around $1200-$1300 with
the extra memory (which is needed, no?).
Regards,
Allen
Allen– We made our purchases last December. At the time, IIP's had just
dropped to the $950 range, and DJ+'s were $750. My friend lives next door
to a guy that works at HP designing DJ's. When he told the HP guy what I'd
got my IIP for, the HP guy was shocked and made the comment that they'd
better do something or the DJ sales would drop fast. Apparently the rebate
(of which I was unaware) is the result. How much is the rebate?
I just looked at some prices in the latest Computer Shopper. IIP's are just
about the same price (lowest I saw was $919), but DJ's have dropped about
$100 (lowest around $649). The rebate would widen the gap.
You are right that depending on how you plan to use it, the IIP may require
that you spend more for additional memory. Anyone buying a IIP without
allowing for that could be disappointed.
Tom