[rescue] Calling HP Laserjet experts

[R. Lonstein]

On Mon, Jul 01, 2002 at 03:16:52PM -0500, Scott Newell wrote:
> Let's say I'm looking for a laser printer to rescue (from
> this list, ebay, surplus reseller, whatever). I'd like a
> HP with decent capacity trays (100 sheets just doesn't cut
> it), duplexing, maybe some kind of ethernet interface.
> Postscript wouldn't really be needed, but I guess it would
> be a nice option. Size isn't a big deal, as long as it can
> be shipped. Which models should I watch for, and which are
> the ones to avoid?

Snag a HP4/4+/4V/4M. These are dead simple to maintain and have many
accessories (including 500 sheet trays and duplexer) that turn up on the
used market. I think they're rated for 30k pages per month duty. The
4100dtn is probably too new to be ready for rescue but it has all the
above. For really big page counts, I'm a fan of the 3Si and 4si. They
are easy to maintain and last forever. They were replaced with 8000's
and 8150's which, imho, are not as well made. The Apple LaserWriter 630
and 640 are also tanks and use a Canon engine but I've never used them
with anything but Macs.

I recently fished a beat-up HP4 out of the trash. 21k pages had run
through it and it had never been cleaned. A little clean-up and some
foam swabs with alcohol and it works great. I'll probably put a
maintenance kit into it eventually. Conveniently it had a 3/4 full toner
cartridge. I'm looking for a cheap, used postscript module and the
JetDirect MIO interface.

- Ross