Evaluation of the HP LaserJet IID and the Toshiba PageLaser 12. (Hardware Review) (evaluation)

The LaserJet goes on

In the November, 1988 issue, Vol. 7, No. 5, the Blaser Star 2 was examined as a serious challenger to the industry standard HP LaserJet II on price, features, and cost of ownership.

Since then, Hewlett-Packard introduced the LaserJet IID, which has several improved paper handling fcaturcs. In addition to a clever duplex printing feature (i.e., the ability to print on both sides of a page, automatically), thc new $4,295 LJ IID comes with two paper trays, and can be fitted with an optional envelope feeder. It has 640 kilobytes of standard memory with additional 1,2 or 4 megabyte memory boards available. The printer used for our evaluation had thc 2 MB memory board installed. Although the LJ IID still makes use of an 8 page-per-minute Canon engine, it is the new SXD model which increases the duty cycle to 7500 pages-per-month. The LJ IID is being touted by HP as a printer "developed for individuals or work groups in businesses who process large amounts of papcr and require quality output."

Is the LJ IID with its new paper handling armament the long awaited low-cost solution for the higher volume printing associated with many business applications and shared printer environments? Does it have any competition?

PageLaser 12

The Toshiba PL12 is a 12 page-perminute laser printer which has been around since 1987. Until the introduction of the LJ IID, thc retail price of $3799seemed hefty for a non-PostScript printer, regardless of numerous features aimed at increased printing capacity.

The PL12 is driven by a Toshiba engine and custom controller, and can produce high-resolution text and graphics at 300 x 300 dots-per-inch. The basic PL12 comes with 512KB of RAM, which can be expanded to 2 MB (like the printer used for our evaluation). It has a 25,000 page per month duty cycle, and a relatively long product life of 600,000 pages, extendable to 1.2 million pages with an optional service kit. (This is about three times longer than most low-end desktop laser printers.)

Paper handling

Most low-end laserprinters have a single paper tray with a 200 page capacity. Envelope handling is typically limited either to single envelope manual feed, or to replacement of the normal paper tray with a special envelope tray with small capacity. Manual paper handling required for even simple correspondence applications, as well as large document printing jobs, can be a significant source of frustration and lost, productivity.

Laserjet IID

Most of its new features reduce the manual paper handling requirements for a wide variety of printing applications. It provides twice the paper capacity (400 sheets), two paper trays (standard 8 1/2 x 11 in., and three optional sized trays), and duplex printing as a standard feature, and an envelope feeder totalling four input sources at once. As with most desktop laser printers, this one stacks about 100 sheets.

PageLaser 12

In addition to a standard 2 50-sheet bin, this printer can be fitted with a Toshibadesigned dual-bin sheet feeder with a 500-sheet capacity for an extra $999. These three paper bins can be used to hold letterheads in addition to regular bond letter or legal-size paper, increasing thc on-line paper capacity to 750 shccts. Optional universal paper trays arc available and are adjustable from statement (5 1/2" x 8 1/2") to legal size (8 1/2" x 14").

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