Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc
Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!torsqnt!lethe!tvcent!comspec!telly!problem!nyama!epas!ksteele
From: ksteele@epas.toronto.edu (Ken Steele)
Subject: Re: Deskjet -- Info / recommendation needed
Message-ID: <1991May9.010919.3391@epas.toronto.edu>
Summary: A super printer!
Keywords: DeskJet HP Printer
Sender: Ken Steele  <ksteele@epas.utoronto.ca>
Organization: University of Toronto - EPAS
References: <1991May5.134259.4508@vax5.cit.cornell.edu>
Distribution: comp
Date: Thu, 9 May 1991 01:09:19 GMT

The HP DeskJet 500 is the best "compromise" I've seen anywhere.  For
the price of a dot matrix (HP currently offers student and faculty
pricing on all its printers) the DeskJet 500 gives me almost the
quality of a laser.  I've enjoyed mine immensely for several months
now, and have bought two others for family and friends.

The primary strength of any HP printer is its remarkable
compatibility.  I have never before bought a printer I simply had to
plug into my machine and run.  Printer drivers are available for
almost every piece of IBM software under the sun.

I'm a very big fan of Windows 3.0 and Adobe Type Manager.  Using those
two with the DeskJet 500 printer driver, you can get more than enough
fully-scalable fonts for most purposes.  PageMaker, Corel Draw, Word
for Windows, WordPerfect -- all produce very fine output!  The key is
to use specialty papers -- I prefer glossy laser paper (Lazer brand),
slightly heavier than normal typewriter stock.  The DeskJet's
resolution can suffer if you use the wrong sort of paper, but on
the right stuff it's great.  Envelope handling is a breeze, printing
is fast (compared to my old daisywheel) and quiet.  The old smudging
problem is of course also history!  Best of all, unless you want to
use downloadable fonts (and you don't, trust me) you never need to
expand the DeskJet's memory -- unlike its bigger laser cousins.

I'd highly recommend the DeskJet 500 to anyone who wants a laser
printer, but can't afford the LaserJet IIP (or IIIP).  Even directly
from WordPerfect, for example, you can use the resident fonts (which
now, thankfully, include a form of Times Roman PS) -- but Adobe TM
produces the best results I've seen.

						Ken Steele
						ksteele@epas.utoronto.ca