Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!snorkelwacker!think!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!usc!srhqla!nrcvax!rick
From: rick@NRC.COM (Rick Wagner)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Re: Opinion sought on HP Deskjet Plus
Message-ID: <468@nrcvax.NRC.COM>
Date: 7 Feb 90 21:18:36 GMT
References: <21990005@hpvcfs1.HP.COM>
Reply-To: rick@nrcvax.UUCP (Rick Wagner)
Organization: Network Research Corp., Oxnard CA
Lines: 65

In article <21990005@hpvcfs1.HP.COM> neff@hpvcfs1.HP.COM (Dave Neff) writes:
>Regarding DeskJet+.
>
>4. Do you need to make transparencies?  The DeskJet+ can't do this.
>Same thing with labels.  In general, the DeskJet+ only can do labels
>and transparencies with the help of a copy machine :-).

Actually, I have done labels on my DJ.  I use some label I got from
Price Club (Dennison I think), which work fine. They are 33 to a page
(2 2/3" x 1"; 3 accross, 11 down), and are just the right size for
3.5" disks.

Later I tried a different brand (Quill or Avery) of larger labels
(good size for 5.25" disks), and they smeared to no end.  I beleave
the difference is the ones that smear are for laser printers and "hot
process" copiers.  They seem to have a wax-like coating.  I haven't
seen anything on the box, but I assume then the ones that work are for
"cold process" copiers.  

I recently saw and add for or a box of ink-jet transperancy film.  I
have know idea of how well, if at all these really work.

>The waterfastness issue is a negative on the DeskJet+, but I have
>used the printer a lot, and it is really seldom a real problem.  Our
>official line is "we are working on the problem", and this is definately
>the case.
>

The waterfastness problem can be worked around with spray on
"fixative".  You can find it at art stores or the art section of a
stationary store.  It won't protect your work from major spills, but
it should cut down on smearing from finger tips and high humidity.  I
have heard from sources that a water proof ink for the DJ is in the
works.

I have noticed the pakaging for the cartridges shows a color dot on
the box. I wonder if this is for consistency in packaging with other
HP printers, or could color be in our future?  I could see this done
one of two ways:

	1) A single color, you have to change cartridges to change
	color.  You could never have true color printing this way,
	but you could do "special" type things.  You could probably
	do multiple passes for multi-color, if the usage would not
	show off the mis-alignment between feeds.

	2) Since the jets are part of the cartridge, and under 
	program control, it is conceivable that a mutli-color
	cartridge could be built.  This could allow for reasonable
	color.  Your cartridge life would be shorter, since you
	would have to throw it away as soon as the heaviest used
	color ran out.  (How about factory designed refillable
	cartridges, with HP supplied ink?  Yeah, I have read
	about refilling them using stationary-store ink, but I
	would prefer an HP soloution).

Just wishing I guess.

	--rick
-- 
===============================================================================
Rick Wagner						Network Research Corp.
rick@nrc.com						2380 North Rose Ave.
(805) 485-2700	FAX: (805) 485-8204			Oxnard, CA 93030
Don't hate yourself in the morning; sleep til noon.