Original Link: https://www.anandtech.com/show/2
HP DeskJet 1000C
| You have often heard the term "laser quality" used in a sentence when describing an Inkjet printer, usually to fool you into thinking that you are getting more than you actually receive. In the case of the DeskJet 1000C by Hewlett Packard, the term "laser quality" is an understatement. |  |
Step 1...Getting it out of that big container
After unpacking the bulky DeskJet 1000C from its large box I quickly plugged it into my computer's parallel port and using the thin power cable (no huge and annoying AC adapter to mess with like previous HP DeskJet printers) I plugged it into a socket. Upon firing up the 1000C I quickly realized that the cartridges it required (1 B/W + 1 Color) were identical to those required by the HP 850C, that seemed to me like a huge let down, a printer that costs about $100 more than a 850C but uses the exact same cartridges...well, it turned out that it wasn't a big let down. Windows 95 immediately detected my new printer as a HP DeskJet 1000C and prompted me for the installation CD upon startup, for those of you that are running without CDROM drives Hewlett Packard has been kind enough to include a floppy version of the drivers. If, for some reason, you don't have access to the drivers, the HP 850C drivers work flawlessly with the 1000C.
Included with the DeskJet 1000C is a nice software/productivity bundle, including an interactive Starter CD, a User's Guide, Idea Booklet, Print Samples, and some 11" x 17" paper to play around with since the 1000C can accept quite a large selection of paper sizes courtesy of the two conveniently selectable paper trays. Like its home office predecessors (i.e. 600 series), the Professional 1000 Series of HP printers allows the user the option of printing banners, without any third party software add-ons. A nice sheet of 13" x 19" paper comes pretty darn close to a banner just incase you don't feel like grabbing some full length sheets. Loading the 1000C with paper wasn't all that hard of a task, just slide out the tray, arm it with a stack of paper, and push the tray back in for a snug fit.
Let's fire it up
The Starter CD packaged with the 1000C is truly excellent resource, it walks you through just about every aspect of using your new printer and also allows you to print some sample files, to show off your new investment.
The 1000C's excellent software
support package makes it stand out among the competition
| To the left you can see the startup screen you get upon inserting the Win95 compatible CDROM that comes with the 1000C. From this screen you have the option of installing the printer drivers. Along with that, you have the choice to view the user's guide (see right) which is basically a fancier version of the written documentation provided with the printer. The idea booklet is sort of a 101 things to do on a rainy day guide for use with your printer. It features ideas and how-to suggestions on making "productive" use of the 1000C's capabilities. For example, because of the 1000C's excellent color matching capabilities and high resolution output, you are able to print colorful and artistic calendars which can brighten up any work area. The print samples included with this sampler CD were the ones I used to benchmark the 1000C's lightning fast printing speed which almost rivals that of a much more expensive laser printer. The software support package included with the 1000C makes it an even better value and gives it that extra edge over other printers. |
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Now what can this thing really do?
| Before beginning to print, HP's ToolBox
utility allows you to perform many operations as well as aids you in the process of
accomplishing those annoying tasks like clearing a paper jam, aligning the cartridges, and
cleaning the cartridges to name a few. You can use HP's Color Smart technology to ensure
that your finished product comes out looking just like you imagined it would, with no odd
surprises or blurry features. By clicking a few buttons and checking a few boxes you can
configure your printer to export some nice business charts, or produce a few family photos
from your last vacation. With the 1000C you have the now standard options of printing on
Envelopes, labels, cards (including thick cards, 0.3mm) and transparency film. However the
toolbox also allows the user to print with special features. These features include,
ZoomSmart scaling technology, which enables your printer to enlarge or reduce the size of
your document much like a copier. You can also print booklets, billboards, as well as
banners. You have the now common option of 2 sided printing and printing handouts, and the
new option of printing a mirror image (printing a laterally inverted image of your page). Now lets get to the printing. I sent to the spooler a total of 7 requests, 3 being print jobs for standard 81/2" x 11" (A4) Letter size paper, 3 for the larger 11" x 17" (A3) size paper, and 1 user defined paper size for a photo-realistic print job. After performing the cartridge alignment process and printing a self test I began printing the samples provided by HP which supposedly take full advantage of the printer's capabilities, in my opinion, they did. This is where some of the faults of the 1000C are exposed, the two major ones being its noise and its cheaply designed, yet stylish casing. Preparing to print, the loud 1000C positions its two cartridges (1 B/W + 1 Color) in the standby position creating a train like sound before even putting the first drops of ink on the page at the 600 x 600 dpi resolution (both B/W and color courtesy of HP's Resolution Enhancement Technology). After that initial stage the 1000C's operation is whisper quiet, it just gets a tad bit annoying especially if you have to print a 300 page document at 1 in the morning. The case of the printer, although very stylish and very pleasing to the eye, can be broken or damaged with the intention of simply opening the cover. Bottom line, don't put your new investment in any high traffic areas of your workplace. |
Putting it to the Test
Print Job |
Time Elapsed in Seconds |
| Align Printer Cartridges | 20:12s |
| Printer Self Test | 17:82s |
| Print Sample 1 (Letter - A4) Business Charts (BW + Simple Color) | 1:09:06s |
| Print Sample 2 (Letter - A4) Graphics and Text (BW + Complex Color) | 1:11:46s |
| Print Sample 3 (Letter - A4) Graphics (Complex Color) | 1:29:85s |
| Print Sample 4 (11 x 17") Business Charts (BW + Simple Color) | 3:28:00s |
| Print Sample 5 (11 x 17") Graphics and Text (BW + Complex Color) | 3:40:31s |
| Print Sample 6 (11 x 17") Graphics (Complex Color) | 3:44:19s |
| Print Sample 7 (User Defined Paper Size) Graphics (Vivid Color) | 1:30:50s |
I was amazed at the printing speed of the DeskJet 1000C, if you think those numbers are a bit high, here is an example of one of the print jobs I sent to the printer.
Conclusion
If you are looking for a printer that can boast true laser quality, as well as the ability to print vivid color images with the flip of a switch, the Hewlett Packard DeskJet 1000C is the printer for you. However, if the price is a little too intimidating, or you feel that you don't need all that power in a printer, try the inexpensive 855C or 694C solutions by HP.
Specifications/Contact Information
Price - $499.95 (MSRP)
6ppm Black & White Printing Speed / 3.5ppm Color
Printing Speed
Max Resolution - 600 x 600 dpi Black / 600 x 600 color (with REt)
W x H x D: 22.8 x 8.8 x 15.0 in. (579.1 x 223.5 x 380.0 mm)
Weight - 20.7lbs (9.4kg)
Printable Paper Sizes - from 3.94" x 5.83" to 13" x 19"
Requirements
486-66MHz or above
Windows 3.1x or Windows 95 (Windows NT not officially supported)
8MB of RAM
up to 50MB of free hard disk space (photo quality pictures)
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