GENERAL INFORMATION The LaserJet IIID is the dual-tray version of the LaserJet III. Like the LaserJet III, it features Resolution Enhancement Technology (RET) and PCL 5. In addition to having a second tray, the RX-based LaserJet IIID can print on both sides of the paper (duplex). It does this by reversing the paper in the "switchback assembly" located at the rear of the printer. The IIID is considered an excellent product by most of its users, but its added cost and size has made it less popular than the SX-based LaserJet III. FONT INFORMATION The LaserJet IIID, like the III, contains the basic 14 bitmapped Courier, LinePrinter, and Times fonts of the LaserJet IID/IIP, plus scalable CG Times (like Times Roman), and Univers (like Helvetica). These two scalable typefaces are provided in four versions each: normal, bold, italic, and bold italic. Controller Notes
The LaserJet IIID controller is exactly the same board as the LaserJet III controller. The controller senses the engine type by communicating with the different (SX or RX) DC controllers. If installed in a single-bin SX engine, it operates the printer mechanism and control panel as a LaserJet III. If the controller finds an RX DC controller, it operates in LaserJet IIID mode. The control panel of the LaserJet III has an extra light indicating duplex operation. The control panel menu includes duplex/simplex set-up options. As stated in the LaserJet III section, there are three versions of the controller. The latest one (shown in the picture above) uses a 16 MHz 68000 instead of a 10 MHz version. HP quietly started putting 16 MHz boards into the LaserJet III and IIID printers in late 1991. HP probably had several reasons for avoiding the usual fanfare associated with a major product upgrade. First, HP didn't want to obsolete existing inventories in the channel, as purchasers would surely insist on the faster 16 MHz version if they knew it existed. Second, it didn't want to address the issue that the original LaserJet III controller was slow. Our benchmarks found that the original LaserJet III could achieve print speeds of only about 6 ppm when printing simple text documents in native PCL mode. Most people apparently never noticed that their 8 ppm printer was actually only printing at 6 ppm. Only when making multiple copies of the same page will the original LaserJet III controller print at 8 ppm. By increasing the processor speed to 16 MHz, HP discreetly fixed the problem without announcing that it ever existed. |
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