Hewlett Packard LaserJet 1300 Printer

I bought the model 1220, which is the same basic printer as the 1300. It's a 1220 instead of a 1200 because I purchased the optional copy/scanner module that fits on top of the printer.

I had, and still have, the 1100 model, which was the last LaserJet to have vertical paper. My company had purchased 200 of these and they were a disaster. A design flaw caused these printers to start jamming paper as a feed mechanism wore a little. HP sent out a silly little foam thing to help fix it and offered a $75 rebate for people trading these in out of warranty. My 1100 still works but one has to feed paper one at a time.

I say this because, after having the 4L, 5L and 6L, I thought I'd gotten a fluke, so purchased the 1220.

This printer has a large footprint; don't buy one if your office is space-challenged. One of the real advantages to the earlier 'L' models was that they didn't take up much room; this requires at least twice as much.

The earlier printers, though, had a tight paper path requiring a separate output slot for envelopes and thicker papers. This printer doesn't need that option.

It is easier with this printer, with its horizontal up-front paper storage, to see how much remaining paper is there. The tray itself feels flimsy, but it's never broken or caused trouble. There is another paper tray, also flimsy in feel, above the storage tray, to accept the printed copies. Never has broken with quite heavy use, though. These trays are made of the type of plastic that, once used much, is nearly impossible to keep clean-looking without going in the dishwasher. Lots of little crevices, etc.

Printed text is certainly of a quality that satisfies my needs, as have been all the LaserJets I've used. I tend to print documents that are 25-100 pages in length and while the pages come out warm from this machine, they of course are also dry. I've found gray scale copying adequate on here also, though I usually use an inkjet HP for color work.

As with the other LaserJet machines I've owned over the years, I have been delighted with the capacity of their cartridges, and having the refills contain both the toner and drum. Cost at office discount stores runs $65 to $85 depending on whether one buys the higher capacity or not. I've found, even with the number of pages I print, that a cartridge will last several months to a year. As stated, though, mine is virtually all text.

Though changing the cartridge is different than earlier LaserJets, it is also quite easy, dropping through a concealed panel on the front. I really appreciate the ability to, when toner gets low, shake the cartridge and get another 100+ pages out of it. I've never found the electronic indicators on other printers to be accurate regarding changes, anyway. By the way, there are many places now in large cities where one can take these and have toner refills. I don't like the idea of tossing all that plastic, and HP will take the dead cartridges back and recycle them.

The machine is quiet, no problem on the phone, etc., while it's printing--no more than a hum.

My complaint with this machine as it sits is that the optional scanner/copier died promptly after it went out of warranty. This module can be a real convenience for copying. I never used mine for scanning. One day it just quit working. Strangely, or perhaps not, my 1100 model's copier/scanner did exactly the same thing. I haven't had the time to send it off so am unsure what has caused it. I wouldn't buy that optional module again after two disappointments with it.

The printer itself is a real workhorse, though, and with many thousands of pages put through it, it shows no sign of having the same feed problems as its vertical-feed predecessor. Incidentally, envelopes are easily done with this printer.

I'm looking at replacing it with one of the lower-priced color LaserJets. Though possibly not perfect, my experience with HP printers still justifies my purchases.