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HP Laserjet 1100 series: Distinctions, Features and Faults
Date of Review: Dec 31, 2000
In this review of the HP Laserjet 1100 series printers, I will explain the differences between the 1100 se, 1100 xi, 1100A se and 1100A xi. The review will then cover the features and faults of the HP Laserjet 1100.
Background
My first experience with an HP Laserjet 1100 was when I went into my university library at the beginning of the Fall semester (mid-August) and saw ten Laserjets sitting in a row in the reference section. The ten Laserjet 1100s had been purchased for public use as reference library printers. Each one was attached to a unique terminal for online and in-house database reference searches.
Over the course of the semester (about 5 months now) I and about 1000+ students and faculty have used these printers to print out reference search results, article abstracts, full-text articles, web pages, and anything else students have been able to access when no one was looking. I personally have printed hundreds of pages distributed randomly across the ten printers. Overall, my experience with this line of printers is positive, and I feel comfortable recommending the HP Laserjet 1100 to you, with a few qualifications.
Confusion at the Manufacturer's Product Page
When I first started using the HP Laserjet 1100 printers, I decided to examine the HP web site to learn more about them. If you visit the Manufacturer's Product page you may be confused by what you see (click on the picture of the HP 1100 at the top of this review, then click on the "Manufacturer's Product page" link). Specifically, HP makes it look like there are six versions of this printer. Here is a summary of what you will see.
Product.....................Price
HP LaserJet 1100........Price not available
HP LaserJet 1100 se.....$417.00
HP LaserJet 1100 xi.....$429.00
HP LaserJet 1100A.......Price not available
HP LaserJet 1100A se....$499.00
HP LaserJet 1100A xi....$499.00
In reality, there are only two versions of this printer, the HP Laserjet 1100 and the HP Lasterjet 1100A. Because these are main category headings, that is why HP puts "Price not available" on their web site. The difference between them is that the 1100A has a built-in scanner and copier. The xi and se distinction designate whether the printer is sold directly from HP or sold from retail stores, respectively. Furthermore, the software packages that come with these printers differ. The xi printers come with "The Document Builder for the Web Era from Trellix Corp." which is software to create Web pages. The se printers come with "ExpressForms Value Pack from Mips Dataline America, Inc." which is software used to create forms. Other than the software difference, the xi and se printers are exactly the same.
The important point is that if the software doesn't matter to you, then you should choose between the xi and se based on price alone. Looking at various online retailers, I have generally found the xi to be less expensive than the se. You can use the "Check Latest Prices" link to see for yourself (click on HP Laserjet 1100 picture at the top of this review to access this link).
Note: I have not used the 1100A, so I will not be reviewing the scanning or copying abilities of this printer. Epinions has different categories for the 1100 and 1100A (which it should) and if you are looking for an all-in-one printer-scanner-copier, you might want to check out the reviews of the 1100A.
Basic features of the HP Laserjet 1100
Whether you get the se or xi version, here is what you will get. The HP Laserjet 1100 is a top-fed black and white laser printer that prints at 600 x 600 dpi (dots per inch). The reported print speed is 8 ppm (pages per minute) which is about what I have found, provided you don't count the first page which takes longer than the others. It comes with 2 MB of memory, which has been sufficient for my printing needs, but can hold up to 18 MB for printing lengthy, complex documents. Because the paper feeds from the top, this printer has a smaller footprint than other HP printers that use a horizontal paper tray. It's physical dimensions (in inches) are - LENGTH = 14.5; WIDTH/DEPTH = 12.8; HEIGHT = 14.9.
The HP Laserjet 1100 handle the usual variety of paper media, including plain paper, transparencies, envelopes, and labels. In addition to the main paper feed, the HP 1100 has a front feed for specialty media. The input tray holds 125 sheets and the output tray holds 100. The duty cycle for this printer is around 7000 pages per month.
Positive aspects of the HP Laserjet 1100 printer
There are several things I like about this printer. First, it has a relatively small footprint so it doesn't take up much room on your desktop. Second, adding paper is much easier than on my Laserjet 4p, which uses a pull-out paper tray drawer. Third, the print quality is very good (for a 600 x 600). I've used ten of these printers and each one produces quality printouts (except when the toner is low). Fourth, for individual or business use the print speed is acceptable (although faster printers can be found). Finally, the 1100 can be expanded into an 1100A (scanner and copier) by attaching the JetPath accessory for an additional $100 or so.
One other positive aspect of the HP Laserjet 1100 that I would like to mention has to do with the software drivers. The "Printer Properties" interface is very easy to navigate and use. Pop-up definitions explain the purpose of all print options, of which there are several. One option that I used frequently was the N-up feature, which allows you to print up to 9 pages of a document on a single sheet of paper. Putting nine pages on one sheet made the font too small, so I usually chose four pages per sheet. The software drivers automatically divide the paper into four grids, with one document page per grid. This feature saves a good deal of paper, and printing in economode saves on the toner. Overall, the interface with the printer properties was much more intuitive and simple than what I have found with other printers.
Negative aspects of the HP Laserjet 1100 printer
Having used ten of these printers off and on over a 5 month period, I can say that paper jams occur more often than I would like. I personally experienced multiple paper feeds (where two or more pages feed through) on several occasions, and full-blown jams at least 3 times (on separate printers). That may not seem like much, buy my experience with this printer suggests it is prone to paper feed problems. Fortunately, fixing the paper jams was not as difficult as it is on my Laserjet 4p. Pulling jammed paper out of my Laserjet 4p results in torn paper and small pieces left in the printer. Getting jammed paper out of the Laserjet 1100 rarely resulted in torn paper.
Another negative aspect of this printer is the cost, ranging between $400 and $450, depending upon where you buy it. Laser printers with similar features (dpi quality, print speed) can be found for less.
Overall Recommendation
If you are wanting to buy the HP 1100, I have used this printer enough to be able to recommend it to you as either a personal laser printer, or a small business printer. The service and support that HP provides may justify the higher price you will pay for the HP 1100 over other brands. The ability to get an all-in-one machine for about $70 more ($100 more if you buy the upgrade separately) is an additional bonus. Be prepared for paper jams, but other than that you will find the HP Laserjet a decent, though not exceptional, personal laser printer.
I hope this review of the HP Laserjet 1100 has helped you with your purchase decision.
Bret
DrDad
To anyone interested, here is a link to a January 2000 review of six personal laser printers, one of which is the HP Laserjet 1100:
http://www.zdnet.com/pcmag/stories/reviews/0,6755,2421329,00.html
CompuVest
