HP Deskjet 1220cse Printer

Overview

The HP Deskjet 1220cse is an inkjet printer that was part of Hewlett-Packard’s Deskjet line, designed with both the home user and small businesses in mind. This printer is particularly noted for its ability to handle large-format printing, exceeding the traditional letter-sized dimensions, making it a useful tool for those needing to print posters, banners, and tabloid-sized documents.

Design and Build

The design of the HP Deskjet 1220cse is emblematic of the early 2000s Hewlett-Packard aesthetic, with a utilitarian yet straightforward build. It features a robust construction, characterized by a two-tone grey and off-white color scheme. The dimensions are quite substantial, a necessary feature to accommodate its wide-format printing capabilities. The printer is equipped with a dedicated input tray that can handle different media sizes, supporting paper sizes up to A3+, and it also has a manual feed slot for more specialized printing tasks.

Printing Performance

Performance-wise, the Deskjet 1220cse is sufficient for typical office and home printing tasks but truly shines with its capability of producing large-format prints. The print resolution can go up to 2400 x 1200 dpi when using photo paper, providing clear, crisp, and vibrant images suitable for presentations and photo printing. For standard text documents, the printer maintains a professional quality, producing consistent and smudge-free outputs. However, it’s important to note that the print speed may feel slow by today’s standards, especially when printing color images on high-quality settings, as it can take several minutes per page.

Connectivity and Compatibility

Regarding connectivity, the HP Deskjet 1220cse was designed in an era predating the now-common wireless technology, so it primarily utilizes a USB connection for direct links to a computer. It also features a parallel port, reflecting its compatibility with older computers. It supports a decent range of operating systems, though newer systems might require specific drivers or workarounds, given the printer’s age. Users with modern devices may need to consider additional solutions, such as using print server adapters, if they wish to incorporate this printer into a more current tech ecosystem.

Ink System and Costs

The printer uses a dual ink cartridge system, one for black and a tri-color cartridge for cyan, magenta, and yellow. While this setup was standard for its time, it can lead to increased ink costs, as replacing the tri-color cartridge becomes necessary when any one of the colors runs out. The ink replaces relatively easily, and cost for these cartridges would have been mid-range at the time of release. It is important for prospective users to verify the availability and cost of these specific ink cartridges as they may become more expensive or harder to find due to age.

User Experience

In terms of usability, the HP Deskjet 1220cse offers straightforward operation, with basic buttons and LEDs indicating power, ink levels, and paper jams. Given its age, it does not have the LCD screens or sophisticated user interfaces found in modern printers, which could be a downside for users accustomed to more contemporary technology. Nevertheless, for those willing to invest a bit of time learning the setup, it remains an efficient machine for its primary purpose: producing high-quality, wide-format prints.