Hewlett Packard HP Color LaserJet 1600 Printer : eBay Guides

I am reporting here on the Hewlett Packard Color LaserJet 1600, based on a full year of experience with this model, in a medium-duty office environment (as THE Printer for an active eBay Powerseller's business).

Mechanically, this Printer has been absolutely flawless.  No problems at all.  This can be credited to HP's excellent quality control, as well as the relative simplicity of the Printer's design.  The Paper Path is as straight as can be achieved with this technology: one bend (of less than 90 degrees) around a roller at the paper feed point at the bottom - then a flat Transport Belt carries the paper across all four Print Drums - then a milder bend (about 30 degrees) going through the Fuser rollers at the top.  The Paper comes out reliably, Print side down, in the tray on top of the Printer.  I have NEVER had a Paper Jam with this Printer - and I run everything from 20-lb. Bond to 120-lb. Card Stock.

Image Quality is quite Sharp - as one would expect from a Laser Printer.  So long as all four Toner cartridges have sufficient Toner in them, the Color Rendition is truly Photo Quality (and this is speaking as a Photographer).

A Laser Printer works on the same principles as a Toner-based Copier.  An electrically charged Imaging Drum (incorporated in the Toner Cartridges here) is 'imaged' by a Laser beam - changing the polarity of the electric charge, at the points where the Laser strikes the drum.  These points then attract the Toner powder, which is transferred to the Paper.  The Paper then passes across a Fuser drum (part of the Printer itself), heated to about 140 degrees, which Fuses the Toner to the Paper.  The resulting Print is as smooth as the Paper surface - and considerably more water-resistant than Inkjet print is.

This Printer uses four Toner Cartridges: Q6000A Black - Q6001A Cyan - Q6002A Yellow - and Q6003A Magenta.  Retail price on these is about $80 each - which is a 'bite' at cartridge replacement time.  It is rare, though, that all four need replacing at the same time - cushioning the 'ouch factor' somewhat.  The Laser Printer is definitely cheaper than using an Inkjet, for a medium to high volume operation.  My own calculations are that the Cost Per Page is less than HALF that of the Inkjet model I was previously using.  A Laser Printer could also prove less costly, over time, for a lower volume operation - given that Inkjet cartridges, in my experience, dry out within six months after the 'seal tape' is removed, whether they're being used or not.  Powder-type Toner, as long as it isn't exposed to extreme heat or humidity, doesn't 'go bad' during extended idle periods.

HP rates the lifespan of these Toner Cartridges at 2500 pages for the Black, and 2000 pages for the colors - based on a test standard of 5% coverage per page.  I have found that to be a reliable guideline, for typical mixed subject printing - and for when the Printer will start giving you alerts to replace the cartridges.  (NOTE: These ratings are for the Replacement Cartridges, sold under the Model Numbers in the previous paragraph.  The cartridges which are packaged with the Printer from the factory, are limited-fill 'introductory cartridges', rated at about 1000 pages.)

There is an Override setting on the Printer, allowing you to run the Cartridges well beyond those page counts I just mentioned - and I have put this to the test.  Your results may vary, of course - but my finding is that you can push the Cartridges up to about 4000 pages, with only minimal degradation of Print Quality (no reduction in sharpness, but colors will be a little 'off').  Knowing this 'Cartridge-stretching' trick, can reduce your Cost Per Page significantly.  It also allows you to finish the day's work, when a low Toner alert shuts the Printer down in the middle of a job.

Be careful, though, about pushing them TOO far.  I am finding that somewhere between 4000 and 5000 pages (about double the rated life span), the Seals inside the Cartridge - which prevent excess Toner from flying past the Imaging Drum - wear out.  When this happens, you suddenly start getting serious 'color streaking' (in whichever color has the worn seals) on your printouts.  At this point, if you haven't already, Replace The Cartridge!  Because once it starts this, it only gets worse - and in a hurry.  When it progresses to 'painting' the Transport Belt, you have a MESSY cleanup job on your hands.

It is for that reason, that I DON'T recommend using Refilled Cartridges.  Refilling only replaces the depleted Toner powder - it doesn't replace worn parts.  Use New, real HP Cartridges - use the Override to get 'all they're worth' from them - then replace them with New Cartridges.

And when you replace a Cartridge, please RECYCLE the old one!  There are some things inside it - not to mention that Plastic casing - that DON'T need to be in your local Landfill!  Many office supply stores now offer a credit or discount for recycling.  If yours doesn't, the package with the new HP Cartridge includes a Prepaid Shipping Label, to send the old one in for recycling.  You can just slide the old cartridge into the box the new one came in, tape it shut, apply the label, and drop it off at any UPS location.  HP picks up the tab for shipping and recycling.