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MODEL DATA Model Number HP 33459 Introduction Date March 1990 Original MSRP $3,595 Replaces Model HP LaserJet IID Replaced by Model LaserJet 4 Plus
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. See the HP Font Cartridges page for other available fonts.
REFURBISHED PRINTERS AVAILABLE
The HP LaserJet IIID has been discontinued, but The Printer Works can build them from parts at special request. Refurbished printers are in like-new condition and come with a full-one-year warranty. For a price quote, select the printer's part number in the ordering information table.
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CONTROLLER SPECIFICATIONS
Part Number 10 MHz: 33449-60001
10 MHz: 33451-60001
16 MHz: 33497-60001
Designer/Mfg. HP
Design Similar to None
Std. Emulations Adobe PostScript
Opt. Emulations PCL 5 (incorporates HP-GL/2)
Emulation Brand HP
CPU & Clock Rate 68000 @ 10 MHz or 16 MHz
ASIC(s) Yes, HP Proprietary 1MK6-0201
Bitmap Resolution (max) 300 X 300
RET Yes
Base RAM 1 Megabyte
Max RAM 5 Megabytes
Font Cartridges 2 Slots, Std. Full Size
Control Panel Type Full Function with 16 Char. LCD
Standard Interfaces RS-232, Centronics Parallel
Optional Interfaces AppleTalk, External Video, LAN
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 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.
See the section on the HP LaserJet III controller for a discussion of HP's Resolution Enhancement Technology.
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You can check prices or order these items from the ordering information table below.
The HP IIID uses the same toner cartridges as all other SX-based printers.
FONT CARTRIDGES
There are many font cartidges made by HP for the HP LaserJet family. When you want to increase your printer font collection, see our catalog page on Font Cartridges from Hewlett-Packard.
PAPER HANDLING
The LaserJet IIID printer uses the same shaped paper trays and high-capacity feeders as all other SX-based printers. All versions are physically interchangeable, but there are slight color differences. (See also Diagram 300.)
You can also buy third party high-capacity feeders for paper or envelopes, as well as an output stacker, to add productivity to SX, RX and TX printers. The sheet feeders can hold up to 1500 sheets; the envelope feeder up to 250 envelopes. The stacker extends your printer's output hopper, allowing it to stack up to 500 sheets.MEMORY
The HP LaserJet IIID has two RAM expansion slots. The 1 MB and 2 MB RAM cards available from HP can be added in combinations to give you 1, 2, 3, or 4 MB of additional memory. The generic RAM cards are available unpopulated (0 MB) or filled with 1, 2, 3, or 4 MB. These cards can be used only in a single slot, you cannot combine these with a RAM card in the second expansion slot.
CONTROLLER UPGRADE OPTIONS
The LaserJet IIID controller can be upgraded for PostScript with the HP Adobe PostScript cartridge. For the LaserJet IID and IIID, we recommend this cartridge over third-party PostScript cartridges, because to our knowledge it is the only one that supports duplex operators and automatic envelope feeding. A total of eleven extra operators extend standard PostScript to change between duplex or simplex modes and select either of two paper trays or the automatic envelope feeder.
We also recommend the HP Adobe PostScript cartridge for simple text printing because it's faster on text than the LaserJet III in native PCL mode! This unexpected result was observed by The Printer Works when clocking the various PostScript cartridges. We found that even under the optimum conditions of sending simple Courier 12 point text in PCL, the LaserJet III attained only 5.6 ppm. When the same file was printed with a PostScript driver and the HP Adobe PostScript cartridge installed, the printer printed at its maximum 8.1 ppm.
Note that this slow text speed is characteristic only of the original 10 MHz version of the LaserJet III controller. The newer 16 MHz controller prints simple text at the full rated 8.1 ppm speed of the SX engine, and it improves PostScript print times as well.
This unexpected speed increase on text with the HP Adobe PostScript cartridge was confirmed by an Adobe developer who explained that Adobe has always included some very clever coding in its PostScript interpreters that can handle simple text quickly. Evidently, these special algorithms spot pages of simple text and bundle them into a compact format that can be rasterized on the fly while the toner drum is turning and while additional data is being received.
Newer versions of the Phoenix Page PostScript interpreter (such as the version used by Xante) can print at full engine speed by using dual-page buffering to build one page while the other is being sent to the printer, but this requires additional memory.
To our knowledge, the only high-performance upgrade for RX-engines comes from Pacific Semiconductor. Its controllers offer high-speed PCL 5, as well as optional PostScript Level 1 or 2. Interface options include Ethernet for Novell, multiple parallel and serial ports, and IBM 327X Coax. Ask our sales people for the latest information about these exciting and continually evolving controllers from Pac Semi.
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For price and ordering information or to place the item in your shopping cart, select a Part Number in the table.
PRINTERS Part Number Description 33459A Printer, HP LaserJet IIID, 110/115 50/60Hz 33459AB-AU Printer, HP LaserJet IIID, 220/240V 50Hz CONTROLLERS Part Number Description 33451-60001 Controller, HP LaserJet III/IIID (10 MHz) 33497-60001 Controller, HP LaserJet III/IIID (16 MHz) 33497-67901 Formatter, Incl. I/O Bracket, HP LJ 3/3D MEMORY Part Number Description 33474B Memory Card, 1MB for HP LaserJet IIP/III/IIID/IIIP 33475B Memory Card, 2MB for HP LaserJet IIP/III/IIID/IIIP 33474B-CLN Memory Card, 1MB, Generic for HP LJ IIP/III/IIID/IIIP 33475B-CLN Memory Card, 2MB, Generic for HP LJ IIP/III/IIID/IIIP 33477B-CLN Memory Card, 4MB, Generic for HP LJ IIP/III/IIID/IIIP ACCESSORIES Part Number Description 33416A AppleTalk Interface Kit (Requires 33439P-R and Memory) 33439P Adobe PostScript Emulation and Font Cartridge PAPER TRAYS Part Number Description 92297B Paper Tray, HP III/IIID 92297C Paper Tray, HP III/IIID 92297D Paper Tray, HP III/IIID 92297E Paper Tray, HP III/IIID 92297F Envelope Cassette with Top, HP III/IIID OPTIONAL SHEET AND ENVELOPE FEEDERS Part Number Description 33458A Envelope Feeder (50 env.), HP IIID LCS-RX-USP Feeder, Sheet, Genesis JetTray 1500 for RX and TX LCSEF25-RX Feeder, Envelope, Genesis JetTray 250E for RX and TX MAINTENANCE KIT --->Contents of Kit (See photograph and details.) Part Number Description 33449-37904 HP LJ 2/2D /3&347: 3D Maintenance Kit, 120V, 100K Pg. Rpl. Parts DOCUMENTATION Part Number Description 33459-90901 HP IIID, User's Manual 33459-90903 HP IIID, PCL5 Technical Reference Guide 33459-90905 HP IIID, Setup Guide 33459-90906 HP IID & HP IIID Combined, Service Manual
Each SX maintenance kit contains (see photograph and details):
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