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The History of HP Colour LaserJet Printers
The HP Colour LaserJet printers would eventually end up revolutionising the printing industry and change the way that the average person was able to have access to quality printing devices. However, it was a long time coming for the line of HP LaserJet printers and it would take some great innovation as well as research and development on the part of HP before they were able to introduce the first HP Colour LaserJet printers and LaserJet toner.
Introducing the LaserJet Printer
In the early nineties, HP would experience much success with their line of LaserJet printers, especially with the introduction of the first printer with a 600 dpi output as well as Microfine toner. This was the LaserJet 4 and would eventually allow the average person to have access to publication quality printing devices in their homes. This was one of the biggest successes for the line up until that point, however it wouldn’t be for long. The company would company investing money heavily into research and development for the line of printers and eventually by 1994 ship its 10 millionth LaserJet printer.
HP’s First Colour LaserJet
However the greatest success for the line of LaserJet printers would not happen until later that year in September when the HP Colour LaserJet printer would be introduced as their first colour laser printer. This was a great success for the company and the line of printers as it would provide the industry with direction and allow consumers to have access to a quality of printing that was just not possible before then. This printer was able to produce this high quality of printing for less than 10 cents per page and proved to be one of the greatest successes for the line up until that time. The first Colour LaserJet printer boasted about its 2 ppm colour printing and 10 ppm black and white printing capabilities as well as a 12,50 sheet paper tray and 45 built in fonts. The printer would also offer a PCL 5 with colour.
Although the original sale price of USD $7,295 seems unusually high for today’s standards, the product was quite successful and HP would continue to be competitive pricing wise within the market to this day. The line of Colour LaserJet printers would ultimately phase out the older black and white models and go on to release a 5th generation of the line with the introduction of the LaserJet 5 family of printers.
