HP LaserJet model numbers - what are they short for?

[Reijo Koskela]

Could someone explain what HP LaserJet model numbers mean (the models that
have been sold in the last few years)? I know e.g. Laserjet 5 is newer than
LJ 4 and LJ 4 is newer than LJ III.

I have very little idea what the prefix letters mean: 4P, 5L, 5ML... I guess
4000N = 4000 Network, but I do not know about the others. Can one tell which
model is for A3/A4 (or even larger) paper and which is for A4 only from
model number?

I am also interested in explanations of model numbers of other laser brands,
like Canon, Xerox... if someone knows the logic behind them.

Thanks in advance!

[Reijo Koskela]

Could someone explain what HP LaserJet model numbers mean (the models that

have been sold in the last few years)? I know e.g. LaserJet 5 is newer than

LJ 4 and LJ 4 is newer than LJ III.

I have very little idea what the postfix letters mean: 4P, 5L, 5ML... I

[Reijo Koskela]

[Glenn]

1. you might try the HP Web site, though i have to ask exactly what you
are looking for, because you could spend your life piecing together a HP
family tree.

2. from my experience, just about any HP laser printer can handle any
paper -- US Letter; US legal, A4 and A3 paper -- as long as you have the
correct paper trays (in the printers that require trays.). as an example,
the LJ III's are old, fairly big printeres where you had to specifically
order a legal paper tray in order to be able to deal with legal size paper.
Same for the LJ4's. from memory, i have never seen special trays for
a3/a4. the tray's always had spacer's that would position the paper
properly.

"Reijo Koskela" <Reijo....@SpammersGoAway.com> wrote in message
news:b0deua$mim$1...@nntp.hut.fi...

[Forrest Anderson]

On Sun, 19 Jan 2003 08:00:42 +0200, in comp.periphs.printers, "Reijo
Koskela" <Reijo....@SpammersGoAway.com> wrote:

>Could someone explain what HP LaserJet model numbers mean (the models that
>have been sold in the last few years)? I know e.g. Laserjet 5 is newer than
>LJ 4 and LJ 4 is newer than LJ III.

Unlike some cars, where the name is linked to the engine size, I don't
think the numbers (8000, 8100, 4000, 4100, 2200 etc) "mean" anything.
However the series of four-digit numbers is used nowadays to indicate
a specific type of printer. For instance, the series starting at 8000
(eg 8000, 8100), is for departmental A3 mono lasers, whilst the series
starting at 8500 (eg 8500, 8550) is for large workgroup colour A3
lasers.

There is a helpful list of HP LaserJets at
http://h20015.www2.hp.com/en/document.jhtml?lc=en&docName=bpl03772 and
this gives the dates that the various models were introduced and
discontinued. This would probably be the starting point for making a
family tree of printers, to which you could then add information about
each model.

To get information about a model, one way is to go to
<http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/Product.jsp%3Flocale%3Den_US%26prodTypeId%3D18972%26prodSubCatId%3D14638>
and after choosing a printer, see if you can find the product
specifications.

>I have very little idea what the prefix letters mean: 4P, 5L, 5ML... I guess
>4000N = 4000 Network, but I do not know about the others. Can one tell which
>model is for A3/A4 (or even larger) paper and which is for A4 only from
>model number?

Currently, the 4-digit model numbers tend to end with:

N Supplied with a network card

D Supplied with a duplexer

DN Supplied with a duplexer and network card

TN Supplied with extra tray and network card

DTN Supplied with duplexer, extra tray and network card

HDN Supplied with hard disk, duplexer, network card and extra tray

MFP Multi Function Printer variant (adds a scanner to make the
printer into a copier and perhaps a fax)

Some of the above suffixes are also used by other companies.

LaserJets with one-digit model numbers had a different set of
suffixes, eg:

HP LaserJet 5 printer
HP LaserJet 5SE printer
HP LaserJet 5M printer
HP LaserJet 5N printer
HP LaserJet 5P printer
HP LaserJet 5MP printer
HP LaserJet 5L printer
HP LaserJet 5L-FS printer
HP LaserJet 5L-Xtra printer
HP LaserJet 5Si printer
HP LaserJet 5Si MX printer
HP LaserJet 5Si NX printer
HP LaserJet 5Si Mopier

Although I'll leave it up to someone else to describe them(!), bear in
mind that whilst printers with the same 4-digit model number are
essentially the same, those with the same single-digit model number
can be quite different. For instance, the 5M is an A4/letter printer,
whilst the 5Si is an A3/tabloid printer. This may be why HP decided to
change their numbering system.

Forrest

--
Forrest Anderson, Edinburgh, Scotland.
E-mail: for...@military-researcher.com
Website: www.military-researcher.com
Forrestdale Research - Army, Navy and Air Force Genealogical Researcher