HP Laserjet Print Options (2 sided)?

[char...@email.com]

I'm looking into new HP Laserjet printers and have a question regarding the
"printing on both sides options"? I noticed the printers have two options:

- Duplexer - Manual (driver support provided)
- Duplexer - Automatic (standard)

How do these options work? My current printer has the Duplexer option and it is
normally off - and when I want to print on both side, prior to printing, I go to
Print/Preferences for my Laserjet printer, click "Print on Both Sides" and
print. But it is not ON by default (I prefer this approach).

How does the above options work?

charliec

[Tony]

Some printers have a mechanical duplexer so that when you want to print two
sided the printer will automatically turn the paper over and feed it back to
print the other side (that is option2 above). You can, as you have mentioned,
disable the duplexer in most printer drivers.
Others can duplex print (manual) but you have to tell it through the driver to
print all the odd pages, then remove the paper and re-insert it in the printer
upside down, and print the even pages (a simplistic explanation).
Essentially I have described what you have already understood, there really is
not much more to it.
Does that cover the question?
Tony

[char...@email.com]

Yes, thanks for the reply!
charliec

[Bill (Adopt)]

In article <adatf99juhks6h6tu...@4ax.com>,

<char...@email.com> wrote:
> I'm looking into new HP Laserjet printers and have a question regarding the
> "printing on both sides options"? I noticed the printers have two options:

> - Duplexer - Manual (driver support provided)
> - Duplexer - Automatic (standard)

> How do these options work?

Hello, Charliec :))

They work exactly as you have experienced!

Manual merely means that one side is printed and
then you, the Printer, turn the paper around/over
and select "continue" as your printer manager
suggests or dictates.

> My current printer has the Duplexer option
> and it is normally off - and when I want to print on both side, prior
> to printing, I go to Print/Preferences for my Laserjet printer,
> click "Print on Both Sides" and print. But it is not ON by default
> (I prefer this approach).

Yes, fine ..one easy way of doing things! However,
there may be another way.. :))

> How does the above options work?

If your new printer is similar/identical to mine,
an HP Pro400 M451dn (as sold here in the UK), you
may be able to page the printer's own internal 'web'
pages - (it should have them). Here you will find
a whole selection of pages that allow you to make
certain settings - of print, print quality, fonts
..well, a whole range of options, reports, settings
et al.

Depending on the operating system(s) you have in
use, these pages and options will already be part
of your printer driver - but, if not, then as said
they should be self-contained within the printer.

Here you will hopefully find among the many selections,
(in a menu running horizontally along the top of the
initial home page), a selection named "System".

In the "System" menu there will be a submenu which
should include "Device Info, Paper Setup, Print quality,
Print density etc etc"!

Selecting "Paper Setup" will introduce a further sub
menu which hopefully will include choice boxes to define
"Paper size, Paper type and so on, including...

Manual feed (on/off)
Duplex (on/off)
Bind(ing) (Long Edge/Short Edge)

The options that I have setup here is Manual feed "Off",
Duplex "On" and Bind as "Long Edge" ..ie Portrait.

With these options set the printer now does all duplex
printing completely automatically ..ie, if there are
two or more sides to print then it will print both sides
- or just a single side only if that's all there is or all
that's left at the end of a print run..

Of course, if you wish to print landscape you can easily
set the HP Pro400 M451dn "Short Edge", I guess!

These selections become the printer's default settings;
very useful for me as I use mainly RISC OS with a PS
driver.

I have additionally found that, in printing wirelessly
from a small LINUX OS Netbook, a print run can be easily
controlled from drivers provided by HP for the Pro400.

This does not seem to affect the (newly?) established
default settings in the printer once the Linux run is
finished.

I think I should mention that my HP Pro400 is connected
by a Cat6 cable to the network via a wireless router
and not via usb to a (Microsoft) PC, which means that
various machines around the house can individually access
the printer.

I guess this last above would operate in the same
manner if the Pro400 M451dn also has it's own internal
wireless added.. ..designated by a "w" added to the "dn..".
Perhaps your added designation of "e" means HP's e-print
arrangement(?) - another means to an end..

A thought: you might care to add an additional 256MB
memory module easily accessed and installed in the side
slot of the printer - but be gentle - if I remember it
slots in at an angle and will 'click' in easily when
eased back..(!). Means you will have oodles of memory
and not run out of print half way down the most important
page.. ;))

I've used a Memory upgrade for the HP/Compaq - (Amazon).
There are various ranging from HP's own, (very expensive),
to the much, much cheaper ones from specialist suppliers
of Laptop/Netbook/Printer modules. (Here, the cost is a
reasonable 15.00gbp, or less).

You'll probably be also aware that the HP Pro400 M451dn
is also best left switched on at all times, 24/7, especially
as the standby/sleep power consumption is very low indeed
- about the same or less than a dvd/tv hdd recorder or whatever.

Means that printing is available to you from wherever you
are, in the house or via your router and Mobile/Cellphone
on your worldwide travels. (This will, of course, depend
on your own security arrangements, if you need such)..

As a matter of possible interest, I've been running the
HP Pro400 M451dn for very nearly a year now. Faultless,
with exceptionally print quality right out the box - so
I'm guessing you'll be well pleased. (Seems quite sparing
with toners, as well)!

Hope helps.. :))

Bill ZFC

--
Adoption InterLink UK with -=- http://www.billsimpson.com/
Domain Host Orpheus Internet -=- http://www.orpheusinternet.co.uk/

[char...@email.com]

Yes, it does help! Thanks for the input.

charliec