In addition to devices of unsurpassed quality under the Hewlett-Packard logo, which are more often found in a business class niche, the user can find the manufacturer’s products on shelves with appliances in a budget price category. An example is an HP 1102 laser printer. From this article, the reader will learn the technical specifications of this printer and get acquainted with the capabilities of the device. Owner reviews and an affordable price will prompt a potential buyer to make the right decision.
About HP 1102 Mods
The manufacturer presented two models of the device to the world market. The HP 1102 printer and its advanced modification, the HP 1102w printer with integrated Wi-Fi. Both new products are included in the same price category (4500-5500 rubles), which attracts the attention of potential buyers. It would seem that a device with a wireless interface is more attractive for the future owner, because it (according to the manufacturer) supports printing from all mobile devices.
However, judging by the numerous reviews of the owners, the HP wireless solution does not behave correctly when sending texts or pictures to print from devices running Android or iOS. Only the Windows Mobile operating system works correctly, which has not taken root in our country. Therefore, the entire review will be devoted to the HP LaserJet 1102 stationary printing device.
Printer Specifications
Before the first acquaintance, a potential buyer will be interested to know the technical specifications of the HP LaserJet 1102 budget printer:
- laser printing technology using the HP LJ CE285A cartridge;
- the device supports working with all known desktop platforms, and is also capable of printing on any flexible paper medium;
- speed is 18 pages per minute, and the maximum resolution does not exceed 600x600 dpi;
- The printer is capable of printing borderless, duplex printing is not supported;
- the maximum monthly load on the device is 1,500 A4 pages and a density of 60-163 grams per square meter;
- the average power consumption when printing is 360 watts, and the noise level does not exceed 55 dB.
First introduction to the HP 1102 Printer
The usual budget device in a gigantic box size will definitely cause positive emotions even for the most demanding customer. So, only manufacturers of high-end products worry about safety during transportation. Accustomed to the conservative appearance of the packaging from HP, the user will clearly be surprised the second time he discovers a color image of the HP 1102 device with a detailed description of the functionality on one of its displays. The printer is packaged with dignity: cardboard stiffeners, a lot of partitions, a sarcophagus made of polystyrene foam and antistatic bubble wraps.
The equipment of the device at first glance seems rich, but upon a detailed examination it turns out that most packages are only components of the printer. In addition to the printing device and its spare parts, the user will find a power cable, a USB 2.0 interface cable, driver disks for the HP 1102 printer, a cartridge, and an instruction manual.
Manufacturer's Cautions
According to statistics, about 90% of breakdowns of newly acquired printing equipment are caused by incorrect commissioning. It should be noted that this does not fall under warranty repair. Before connecting the printer to the computer, you must prepare it for start-up.
- If the purchase took place in the winter, then office equipment should stand in open form for about 24 hours without connecting, for weathering moisture. In all other cases, one hour is enough to combine the temperature of the case with the temperature of the room.
- Having removed the cartridge from the box with the HP 1102 printer, you need to take it by the handle and gently shake it (with a pendulum motion of your hand) so that the toner adhering during transportation is mixed.
- Before installing the cartridge and sheets of paper, you need to peel off all the protective tapes from the internal and external nodes of the printer (there are about 20 of them, more detailed information is in the instructions).
- By connecting the printer to the computer, you don’t need to immediately fill it with tasks, let it stand for 3-5 minutes (warm up all the elements).
Drivers & Software
Presenting the HP 1102 printer in the world market, the manufacturer noted that his device is capable of working with any Windows operating system without drivers. As it turned out, this is true - the basic driver is in the system storage, however, it has obvious problems with fine-tuning the office equipment. In order to use the full functionality of the printer, you must install the full package of drivers that comes with the printer.
As users note in their reviews, one of the kit’s disks contains licensed software, which is limited to a 30-day trial period. It is better not to install these programs, because after the deadline they are able to notify any user with their threats and demands to acquire a license when they print any documents. There are many similar programs on the Internet that are offered for free.
Problems and their solution
The user can solve most problems with printing a printer in a matter of minutes by himself. The main thing is to always have the operating instructions supplied with the device at hand. If the HP 1102 printer does not print, go to the end of the manual, to the "Problems and Solutions" section. In a huge table spread over several pages, find your question and, after reading the solution, perform the indicated steps with the printer.
Many owners in their reviews draw the attention of users to the removal of jammed paper - in no case should you remove it from a working printer (a small piece of paper that may form during a break will block the operation of the entire device). It is necessary to disconnect the printer from the network, open the cover, remove the cartridge and, scrolling the pressure rollers with your fingers, pull out a sheet of paper in the direction of its movement when printing.
The advantages of low-cost devices
Inexpensive solutions on the office equipment market are interesting in that their low cost pays off quickly when using a cartridge refueling on their own. On average, it is enough to make 10 refills on your own to completely cover the cost of not only the printer, but also the purchased toner. This is used by many owners, rarely anyone is willing to pay fabulous money for pouring black powder into the bunker.
The yield of a standard cartridge is 1600 pages at 5% coverage (this is printing plain text in 14 fonts with one and a half indentation). If we recall the print limit (1,500 pages per month), we can conclude that one refill of the HP 1102 will provide a printer for one month of operation. After simple calculations, the user will come to the conclusion that with intensive printing, the printer pays for itself in just one year. What is not a business?
Owner reviews
In addition to the fact that the price is one of the main criteria when buying an HP 1102 printer, the owner’s reviews carry an important influence on the user's choice. Therefore, the data from the media will get to know better. Oddly enough, some users attributed the huge size of the package to the negative, which even when folded takes up a lot of space. The problem is that those who wish to use the warranty in case of breakage (12 months) need to keep the packaging intact and fully loaded.
Another negative concerns the bad smell coming from the printer when printing. There is no escape from this, this is the technology. You either need to get used to this, or ventilate the room after printing. This is where the negative ends, and all other reviews are only positive. If you summarize everything, the result will look something like this: the cheapest HP 1102 printer on the market with laser printing from a very famous brand copes with all the tasks, and if any problems arise, they can be solved independently using the instructions.
Finally
There is only one conclusion - if you need an inexpensive laser printer with minimal printing costs, then the HP 1102 device will be the best purchase for any person. Naturally, it is intended for home use, because the load of 1,500 sheets limits its use in the office. Such a printer is suitable for schoolchildren, students, housewives - any users who sometimes need to print something at home.