The Advantages of Choosing An HP A3 Printer

HP A3 printers are those Hewlett Packard printers which print on the standard sized A3 sheet of paper that is most commonly used in business.  These printers come in two main types (laserjet and inkjet), which subsequently come in a variety of standards and models depending on the user’s need.

The first type of HP printer is the laserjet, which prints using toner.  Laserjet printers usually print much faster than inkjets, and need their toner replaced less than inkjet printers need their ink replaced.  In addition, these models also have faster processors and larger memory capacities, which is ideal for networked printers, but they are usually substantially more expensive to initially purchase and, while inkjet printers can print colors into a document, laserjets are usually restricted to printing only in their black toner, though color laserjets have been increasing in popularity.  That said, A3 laserjet printers work very well as business printers because of their capacity to handle large volumes of printing with little maintenance.

A good laserjet printer to consider for a small network would be the HP LaserJet P3005 Printer, which HP lists for $549.99.  This printer can hold 500 sheets of A3 paper, and has an additional storage area for 100 more of a different size.  A larger printer like the HP LaserJet 5200tn Printer, can hold up to 850 sheets, has a slightly larger processor (460MHz versus the P3005’s 400MHz) and 64MB (versus 48MB in the P3005) of RAM standard, though it can be expanded up to 512 MB, allowing for much faster processing of complicated documents.  This printer is much better for larger networks with a heavy workload and lists for $2,139.99.  Both of these printers generally print approximately 35 pages per minute.

On the flip side, a good HP A3 inkjet printer can be much cheaper, though it has differing features.  For instance, the HP Officejet 7000 Wide Format printer series – E809 is a much smaller printer with only a 150 standard sheet paper tray available, though it is listed new as low as $199.00.  It can print at speeds similar to the laserjet printers, at 33 pages per minute, but with comparable quality is usually restricted to 8 pages per minute.  Unlike the aforementioned laserjet printers, however, it switches easily between color and black and white, and has more connectivity via ethernet and USB interfaces.  A higher quality machine such as the HP Officejet Pro K8600 printer can print slightly faster than the above printer at 35 pages per minute and, at laser comparable quality, can print around 13 pages per minute.  It has a 150 sheet input tray and can connect with external print servers.  This model lists for as low as $399.00.

HP Officejet 7000 Wide Format Printer

HP Officejet Pro K8600 – Printer

HP Deskjet 9800 Wide Format Color Printer

HP laserjet printers are very fast and require little maintenance, but good models can cost several thousand dollars.  On the other hand, inkjet printers are a bit slower, require more frequent ink changes, and tend to show errors when there are none, but they are durable, clear printers and usually only cost a few hundred dollars.  Depending on your need, while both types are good, one may be a better selection, so you should consider carefully before purchasing in order to get the quality that you need.