🚀 go-pugleaf

Besides only costing $729 (list), the main new features of the DeskJet 500 are:

1.  Support for kerned (negative side bearings) fonts.  New font cartridges
that only work on the 500 support this.  Downloadable fonts can also support
this feature.  One net effect of this is that LaserJet fonts can be
converted to DeskJet 500 fonts (using various 3rd party tools) and use
the exact same spacing tables as used by the LaserJet fonts.  Of course
the font conversion utilities must be upgraded to support the new kerned
font format (pretty easy really).  The DeskJet 500 will support DeskJet
and DeskJet+ RAM and font cartridges, but some new cartridges will only
work on the DeskJet 500.  The DeskJet+ emulation cartridges (Epson FX80
and IBM Pro Printer) will also work in the DeskJet 500.  The DeskJet
emulation cartridge will not.

2.  Addition of a built in 12 pitch Letter Gothic and 12 point Times Roman
font both upright and italic.  The Times Roman is font is kerned and
has the same spacing as the LaserJet Times Roman font (with a couple
of exceptions due to character set differences).  These additional
fonts, along with the kerning feature is the main improvement and
the main reasons DeskJet+ people should factor in when considering
on whether or not to spend the $175 on an upgrade.

3.  All the graphics enhancements of the DeskWriter were added to the
DeskJet 500.  The main ones are slightly faster decompression algorithms,
mode 3 graphics (in many cases it results in much better data compression),
and "smart" bidirectional graphics printing (decided on by the firmware
when bidirectional printing will not degrade print quality).

4.  Compound characters for kerned fonts will be correct.  This is mainly
an issue for European users that use various accent marks.  Previously,
the black of the character was centered over the black of the accent.
In some cases (especially italic characters) this looked "wrong".  Now
the compound characters are intelligently aligned and look "right".

5.  Remember, scaleable outline fonts are ONLY VIA A FUTURE WINDOWS
DRIVER.  The font scaling is done in the PC, not the printer.
This scaleable outline font feature will also work with DeskJet+ and
DeskJet, but the DeskJet 500 will have better performance due to
the graphics printing enhancements (see #3 above).

6.  Waterfast ink is being shipped with the DeskJet 500, but not
in Europe (all the regulatory, licensing issues are not complete).
This same new ink will work in all DeskJet/DeskWriter printers and
should be appearing on dealers shelves fairly soon.  I have
been using the new ink for about 9 months now and it is much
much more waterfast.  It still smears just a little bit if
you get it real wet, but nothing like the old ink.

As for the upgrade, the incremental improvements between a
DeskJet+ and DeskJet 500 are not that large, so I suspect most
people wont upgrade for $175.  But the improvements between the
DeskJet and DeskJet 500 are very great, and a $225 upgrade for
these people is a very good deal (and its about time in my opinion).
The DeskJet 500 is more than just "new fonts and firmware" relative
to the DeskJet+.  An upgrade does require a new electronics board,
which is the major cost in an upgrade (hence the similarity in
prices between the DeskJet upgrade and DeskJet+ upgrade).  A
DeskJet upgrade also requries a new motor, service station changes,
and a new key panel overlay, so it costs more, but is a very reasonable
cost in my opinion -- considering what it involves.

In the past, it seemed unfortunate that we never had a DeskJet to
DeskJet+ upgrade, but now that the DeskJet 500 is out, it is good
that we didn't have people paying for a DeskJet to DeskJet+ upgrade
and then paying again for a DeskJet+ to DeskJet 500 upgrade :-).

Dave Neff
neff@hpvcfs1.HP.COM