| Although Hewlett Packard along with Canon in | | | | among a number of computers and the |
| best known for the development and | | | | objections of cost in both marketing and |
| popularization of the now common inkjet style | | | | purchasing departments to the perceived value |
| of printing is was Hewlett Packard so to | | | | of the early laser printers |
| speak who "broke the dam". | | | | |
| | | | As noted employees loved the speed and |
| The cultures of both Canon and Hewlett | | | | management as well as the ever controlling |
| Packard were predominantly "Engineer | | | | executive secretaries loved the peace and |
| Companies". | | | | quiet. Indeed it was both very impressive and |
| | | | intimidating site to both visitors and |
| Hence the personalities at both ends were | | | | competitors that such a quiet work area could |
| able to "speak the other's language "even | | | | both so productive and deadly. |
| though there may have been cultural and | | | | |
| language barriers of sorts. | | | | Along the way printer sharing devices were |
| | | | commercially introduced to present low cost |
| As well the two groups - Canon and HP were | | | | and easily set up (Non LAN) answers to the |
| able to jointly corroborate on the | | | | high cost of laser printing. |
| development of the ubiquitous ink cartridge | | | | |
| printers in the same manner even though in a | | | | These printer sharing devices were often so |
| business sense they it may have been strictly | | | | advanced in their features and ease of use in |
| considered competitors .. | | | | their print queuing and print spooling |
| | | | capacities that they put the mainframe |
| There were considerable technical and | | | | computer systems of the day to shame. |
| practical difficulties in the developments of | | | | |
| both product streams. | | | | Because of the acceptance of this product |
| | | | line both 3rd party software and hardware |
| As engineers the two sides saw the | | | | support was provided by the progressive |
| development as a puzzle to solved, a project | | | | vendors of the time. |
| to finish to satisfaction rather than two | | | | |
| competitors. | | | | Those by and large are the basis of the |
| | | | features we take for granted today both in |
| It is an interesting historical footnote that | | | | terms of Word Processing / office software |
| the HP Inkjet product development was almost | | | | programs be they WordPerfect of Microsoft |
| repeatedly killed due to antithesis from an | | | | Office or the widespread use of fonts and |
| engineer's point of view that that a product | | | | supportive device drivers for graphics in the |
| (the inkjet cartridges) should be made only | | | | Windows , Macintosh operating systems among |
| to be thrown out in the trash. | | | | others. |
| | | | |
| At the time Dot Matrix Printers with a "Daisy | | | | At an earlier point the sign that you war e |
| Wheel", which were much like the typewriters | | | | dealing with a major corporation or |
| of the day with an ink ribbon which rolled | | | | enterprise was that the document your |
| past the paper to replenish itself, were the | | | | received was printed with the distinctive |
| standard and norm? As well color inkjet | | | | font of the IBM Electric Typewriter ( then $ |
| printers although available somewhat in | | | | 3,000 or so the price of a car). |
| different less standardized, less advanced | | | | |
| forms were not widely used. | | | | That standard now became the print and feel |
| | | | of the then special Laser printers. |
| People in offices liked the new LaserJet | | | | |
| printers. They were tired of waiting around | | | | Since the corporate environment is a very |
| for slow, noisy Dot Matrix printing of their | | | | lucrative as well as trend setting focuses of |
| documents. Laser printing was quick, silent | | | | the computer industry it was not long before |
| and indeed "Magic". | | | | "LaserJet Clones "became available on the |
| | | | marketplace. |
| The first LaserJet's were somewhat expensive | | | | |
| at approximately $ 4000 a machine. | | | | Luckily this spurred on both product |
| | | | development, and ultimately increased market |
| However it must be remembered that this was | | | | penetration, product support and reduced |
| not out of line with the cost of a computer | | | | costs. |
| at the time. | | | | |
| | | | Thus the die was set for the major acceptance |
| The LaserJet's were often connected to a | | | | of Laser printers as " The Standard " of |
| number of computers through early Local Area | | | | Business document presentation and image. |
| Networks (LANS). The printer was thus shared | | | | |