Product Review: Hewlett-Packard 1020 LaserJet Printer

I used to buy cheap inkjet printers that loused up print jobs and cost me a small fortune in ink cartridges. Not being one who enjoyed refilling ink cartridges with a do-it-yourself kit, I bought ink cartridges at thirty dollars a pop (minimum!), only have them dry up in record time, no matter how frugal I was with printing. The print quality of the inkjet printers I'd been using left much to be desired- smudges, blobs, fuzzy text. It wasn't something suitable for professional use, or even for my academic purposes. So, after going through three annoying printers in five years, I decided to succumb to my desire to have a reliable laserjet printer.

So I went to Office Depot, and lo, there it was- the Hewlett-Packard 1020 LaserJet model, on sale for $135.

I've always had good experiences with HP printers- most of the companies I'd worked for used HP printers, and they didn't seem to have problems (unlike the company copiers). I was, truth be told, hoping that I could find a reasonably priced HP laserjet printer, but I assumed that a quality printer like an HP would be out of my price range. When I saw the price of the HP 1020, I grabbed it. Literally. It was the last one, and I was scared that the other people in the printer aisle with me would notice the smoking deal and grab it while I stood there, neurotically deliberating.

Skepticism kicked in, however, when I got to the register and the cashier told me that I'd need to buy a toner cartridge, as the cartridge included with the printer was a "tester" cartridge good for only about 15 prints. Wondering aloud if I'd gotten myself into yet another printer ink rip-off situation, I handed over another seventy-something dollars for a toner cartridge and left the store with the slightest twinge of buyer's remorse. Two years later, that "tester" cartridge is still alive and well and printing like the Little Toner Cartridge That Could. I wonder if I'll ever get around to using the replacement.

This printer isn't something that you'll want for the workplace, unless employees have individual printers on their desks. This printer can perform duplex prints (with your assistance) and includes all of the standard features that most printers have. It's compact enough to fit on even a small desk, and the feed tray folds and snaps shut into the body of the printer for easy storage and moving. The HP 1020 prints at about fourteen pages a minute and the main paper tray holds about 150 sheets. The printer includes a USB cable and an A/C adapter, and the HP Wireless Printing Upgrade Kit is compatible with the 1020 and can be purchased for an additional charge. Be sure to read the manual, as there are certain tips that will ensure the life of your printer (hint: don't unplug it from your computer unless it is powered off). Otherwise, the printer is a piece of cake to use and has never given me a single problem. No paper jams, no ink foul-ups, no mysterious blinking lights- just reliable printing with quality results.

If you're looking for a basic but competent laser printer for your personal or home office needs, I recommend the HP 1020. I only wish I'd bought one sooner.