Hewlett-Packard Business Inkjet 1200 Printer Series
The recently introduced BIJ 1200 family replaces HP’s initial Business Inkjet offering, the BIJ 1100 Series. Recognizing the potential for a low cost “business class” inkjet solution, HP was quick to update the 1100 Series with a more powerful controller, increased RAM, and faster speeds while maintaining the same $199 SRP for the non-networked basic version with standard
duplexing. This printer is also available in dn, dtn, and dtwn configurations:
1200d | $199 | Non-networked, Standard Duplex |
1200dn | $249 | Networked (wired) |
1200dtn | $299 | Networked (wired)+ 250-sheet Paper Tray 2 |
1200dtwn | $349 | Networked (wired + wireless) + 250-sheet Paper Tray 2 |
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Like these models, the HP BIJ 1200 is based on separate print cartridge and print head design. On paper the HP Business Inkjet 1200 Series has several specification advantages over the G500, as shown in the chart. These include:
•Lower SRP
•Faster Full-color and Black-and-white output speeds with higher interpolated resolution
•Higher maximum monthly volume rating with higher print cartridge yields
•Greater amounts of RAM and a faster CPU with optional hard-wired or wireless connectivity
•Printing onto banner paper up to 19 feet long
•Support for Macintosh computers
•Standard duplexing (up to 8.5” x 11”, equal to maximum duplex size)
The G500 has some specification advantages of its own, including a larger standard paper supply and the availability of a single sheet bypass to process heavyweight stocks. But that’s not where the battle will be won.
The BIJ 1200 Series uses pigment-based ink for black, but dye-based inks for the cyan, magenta, and yellow colors. The price of each print cartridge on the HP website is $33.99—comparable to the print cartridge pricing at $32 for Black, $31 for Cyan, and $36 for Magenta and Yellow (although yields are not equivalent). However, these print heads are designed to last for the life of the printer and never need replacement. HP publishes a life of 16,000 pages for the Black print head, and 24,000 pages for each of C/M/Y print head. Replacement print heads for the BIJ 1200 are also available through the HP website at $33.99 each, which means the customer will incur much higher out-of-pocket expenses for HP technology over the life of the printer.
As reviewed in the Sales Information Guide, dye-based inks are prone to smudging and bleeding, take longer to dry, and are therefore not recommended for two-sided printing applications. The printers’ Viscous Inks are fast drying and specifically designed to meet business user needs for duplexing at high speed. The use of dye-based inks calls into question the full-color duplex print quality on the BIJ 1200 Series. Also, ask your customer to closely examine high image coverage prints. Is the paper wavy from ink over-saturation? Does ink bleed through to the rear side of the paper? Is registration accurate? When selling against the HP BIJ 1200 Series, it will hard to compete on price, especially against the d and dtn models—you’ll have to attack image quality and the high cost of consumables.
