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PRINTERS |
  
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PRINTERS |
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PRINTERS
Note that you need to use a parallel port printer - not a USB port printer.
USB support may available if use you have a network of Windows XP computers
AND an HP brand USB printer and the latest version of Jewelry Shopkeeper.
(However, even in those cases note that parallel port printing is easier
and can save time configuring Shop-Pro for USB)
The two most common types of printers are InkJet and Laser which can be used
with the Jewelry Shop-Pro to print reports, receipts, cheques, appraisals,
repair envelopes, mass-mailing labels, and a few other things. Note that
neither type of printer is suitable for printing price-tags. Of these types,
"Laser" printers are quicker, quieter and thus preferred.
The HP models 1150, 1320, and 3700 are good and the 2300 allows you to
add extra paper input trays.
Some low-price but compatible non-HP brand laser printers are the Brother
HL5150D, HL5140 and HL1440 (bit slow) which have both USB and parallel
ports. The 5150D benefits from two input trays and the 5150DLT has three.
The Dell 1700N USB-only laser printer is low-end but is also compatible.
The USB HP LaserJet 5100 is a deal at $149 - but see USB limitations above.
Do NOT get the HP Laserjet 1012 which does NOT have PCL.
Many people use Inkjet printers which are less expensive. There are a
couple of things that the Jewelry Shop-pro doesn't support on the inkjets
which are printing a picture on the repair envelope (although it CAN on
the appraisal) and printing a complete accounts receivable statement.
(It can print A/R statements, but only if you get the pre-printed statement
forms, whereas the laser printer can print the form itself, allowing you to
use plain paper for statements.)
Whichever one you get, you should get Hewlett Packard brand. If you do get
an HP inkjet (called a DeskJet), it is important to get one which supports
the HP printer language called PCL. Currently the 6122. 3820, 5650, 5550 work
if you use the parallel port connection. But the models change frequently.
As (an incomplete) example, models to AVOID are 710, 712, 820, 720, 722,
1000 and HP Photosmart which do not support PCL. Also, avoid multi-function
fax/ printers. The Epson Stylus 777 and Xerox P8 are not compatible.
In general, avoid Epson, Lexmark, Compaq & Xerox inkjets - stick with HP.
However the Optra line of Lexmark laser printers have PCL and are ok.
If you must use a fax-printer you can use an HP Officejet 7110, 6110 or
5110. However you should have Windows XP in a network situation for that
and note that Officejets are inkjet printers which are not as fast as
laser printers and have the statement limitations noted above.
For price-tags you can either use a dot-matrix printer or a specialty
barcode printer such as a Citizen CLP-6002 or a Datamax E4203 or
the FastMark 402. Note that barcode tag printers are $500 to $1400 and
print ONLY tags (nothing else). Standard laser and inkjet printers do
NOT print price tags.
It isn't particularly desirable these days but it is possible to use Epson
or Panasonic dot-matrix printers for reports, mailing labels, checks,
appraisals, receipts and even price tags (but tags without a barcode and
without the durability and quality of tags from a barcode printer.)