Beware of Color LaserJet 2600n printer... they can't print PDF's 1

[ScottCGI]

Just a heads up to anyone who has or is thinking about buying an HP Color LaserJet 2600n printer... they cannot print PDF files. I called up HP and they told me it's because there is no postscript driver for this printer and they have no plans to create one. As unbelievable as it sounds it's true!

Scott

 

[LawnBoy]

I maintain a dozen different types of HP printers (but not the 2600) and they all print PDF files using PCL drivers. You don't have to have postscript to print PDFs.

 

[ScottCGI]

You may be right but that is what they told me over the phone. I found a few other posts on the internet where people are having this same exact problem and updating the firmware for the printer didn't solve the issue. There is only one driver out there. I tried updating Adobe to the latest version but it didn't help.

Scott

 

[LawnBoy]

That's really very bizarre. I don't doubt your word, it just seems mighty strange that HP would intentionally not support PDFs on that one printer.

Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of the Marketing dweebs...

 

[ScottCGI]

It is bizarre. I can't imagine anyone keeping this printer and instructing their employees to not PDF's to it! I suspect HP will eventually create a driver for it but I don't have time to sit around and wait for that. I don't know what in the world they were thinking when they put this out on the market.

Scott

 

[goinfotek]

NONSENSE !!!!

This printer has no problem printing PDF's.

I have one of these printers and for the $$$ you can't beat it.

It's only short comming is that it is low on RAM, so I would image there could be some issues with large hirez full page images. But so far I have not run into that.

Dave

 

[DansDadUK]

The LaserJet 2600n is a relatively cheap 'host-based' device. This means that it utilises the processing power and resources of the 'host' computer to process the print job, rather than this being done within the printer itself.

Such print devices do not understand PCL (5 or 6) or PostScript language print streams; the 'host-based' driver on the PC generates a simple raster image of each page, compresses this, and then encapsulates it in a very limited 'stripped-down' PCL5 or PCL6 (set of) commands (I can't remember which).

I believe HP calls this language JetReady (but they don't appear to publish any details). I think that the protocol also relies on a bi-directional connection (but, again, I'm not very sure of this).

As 'goinfotek' points out, this should not prevent PDF files from being printed; any limitation will be in the capabilities (or lack of) provided by the host-based driver.

 

[ScottCGI]

Ok, well let me ask you this-- we run citrix on our network. Is that likely causing my problem with this printer then? I have found other posts about this on the internet where people are having similar problems. I am wondering if they run citrix as well.

Scott

 

[goinfotek]

I would think if Citrix was getting in the way then nothing would print not just PDF's. Though it is something worth pursuing.

Here are some questions that come to mind:

1) Have you tried printing from the server console, rather than just from within a session?

2) Do you have any stand alone PC's that you can test from?

3)Are you printing via Ethernet or USB?

4) If Ethernet, are you printing through a "printer share" on the server or is each PC/Citrix Session printing directly to the printers IP?

 

[Sweg]

The CLJ 2600n is not supported in Citrix:

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsuppor...c=us&objectID=c00213455&jumpid=reg_R1002_USEN

 

[ScottCGI]

Ahhhh..... just as I suspected. Thanx.

 

[HackerJax]

I just happened on this thread and I wanted to add my 2-cents.

When using Citrix to print to strange printers, you can usually get around most problems by using the Universal Print driver. However, Citrix is known for bizarre printer issues and I wouldn't be surprised if the issues are more of a Citrix Client/Server issue then a printer issue.

Also as Goinfotek recommended, basic troubleshooting 101 would have you isolate the problem by working backwards from direct connections with the printer.

And I wanted to comment on the great description of how the Host Based print devices work by DansDadUK. I hadn't had the opportunity to look closely at this functionality. Its obviously a new way for printer companies to keep there cost down on printers.

I would definitly stay away from this kind of printer when using ThinClient environments.

Enjoyed it, HackerJax

 

[tmayonew]

I can print PDF's from my wired machines but NOT from the wireless laptop. Very frustrating. This thread makes me think I need to get a new printer. To bad, I like the HP 2600n a lot.

 

[AndrewTait]

I would have to agree with HackerJax re. Staying away from this kind of printer in thin client environments.

This is one thing which the likes of M$ and Citrix do not tell you when trying to persuade you to buy their thin client technology.

They do tell you how much you can save in terms of lower spec. desktop devices, and in time with software deployments etc, but not that any saving on desktop hardware will be taken up by the increased costs of peripherals which will work correctly.

=======================================
So often times it happens that we live our lives in chains
And we never even know we have the key

Ne auderis delere orbem rigidum meum
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[tenkey]

I'm experiencing the same challenge printing to the HP2600n from Adobe. Is there no help in sight for this situation?

 

[tenkey]

I've resolved this problem by downloadign the lastest printer driver from HP onto our server. Now, I can print to it from Adobe without any problems.

Whew!

 

[johnilu]

Support for PostScript is dwindling. This is getting to be a problem. In one case I had to have a print board for a Canon device rebuilt in order to get one that supported PS. With HP you mostly have to deal with the universal driver. I have been seeing ever increasing problems with it.