HP ThinkJet
| Company type | Brand |
|---|---|
| Industry | Printer manufacturing |
| Founded | 1988 |
| Founder | Hewlett-Packard |
| Products | Inkjet printers |
| Parent | Hewlett-Packard |
DeskJet is a brand name representing inkjet printers produced by Hewlett-Packard. This lineup spans from compact home printers to large-scale industrial devices, with the biggest models generally marketed under the DesignJet name. For Macintosh compatibility, HP offered the Deskwriter series, which competed with Apple's StyleWriter, while multifunctional variants are marketed as OfficeJet.
History
HP's journey into inkjet printing began in 1984 with the HP ThinkJet, marking the commercial introduction of inkjet technology. This model delivered approximately 192 × 96 dpi resolution and printed at a rate of 150 characters per second (cps), notable for its quiet operation. Until 1992, the ThinkJet was HP’s smallest printer and was the first to incorporate the "Jet" suffix, a naming convention later adopted by QuietJet, DeskJet, LaserJet, and OfficeJet products. Five distinct ThinkJet variants were manufactured:
| Model | Interface | Power source | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| HP 2225A | HP-IB | AC power | 7.4 lb (3.4 kg) |
| HP 2225B | HP-IL | DC battery | 5.5 lb (2.5 kg) |
| HP 2225C | Parallel port | AC power | 6.8 lb (3.1 kg) |
| HP 2225D | RS-232C | AC power | 4.6 lb (2.1 kg) |
| HP 2225P | Parallel port | DC battery | 7.8 lb (3.5 kg) |
In 1986, the ThinkJet line was replaced by the QuietJet (HP 2227A), which provided enhanced speed and print quality. Additionally, HP introduced the wide-format QuietJet Plus (HP 2228A).
The initial DeskJet model debuted in 1988, featuring an integrated cut-sheet feeder, printing speeds of 2 pages per minute (ppm), and a resolution of 300 dpi. Later improvements included the DeskJet Plus in 1989, which added landscape printing capability, followed by the faster DeskJet 500 in 1990 with speeds up to 3 ppm. The Macintosh-oriented DeskWriter was launched in 1989, built upon the DeskJet 500 platform.
In 1987, HP unveiled PaintJet, the first full-color inkjet printer globally. Its success paved the way for the DeskJet 500C in 1991—HP’s inaugural color printer at 300 dpi featuring interchangeable black or CMY cartridges. The subsequent DeskJet 550C (1992) incorporated dual cartridges for true black ink printing, and in 1994, the DeskJet 560C introduced HP ColorSmart technology to enhance color accuracy.
The portable printer segment was addressed with the DeskJet Portable in 1992 aimed at mobile users. This line evolved through models such as the DeskJet 310 (1993), DeskJet 320 (1994), and eventually the faster DeskJet 350 series by around 2000.
Black-and-white inkjet production continued with models like the DeskJet 510 (1992) and DeskJet 520 (1994), both integrating resolution enhancement technology (REt). The DeskJet 540 succeeded earlier versions by offering optional color functionality alongside a redesigned industrial aesthetic.
Higher performance printers began with the DeskJet 1200C in 1993, capable of printing at six ppm in black-and-white and one ppm in color. This was followed by the DeskJet 1600C/1600CN series featuring faster speeds and network connectivity.
In May of 1995, HP launched the DeskJet and Deskwriter 660C models equipped with dual cartridges capable of up to 600 dpi black-and-white printing and color output up to 1.5 ppm. Later that year, the DeskJet 850C/855C improved throughput to six ppm black-and-white and up to two ppm color by utilizing Color Resolution Enhancement technology.
Expanding into A3-sized inkjet printers, HP introduced the DeskJet 1000C/1100C/1120C series in 1998. These were replaced by the DeskJet 1220C in 2000, which offered print speeds reaching twelve ppm for black-and-white and ten ppm for color documents.
The launch of "Vivera" inks accompanied the DeskJet 6540 in 2004, significantly improving print quality and increasing speeds to thirty ppm for black-and-white and twenty ppm for color prints.
Beginning in 2006, all-in-one printers under the DeskJet brand appeared with models such as the F380, integrating printing, scanning, and copying functions while utilizing Vivera inks and achieving up to twenty ppm black-and-white and fourteen ppm color speeds.
Currently, HP continues offering a variety of DeskJet products including print-only units like those in the DeskJet 1000 series alongside multifunctional devices within the DeskJet 2000/3000/4000 ranges that feature flatbed scanning and automatic document feeders. Within its broader home office portfolio, HP also markets ENVY, OfficeJet(Pro), Smart Tank, and LaserJet families.
Support for legacy products remains robust: as of 2021, HP still provides ink cartridges compatible with original ThinkJet printers due to their continued use in industrial environments.