Hp JetDirect 175x USB Print Server Review

HP's entry level USB Print Server is the 175x Jetdirect. If you buy an HP USB Print Server you know your HP deskjet or New HP Color Laserjet Printer are going to be supported and owners of Multifunction printers are promised wide compatibility.

The HP JetDirect 175x is a Good Print Server

The 175x was good at its job and handled our large test print jobs with ease.

The Print Server was easy set-up using HP Install Network Printer Wizard software included on the CD-ROM. Driver Firmware Updates are easily applied via HP's Download Manager and Print Server managed remotely by HP JetAdmin or WebJetadmin. The HP Jetdirect Print Server administration tools are the best available.

The HP JetDirect is a USB Print Server so all the latest home and office USB peripherals should be supported. If you're in any doubt about USB and Parallel Printer Server Ports then stop and find out before you buy. We regularly receive emails from readers who have avoided wasting hundreds of dollars buying the wrong type of print server.

HP JetDirect 175x USB Network Print Server Specifications :

• Cost : $120
• HP Model No : J6035B#ACC
• Printer Port : 1 USB 1.1 Port
• Network Port : 1 10/100 Mbps Ethernet Network Port
• Operating Systems Supported : All Windows Versions from Win95, Apple Macintosh MacOS 8.6 or later, Linux if you know what you're doing.

The HP JetDirect 175x is a little large for a usb print server at 5" * 4" * 1.5". We've reviewed Parallel Port print servers that are much smaller than the usb only JetDirect 175x. The unit we reviewed also generated a lot of heat so be sure to place your 175x in a well ventilated area.

No Support for IPP

The 175x JetDirect features an embedded web server but doesn't support Internet Printing Protocol (IPP). If your future printer network plans rely on print server support for IPP then you should consider another print server.

The warranty is a disappointing 1 year and this is not going to sit well with some network managers. Hp have aimed the JetDirect 175x USB Print Server at the medium to large business. Are you going to order 30 print servers for your department if they only ship with a one year warranty? I don't think so.

When we launch multifunction-printer-reviews.com in early 2004 we'll take a closer look at what print servers support MFP or multi function print devices. HP Claim wide compatibility but the tech support forums are full of All In One Printer owners who can't get their printers or scanners to work across the network properly thru print servers.

A USB 1.1 Print Server

The USB Port is also only 1.1 so this JetDirect Print Server has a limited shelf life. Print Servers aren't the type of network device that you want to buy that often so our advice is given the slightly high price, the one year warranty, the usb 1.1 and the size you should look elsewhere.

HP JetDirect 175x USB Print Server Conclusion :

If you must pay the premium price for the HP brand you'll find better features elsewhere in the HP Jetdirect Series. Usb print servers from Linksys are cheaper by at least fifty bucks and come with a 3 year warranty.