Download Support End Date for Discrete

HP Strategy Statement: Support End Date For Discrete
(Product Specific) Printer Drivers
Drawer Statement
Security Level: External
Date Written/Updated: July 15, 2008
Document Summary
a Strategy statement on change in driver strategy and future support approach
Summary
This document outlines the end-date for support of discrete drivers for HP LaserJet and Edgeline
print devices. This document only applies to devices supported by discrete drivers and the HP
Universal Print Driver; host based devices are not affected by this policy change. Please visit
hp.com/go/upd – click on the “Specifications” tab.
Background
The HP Universal Print Drivers (HP UPD) and the technology which they are based on represent
the future of the driver strategy for most HP LaserJet and Edgeline printers. The HP UPD provides
customers an opportunity to reduce the number of drivers (and frequently the number of print
queues) that are maintained. Over time, these changes reduce enterprise investment in print
driver management.
Transitioning HP customers and devices to the HP UPD is a multi-year project. Over the past 2
years, HP has worked closely with enterprise customers on both the testing and deployment of
the HP UPD. As of this spring (Spring 2008), the HP UPD is the only driver provided for Postscript
and PCL5 (for non-host based devices). PCL6 discrete and UPD drivers are provided for devices
launching Spring 2008 through approximately Fall 2009, after which only the UPD will be supplied
for PCL6 as well.
Changes
Support for discrete drivers (device specific drivers) for devices released before April 1, 2008 will
be managed by moving customers to the HP UPD drivers. This new strategy will be put into effect
on January 1, 2009, after which any issues reported in the legacy PS and PCL5 discrete drivers
will be addressed by having customers install the HP UPD drivers. If, after installing the HP UPD,
the issue persists, then the issues will be addressed in the HP UPD drivers versus the discrete
driver. NOTE: Support for legacy PCL6 discrete drivers will be continued. (There is no
planned end date at this point in time.)
Please note that if customers are not experiencing issues with their discrete drivers, they can
continue to use them indefinitely.
Document Attributes: LaserJet Marketing
DISCRETE DRIVER Availability
Relevant*
LaserJet and
Edgeline
PostScript
PCL5
PCL6
Products released
prior to April 1,
2008 were the last
devices provided
with discrete
PostScript drivers
Products released
prior to April 1,
2008 were the last
devices provided
with discrete PCL5
drivers
Products released
through
approximately fall
2009 continue to
ship with discrete
PCL6 drivers. (HP
plans to discontinue
discrete PCL6 drivers
– possible as early
as Fall 2009.
However, the actual
cut off timeframe has
not been finalized.
PostScript
PCL5
PCL6
Support for discrete
PostScript drivers
will end after
January 1, 2009;
customers with
issues will be
directed to move to
the UPD
Support for discrete
PLC5 drivers will
end after January 1,
2009; customers
with issues will be
directed to move to
the UPD
N/A – HP will
continue to provide
and support discrete
PCL6 drivers for
relevant LaserJet and
Edgeline devices
DISCRETE DRIVER SUPPORT
Relevant*
LaserJet and
Edgeline devices
launched prior to
March 1, 2008
UNIVERSAL PRINT DRIVER SUPPORT
Relevant*
LaserJet and
Edgeline
PostScript
PCL5
PLC6
UPD PostScript is
fully supported
UPD PCL5 is fully
supported
UPD PCL6 is fully
supported
*HP devices are either host based or use drivers for communication between the computer and the printer. Host
based devices do not require drivers and therefore are not subject to the driver support changes outlined in this
document. If you are unsure if a device is host based or not, visit the hp.com and find your device. Under the
specification, look for printer languages or printer drivers. If it states “host based printing” instead of listing printer
languages (PCL5, PCL6, PS), then these changes do not apply.
Document Attributes: LaserJet Marketing