Benjamin King2 said:For example, something like this: I was looking at this plotter setup online—specifically that HP DesignJet 500 model—and it got me thinking about how much things have changed. It’s one of those pieces of gear that really defined an era for anyone working in print. I remember seeing some discussions about similar setups on the forums a while back. I think rustysurfer79 mentioned something along these lines too. It’s funny how we used to obsess over these specific specs, thinking they were the absolute peak of technology. Now, looking back, it feels almost nostalgic. If you're still running hardware like this in a modern American print shop, you definitely know the struggle of keeping older machines running smoothly alongside the newer Canon stuff. It’s a balancing act, for sure. Still, there's something satisfying about gear that actually lasts.
Solid choice.
You can grab permanent cartridges specifically for refilling, plus a CISS setup for it.
If you're looking strictly at the bottom line, the HP DesignJet 500 is definitely the smarter play. But if you actually care about print quality, go with Canon.
Why?
Because the new print head for the Canon should be arriving in about... $1000 What about HP? $83Look, here's the deal: Canon uses an integrated All in One print head, whereas HP goes with four separate heads that you can actually service. When you're dealing with a Canon, getting things fixed feels like a massive headache and a total gamble.
