HP DesignJet Q6652A

This machine is particularly well suited to an architecture, engineering, survey, or construction team that regularly needs large color sheets but does not need integrated scanning. Ethernet LAN connectivity, an embedded web server, internal HDD storage, and send-to-email capability support a shared-device environment, while the Intel Celeron processor and 256 MB of internal memory provide the stated processing foundation. The 40 GB internal storage may also be useful where jobs are managed at the device rather than submitted one sheet at a time.

For drawing output, the stated +/- 0.1% line accuracy and 0.003-inch minimum line width are the specifications to focus on before the headline resolution. They matter in the places where coordination drawings become demanding: fine hatch patterns, dense reflected-ceiling plans, survey annotations, and layered utility maps. The eight-cartridge ink set includes cyan, light cyan, light magenta, magenta, yellow, matte black, photo black, and a second black designation, giving the device a broader color-oriented configuration than a basic CAD plotter. On a color-coded MEP overlay, that can be the difference between a cyan edge that separates cleanly and one that disappears into the page.

The printer accepts roll paper up to 575 ft long, but it has a maximum roll input of one. That is workable for a department standardizing on a single bond or coated stock for a run, yet it becomes less convenient when users alternate constantly among 24-inch bond, 36-inch coated sheets, and presentation media. Compatible supplies include the HP 91 ink family and HP 91 printheads, alongside a substantial list of supported HP media and maintenance items.

It supports photo, coated, glossy, proofing, and roll media, making it more flexible than a bond-only plan printer for renderings, exhibit boards, and client-review graphics. However, no measured gamut or ICC-volume data is provided here, so it would be inappropriate to make a quantified color-fidelity claim. For color-critical presentation work, evaluate the actual paper, file type, and output condition that your team uses. The device weighs 262.3 lbs and is specified at 51 dB acoustic pressure emissions, considerations for locating it in a staffed office rather than an isolated reprographics room.

For IT teams, the important caveat is the listed operating-system compatibility: Windows 2000, Windows XP Home, Windows XP Professional, Windows Server 2003, Windows Vista, and Mac OS X versions 10.2.8 through 10.4. Those listings point to a legacy software environment, so modern deployment should be validated before acquisition or redeployment. The printer has one RJ-45 port, Ethernet LAN, JetDirect compatibility, and optional USB 2.0 connectivity, but it does not have a USB port as standard.

If scanning marked-up sheets and copying legacy drawings are central to the workflow, the catalog-listed HP DesignJet T918 36-in is the more relevant functional comparison because it is a scanner/MFP, although it is also listed as discontinued and has a narrower 36-inch width. For organizations staying with 60-inch color output, compare workflow needs rather than resolution alone against the Canon PRO-6100 60-in or use the side-by-side comparison. Neither comparison substitutes for checking driver support, service availability, and the media your project teams actually use.