type 4 drivers

[Cklein425]

I work in higher ed and we are moving from Novell iPrint to Windows Print Services.  In doing some research I see that Windows 8 and newer now supports Type 4 print drivers.  Is there a list anywhere that shows what HP Printers support Type 4 Drivers?

Thanks in advance.

[dansdaduk]

I think that you are asking the wrong question.

The Windows version 4 printer driver model is a (relatively) new implementation of the printer driver model (from Windows 7 onwards, I think), although version 3 drivers may still also be supported by current Windows versions (not sure?).

Printers don't have any idea of whether the print stream they receive comes from a version 3 driver, or a version 4 driver, or from a *n*x system, etc.

What is relevant is what Page Description Language(s) is/are supported by the target printer(s); for example:

• Most LaserJet printers support all three of the 'traditional' PDLs: PCL5 (either PCL5e for monochrome devices, or PCL5c for colour devices); PCL6 (a.k.a. PCL XL); PostScript (a.k.a. PS); the 'level' of PCL or PCL XL or PostScript supported by newer devices may be different to that supported by earlier devices.
• Cheaper LaserJet printers may be 'host-based' (using proprietary PDLs such as JetReady) or intended for 'mobile printing applications' (using PCLm/PCLmS drivers).
• Most HP inkjet printers use PDLs based on PCL3 GUI (which, like the 'host-based' and 'mobile' PDLs) relies on the driver performing most of the page rendering on the host.
• Some of the more expensive (business) HP inkjet printers support the traditional PDLs instead of the raster-based PCL3 GUI PDL.