The HP LaserJet 1200 printer and 1220 printer/copier/scanner (MFP) were introduced in April 2001 as replacements for the popular LaserJet 1100/1100a, and included a number of features considered innovative at the time of release. For example, unlike the top-loading HP1100, the toner cartridge installs into the front of the machines, making them ideal for desktop use. The instant-on fuser allows for a first-page-out time of less than 10 seconds, and their print speed of 15 ppm is nearly double that of the HP1100/1100a. Instead of being gear-driven like their predecessors, the 1200 and 1220 use a more reliable spline drive. Both support USB and parallel ports and can be connected to two computers at once, have a more powerful processor, and are Macintosh^® compatible.

Aimed at small office/home office and single business users, the LaserJet 1200/1220 have no built-in network interface, but can be connected using the optional external JetDirect^® 175x network server. A 1200n network-ready version shipped with the JetDirect standard, and both versions could be configured with an optional color scanner for added scanner/copier functionality. The 1220/1220Se models were configured with the color scanner/copier standard.

The HP 1200 will not work with current Anacom^® SmartBox^® units because of the "hot" interface that watches both the USB and Parallel ports. This allows two computers to be connected to the printer at the same time. Specialized information must be received from the driver before a print job can be processed. Newer SmartBox units should have this problem resolved.

HP LaserJet 3330 MFP