HP DeskJet 720C Inkjet Printer C5870A Hewlett Packard Color Parallel Port

HP DeskJet 720C Inkjet Printer C5870A Hewlett Packard Color Parallel Port

The HP DeskJet 720C (part number C5870A) is a desktop color inkjet printer from Hewlett-Packard's popular DeskJet 700 series. It connects to a host computer via a Centronics 36-pin parallel port and produces color or black-and-white output using HP 15 (black) and HP 17 (color) ink cartridges. The 720C was aimed at home and small-office users who needed reliable, affordable color printing in a compact desktop footprint.

Specifications & What's Included

• Brand: HP (Hewlett-Packard)
• Model: DeskJet 720C
• Part Number: C5870A
• Print Technology: Inkjet (color and black-and-white)
• Interface: Centronics 36-pin parallel port
• Power: DC barrel jack (AC adapter required — not included)
• Compatible Ink Cartridges: HP 15 (black), HP 17 (tri-color)
• Form Factor: Desktop
• Compatible OS: Windows 95, 98, Me, 2000, XP
• Included: Printer unit only — no AC adapter, no ink cartridges, no parallel cable

Applications

The DeskJet 720C belongs to HP's long-running DeskJet 700 series, which was introduced in the mid-to-late 1990s and became one of the best-selling inkjet lines of that era. These printers were standard equipment in home offices and small businesses that needed cost-effective color output before all-in-one and wireless inkjets became the norm. Today, the 720C is occasionally sought by collectors of period computing hardware, operators of legacy Windows 9x/Me systems, and users who need a simple parallel-port-connected printer for older machines that lack USB. Because it uses a standard Centronics parallel connection, it pairs naturally with vintage PCs, vintage test equipment with parallel data-logging outputs, and any system that predates USB printer support.