The AU$3,199 Hewlett-Packard LaserJet 4100n is a fast, reliable office laser printer that cranks out sharp, affordable text pages typical of HP's high standards. What sets the 4100n apart from the pack is a nifty software suite that lets network administrators monitor and manage the printer via email and Web browser notification--an amazingly helpful tool for IT folks everywhere.
We've seen plenty of fast laser printers, most of which are either network compatible right out of the box or can be made compatible by adding external print servers and the like. But when we saw the Hewlett-Packard LaserJet 4100n, we knew we were in for something special. Not only did the reasonable price, high speed, and typical HP reliability strike our fancy, reports of what the new network administrative software was capable of had us drooling in anticipation.
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Getting the 4100n up and running is easy and simple--the usual HP standard. The lightweight printer can have two additional paper trays snapped onto the bottom or a duplexer poking out the back for added versatility, but the base model--complete with 32MB of RAM and a built-in network print server--is relatively small and compact. Software installation and driver setup were flawless, so we could start playing with the new network software toys right away.
And what neat toys they are. The embedded Web server allows email updates on project status and monitors such things as toner level before a print job is completed--saving lost time and workgroup traffic tie-ups. As with all HP 4100 series printers, the 4100n can be programmed to send customised notifications of printer problems and job status via email to designated recipients on the network. For example, the printer can send a printing supplies alert, which notifies the IT gurus that a new cartridge needs to be acquired pronto to prevent unnecessary printer downtime. The email notice can even provide a hotlink for ordering printing supplies via the Internet, straight off HP's supply ordering site.
Very little of this will be appreciated beyond the IT cubicles in most offices, but we were impressed with the capabilities of this suite. What's more, users on the network can easily communicate remotely with the 4100n using a standard Web browser--no special software needed. Consequently, checking on that PowerPoint print run won't require multiple trips down the hall to the printer cage and back; a simple check of the HTML page does the trick.
Print performance is on a par with other black-and-white laser printers in the same price range, and clarity and sharpness are outstanding, even in low-resolution draft mode. Photos and graphics are sharp and crisp, some amazingly so, but it's all in a day's work for the capable and easy-to-love HP LaserJet 4100n.
HP LaserJet 4100n
Company:HP Australia
Ph: 131347
Price: AU$3,199
Rating:
2%
4%
