As part of HP’s LaserJet 3800 series, the HP Color LaserJet 3800dn offers users a color laser device in a line of quality, high end printers that have proven to be dependable, and also includes standardized automatic duplexing hardware, as well as built in networking. With exceptional print speeds in both color and black and white, along with an array of options and add ons, the LaserJet 3800dn stands out as the centerpiece of the 3800 line.

Operating at up to 22 pages per minute in both monochrome and color alike, the HP Color LaserJet 3800dn places itself at the high end of home color laser devices and, unlike the base model HP Color LaserJet 3800, the 3800dn comes equipped with not only the standard USB 2.0 high speed port, but an embedded HP Jetdirect Ethernet print server for office networking. A host USB accessory slot is also incorporated into the model, as well as a single EIO slot.

The open EIO slot can be used for a variety of external accessories, including network adapters, an IEEE 1284B parallel port, or an external hard drive, which leaves room for such options as gigabit Ethernet, a 802.11b/g wireless LAN for total wireless access, or other interesting network options and external memory.

The optional hard drive add on boasts a large, 20 GB storage capacity that can be used for simultaneous network project assistance, or for permanent storage of frequently used documents. Standard random access memory comes in at 288 MBs, which is further expandable to 544 MBs for slightly faster handling when dealing with complex imagery.

A 250 sheet capacity standard paper tray is built in to the HP Color LaserJet 3800dn, as well as a 100 sheet multi purpose tray for use with special media types such as envelopes and custom letterhead. It can also be utilized for additional letter or legal sized storage space, or, for even more storage, an additional 500 sheet tray can be purchased separately. HP also offers a version of the model, the HP Color LaserJet 3800dtn, that comes with the tray included, and all of the same features.

With a footprint of 22.6 x 22.5 x 20.3 in (W x D x H), the HP Color LaserJet 3800dn comes in fairly large dimensions, and will stand even taller when the additional 500 sheet tray is interfaced with the unit. It also sits at just barely under 60 pounds, including the ink cartridge, making it just slightly too big to be considered a desktop printer, but still within reasonable specifications for a color laser printer, which tend to run on the large size in comparison to their monochrome counterparts.

HP advertises a 65,000 sheet maximum monthly duty cycle for the unit, and backs up their claim with a one year limited warranty that includes web and phone based tech support, as well as guaranteed next day on site repair service. Considering the HP Color LaserJet 3800dn’s price range, it could be considered a decent purchase for a small office considering a color capable unit.

The HP Laser Jet 5100dtn and 5100tn are both Ethernet equipped network laser printers with respectable performance specifications and only one difference between the two: The HP Laser Jet 5100dtn model comes equipped with automatic duplexing hardware incorporated into the unit and the The HP Laser Jet 5100tn does not. With a duplexor entirely optional buyers can choose whether they spend the money on the double sided print feature or not. Extensive paper storage expandability options further the HP Laser Jet 5100 series’ customizability, making it adjustable to suit any reasonable demand set.

With a 22 page per minute print speed, the HP Laser Jet 5100dtn and 5100tn are completely up to par with current standards for monochrome laser speed. Built in network connectivity via Ethernet makes the units accessible to an entire office or network ready household and, with huge paper storage capacities, the units operate with limited downtime even under the stress of constant network use.

Standard paper handling comes in the form of three individual trays. A 250 sheet tray comes stock with all 5100 series units, and an additional 500 sheet tray is included as well with the HP Laser Jet 5100dtn and 5100tn units. A 100 sheet multi purpose tray is useful for adding that small boost in standard paper storage, or for automatically printing to special media types such as card stock, transparencies, or envelopes. With up to four total paper trays possible, even the fully loaded HP Laser Jet 5100dtn and 5100tn models can support one additional tray.

While the HP Laser Jet 5100dtn comes equipped with the duplexing feature which adds the capacity for automatic double sided printing, the other 5100 models do not. They are, however, upgradable with an external duplex option that snaps in exactly like an additional paper tray, directly to the bottom of the unit and, when duplexing is implemented, additional memory upgrades are recommended.

Thanks to a surprisingly adequate amount of open memory slots, the HP Laser Jet 5100dtn and 5100tn models are extremely versatile in memory expansion possibilities. Three built in DIMM slots are complimented by two additional EIO interface slots for maximum expandability options. While the HP Laser Jet 5100dtn and 5100tn come standard with 32 MBs of RAM, and the HP Laser Jet 5100 with 16 MBs, all models have a total memory cap that is not to exceed 192 MBs.

The HP Laser Jet 5100dtn and 5100tn’s maximum monthly duty cycles are actually incredibly high, making them optimal for constant network usage. Up to 65,000 pages a month maximum can be pumped out these machines, meaning even the highest output requirements should execute without incident.

Money saving features such as a power save setting cut back on overall energy costs while remaining well within Engergy Star standards. An HP Economode reduces toner usage by a significant fifty percent, cutting toner usage and costs in half, though HP does not recommend full time usage of the setting due to its taxing nature. A reasonable price tag helps as well in making the HP Laser Jet 5100dtn and 5100tn printers viable options for the small office.

Though HPs 3800 series has recently been discontinued to make way for newer technology and faster print speeds, the HP Color LaserJet 3800 and its variants still offer some of the most impressive color laser print specifications within their product category. Coming in four different models, the HP Color LaserJet 3800, 3800n, 3800dn, and 3800dtn, this line of color laser devices offers something for everyone regardless of your color printing demands.

With print speeds of up to 22 pages per minute across the board, whether for color or monochrome, all four units boast rapid print times. Output capacity is also standard regardless of the model number, and is locked at 200 sheets, which should be more than enough room considering the HP Color LaserJet 3800’s performance levels.

Memory levels vary from model to model, with the base unit offering only 96 MBs of random access memory, and the upgraded models carrying more standard RAM. The HP Color LaserJet 3800n comes equipped with 160 MBs of RAM, while the duplexing models both offer 288 MBs. All models are upgradable as far as memory is concerned, but only to a maximum total of 544 MBs.

Paper handling abilities also vary drastically from unit to unit. The HP Color LaserJet 3800, as well as the networking models, the HP Color LaserJet 3800n and 3800dn, come standard with a 250 sheet letter and legal sized tray, as well as an additional 100 sheet multi purpose tray than can be utilized for additional regular paper storage, or for special paper types including but not limited to envelopes, transparencies, labels, glossy paper, bond paper, color laser paper, and all types of recycled paper.

An additional 500 sheet capacity paper tray is available for separate purchase to bring the 3800’s total potential storage capacity to an impressive 850 sheets, or, the HP Color LaserJet 3800dtn model is available with the 500 sheet tray included.

While the base model HP Color LaserJet 3800 does not come with an Ethernet port, network expandability is left optional if you change your mind. The three other units have external network devices included, and the 3800dn and 3800dtn versions also include built in duplexing hardware for automatic double sided printing in either black and white or color.

All units boast an impressive 65,000 imprinted sheet maximum monthly duty cycle, though HP recommends much less wear and tear on the unit for optimal life span of the product. Either way, HP backs the devices with a one year limited warranty that includes not only web based and telephone tech support, but next day on site repair service for 12 months as well.

A hard drive of up to 20 GBs can be added on to the hardware for permanent storage of data, as well as multiple, simultaneous project spooling when dealing with network usage. None of the four models offer a standard hard drive, making it exclusively an additional purchase, and further adding to the HP Color LaserJet 3800’s powerful versatility, and customizability to better suit your demands.

With a color laser print speed of an impressive 17 pages per minute, the HP Color LaserJet 3600n leads the way in affordable, yet high functioning, color laser devices. Offering networking capabilities and a small selection of customizability options, the LaserJet 3600n is a piece of hardware worth considering if your aim is to incorporate color printing into your business.

Black and white print speed matches that of color, also topping out at 17 pages per minute. A first page out time of only 14 seconds helps to keep things moving along from ready mode, or even the energy efficient power save mode. While active, the HP Color LaserJet 3600n operates at 335 watts, making it easily Energy Star Compliant, and the 48 watt ready mode and 15 watt sleep mode help to keep energy consumption and cost at a bare minimum.

A 600 x 600 dot per inch resolution is supplemented by HPs ImageRE Resolution Enhancement 3600 technology, which adds an element of clarity not seen in other 600 dpi devices. A 360 MHz Fujitsu FR555 FRV processor helps to keep projects moving along swiftly, even under heavy work loads. Also included with the HP Color LaserJet 3600n is a built in 64 MBs of SDRAM which is not expandable, however, HP also offers an upgraded version of the unit, the HP Color LaserJet 3600dn, which not only comes equipped with duplexing for automatic double sided printing, but additional RAM as well totaling 128 MBs.

The only other notable difference between the HP Color LaserJet 3600n and the 3600dn is a slight increase in weight due to the additional hardware, taking the unit’s 59.6 lbs up to 61.6 lbs, and a slight increase in height is perceivable as well, going from 15.7 by 20.7 by 15.7 to 15.7 by 20.7 by 16.7 inches in dimension. Also possibly adding to the overall height of the unit is an optional additional paper tray.

With standard paper handling fairly well equipped thanks to a 250 sheet letter or legal sized tray supplemented by an oversized 100 sheet multi purpose tray. An optional 500 sheet additional tray brings the HP Color LaserJet 3600n’s total paper potential to 850 sheets, meaning, even under heavy work load conditions, paper replacement cycles should remain entirely manageable.

A maximum monthly duty cycle of 50,000 sheets also ensures that heavy output demands will be well taken care of without incident, though HP does recommend only 1,000 to 3,000 pages printed per month for optimum preservation of the HP Color LaserJet 3600n’s hardware. That being said, HP also includes a one year limited warranty to back your investment, as well as web and phone tech support, and a limited parts replacement policy.

The HP Color LaserJet 3600n and HP Color LaserJet 3600dn were designed with the intention of bringing color laser printing down to a cost effective level not only for the small office, but the home business as well, and, with full Ethernet wired networking, an entire work team can easily take advantage of powerful, color laser output.

The user friendly HP Color LaserJet 2605dn is one of the better designed units on the market concerning ownership of a color laser device by a home business. Though print speeds suffer drastically when compared to higher end models, the intuitive controls and simple features, as well as affordable price tag, make the LaserJet 2605dn a considerable option not only for a small office, but personal ownership as well.

Print speeds run at about half that of office level color laser units, with only 12 pages per minute for black and white printing, and up to 10 pages per minute for color. A first page time of 20 seconds is also considerably slower than the HP Color LaserJet 2605dn’s higher priced rivals.

With an emphasis on ease of use, the HP Color LaserJet 2605dn comes equipped with a two line, 16 character display that not only alerts users of printer status in plain, easy to read English, but also assists in making setup easier than ever, even for a novice user. Included software such as HP Web Jetadmin Peripheral Management and HP SureSupply also make setting up the printer and managing toner easy.

The HP Color LaserJet 2605dn’s paper handling abilities weigh in at a standard total of 250 sheets, with an optional, additional 250 sheet paper tray. While the HP Color LaserJet 2605 and 2605dn models come only with a single tray, HP also offers a HP Color LaserJet 2605dtn that comes with the additional paper storage included. The 2605dtn also interestingly comes with photo memory card slots, whereas the other models do not. A 125 sheet output bin is standard on all units.

With the HP Color LaserJet 2605dn and 2605dtn models, not only is networking made standard, but duplexing as well, for a significant boost in potential productivity over the base model. With network duplexing, it’s possible for an entire office or household to reap the benefits of double sided printing, a feature that can not only add a polished, professional look to documents, but also cut down on paper usage by as much as half.

A built in high speed USB 2.0 port complements the built in 10/100 Base TX Ethernet/ Fast Ethernet port for users who wish to use the HP Color LaserJet 2605dn as a personal printer alone. HP ImageRE resolution enhancement technology allows for great quality color prints at 2400 dots per inch, while a 300 MHz processor ensures that workloads move smoothly.

With 64 MBs of built in memory, most projects will operate without incident, but if super high complexity and imagery begins to slow production down, an industry standard 100 pin DIMM slot allows for a variety of possibly memory upgrades totaling no more than 320 MBs of overall RAM. A maximum monthly duty cycle of 35,000 sheets, along with a one year limited warranty and exchange policy, ensure that the HP Color LaserJet 2605dn will serve as a decent long term investment for a home business, or even a small office interested in color laser technology.

While the hefty HP Color LaserJet 2840, which weighs in at a total 75.4 pounds, is just a little too big to be comfortably referred to as a personal printer, the device comes so fully loaded with features that you may want to consider making room on your desk. With the power of a color laser multifunction center at a price affordable for a home office, the HP Color LaserJet 2840 is a unique find in a market flooded with monochrome devices.

A width of 20.9 inches and depth of 19.6 inches make the HP Color LaserJet 2840 at least reasonably manageable for personal use, and its top heavy design, with a height of 22.6 inches, keeps its footprint at a reasonable girth. With a 30,000 possible impression maximum monthly duty cycle, users can feel confident they will get the most out of their investment.

The HP Color LaserJet 2840 comes equipped with a standard memory of 96 MBs, which should serve almost all print and copy functions perfectly well. However, when dealing with extremely complex input material or print output, slowdown can occur, which is why HP included an expansion slot that allows for a maximum of 224 MBs of total memory to be incorporated into the unit.

Print speeds come highly segregated, with a 20 page per minute black and white print or copy speed, and only a 4 page per minute color print speed. With such a slow color output, it is safe to say that the HP Color LaserJet 2840’s color capabilities were intended for light output duty. That being said, adding the ability for the occasional color project to an already powerful monochrome device makes the 2840 one of the most versatile in its class.

Color copying can be done in a range of resolutions maxing out at 600 x 600 dots per inch. Enlargement and reduction functions can be activated directly from the unit with a range of 25% up to 400% in single percentage increments. Print resolution also tops out at 600 x 600 dots per inch which, while not ideal for color imagery, should make for acceptable picture reproductions.

Scanning resolution is boosted up to a 1200 x 1200 dot per inch max for optical scans, and a head turning 19,200 x 19,200 dot per inch maximum when using interpolation technology. Color scans are made possible with a 24 bit depth.

A super G3 fax modem allows for 33.6 Kbps transmission speed faxes with selectable resolutions of 203 x 98 dpi, 203 x 196 dpi, and 300 x 300 dpi. A total memory capacity of 250 pages allows incoming faxes to be stored internally even when paper outages make hard copies impossible. Data can then be deferred to a local computer via PC faxing, or stored indefinitely. With faxing, as well as printing, copying, and scanning, all in bright, full color, and right at your fingertips, the HP Color LaserJet 2840 would make a welcome addition to any small office, or home business that has the space for it.

The HP Color Laser Jet 3500 is one of the most affordable color laser printers on the market, and yet offers a respectable range of incorporated features, and robust hardware. Operating at print speeds that are at least acceptable for home office users, the Laser Jet 3500 brings the power of color laser technology down from an exclusively corporate level to a small business price range.

With print speeds locked at 12 pages per minute for both color and black and white, the HP Color Laser Jet 3500 is a mixed bag as far as performance. For color laser printing at this price, the speed is excellent, but when dealing in monochrome, the device comes up quite short. A 22 second first page out time doesn’t help any, concerning speed issues, as this lengthy warm up time is evident not only from power save mode, but from ready mode as well.

True 600 x 600 dot per inch print resolution is complemented further by HP’s Image RE 2400 resolution enhancement technology, as well as their quality refinement process which utilizes a multi level printing process for maximum stability and accuracy and, with 64 MBs of included random access memory, processes should run smoothly even under high stress conditions. Unfortunately the memory is not expandable, and extremely complex print jobs may suffer some lag time.

A maximum monthly duty cycle of 45,000 imprinted sheets means that, though print times may run slow, the limit to how many pages the HP Color Laser Jet 3500 outputs is seemingly unreachable, meaning the device should function at one hundred percent capacity even under a heavy workload.

On top of an impressive duty cycle, HP also includes a one year warranty with the product, as well as tech support via telephone or the internet. The 71.5 pound unit may be heavy, but it is built to last, and backed by HPs exchange policy. Its footprint is surprisingly manageable considering its sheer weight, measuring 19 x 17.6 x 18.4 inches (W x D x H), and 19 x 17.6 x 23.8 inches when an optional 500 sheet input tray is incorporated for additional paper storage.

Standard paper storage is fairly decent, with a 250 sheet letter and legal sized tray, plus the welcome addition of a full 100 sheet multi purpose tray that can be used as extra regular paper storage, or for special paper types such as custom letterhead and envelopes. The optional 500 sheet tray brings total potential paper storage capacity to 850 sheets, and a 150 sheet output bin should prove to hold plenty of space for most projects within the HP Color Laser Jet 3500’s performance range.

For network capabilities, HP offers an upgraded version of the unit: the HP Color Laser Jet 3500n which comes with an external Fast Ethernet server for wired networking. The HP Color Laser Jet 3500 itself also leaves the option of 802.11 wireless connectivity open, furthering its standing as a powerful color unit that is also user friendly.

While laser printer technology is known for its incredible speed, there are exceptions to the rule such as the ridiculously slow HP Color LaserJet 1600. While the unit’s color print time of 8 pages per minute could be considered acceptable, the fact that black and white print speed lags behind at the exact same level can not be. A sluggish color printer such as this should be considered for purchase if and only if color laser printing is your primary demand, as opposed to an added bonus, due to the exceptionally slow operation of this unit.

A slightly below average first page out time of 20 seconds doesn’t help the HP Color LaserJet 1600’s standing as a painfully slow device and, with a shockingly highly rated 264 MHz Motorola CFV4e processor on board, it boggles the mind how black and white print speeds could have been left so neglected. 16 MBs of built in RAM also seems almost sufficient, though no memory upgrades are possible to account for slowdown caused by projects with high levels of complexity.

You would think that a unit with this level of performance would temp buyers with an appealingly low price tag, and you would be wrong. Even for a color laser device, the HP Color LaserJet 1600 ceases to impress in the dollar value category. It is no wonder that HP promptly discontinued this model for more fruitful ventures.

Does the HP Color LaserJet 1600 make up for its poor specifications by coming in an incredibly small package? No. With a footprint of 16.1 inches by 17.8 inches, the printer sits with about the same girth as any home laser device. The height of 14.6 inches could possibly be increased due to a single additional paper tray option, and the total weight of over 40 pounds is nothing to applaud.

Mediocre resolution of 600 x 600 dots per inch doesn’t help the HP Color LaserJet 1600’s cause any. While 600 dpi is perfectly acceptable for producing clear black and white text, having a color device with such a limited quality level almost defeats the purpose of having one at all. Images will come out sloppy, and inaccurate, while basic colored charts and graphs are pretty much as good as it’s going to get for this device.

A maximum monthly duty cycle of 20,000 pages seems more than adequate for such a light duty printer, while paper handling abilities also seem appropriate with a 250 sheet input tray and the lack of a multi purpose tray. A single sheet priority feed slot is incorporated into the front of the unit for single feeds of special media types, which should prove to be more than enough for this limited duty device.

A single additional paper tray with a 250 sheet capacity is optional, but seems like overkill for the HP Color LaserJet 1600. If you’re looking to add the power of color laser printing to your office hardware set, turn the other direction and run. Do not buy this printer. If you already own it, throw it away.

Much like its sister unit, the HP Color LaserJet 1600, the HP Color LaserJet 2600n operates at painfully slow print speeds. Unlike the 1600 though, the 2600n comes equipped with more than one worthwhile feature, including networking capabilities and full color printing. While the unit itself sports some much needed upgrades over its sibling, HP has, for some reason, neglected the fact that, for a laser printer, 8 pages per minute in black and white is unacceptable.

Color print times also run at 8 pages per minute, which is actually acceptable. Monochrome printing, however, is completely offensive and therefore the HP Color LaserJet 2600n should be considered for purchase exclusively for the purpose of adding a color capable laser printer to an office network. Using the 2600n as a standard black and white laser is preposterous.

A maximum monthly duty cycle of 35,000 printed sheets almost seems completely unnecessary, as the HP Color LaserJet 2600n is obviously designed as a light duty printer. On top of the high speed USB 2.0 port, a built in Ethernet port is also available for wired networking so, even at sluggish speeds, with an entire office sharing the device it’s possible that some use could come out of it.

Weighing in at just over 40 pounds, the HP Color LaserJet 2600n is just about average in weight for a color laser printer, and it’s footprint of 16 x 17.8 inches is also fairly standard. The unit’s height of 14.6 inches is smaller than many, but will increase if an additional paper storage tray is incorporated. The second tray comes with a 250 sheet capacity to match the unit’s standard 250 sheets, and brings the HP Color LaserJet 2600n’s total potential paper storage to a respectable 500 pages. Special media types rely exclusively on a single sheet priority slot, as no multi purpose tray is included with the hardware.

A 125 sheet output bin should help to store printed pages in ample supply, and a very powerful 264 MHz processor helps to, if nothing else, keep print speed at its full, limited potential, along with 16 MBs of standard print memory that is not upgradable. An easy to read two line LCD control panel does assist in keeping users updated on printer and supply information, but offers only a limited selection of fine tuning options.

HP has at least taken the liberty to ship this now discontinued device with a full 2,500 page HP Color LaserJet Black Print Cartridge and full 2,000-page HP Color LaserJet cyan, magenta, and yellow print cartridges, allowing the user to get projects started on the HP Color LaserJet 2600n right out of the box. HP also includes with the package a full year limited hardware warranty which includes phone and web support, as well as a return to authorized service center exchange policy.

The only reason to buy an HP Color LaserJet 2600n would be to save money on an older unit, sacrificing the benefits of current color laser technology. Considering the minimal price difference, investing in a newer model would definitely be worth the extra cash.

Though the HP 5000gn and 5000n models are considerably slower than other laser printers in the same price range, the network ready monochrome laser devices still offer a decent amount of customization options including additional paper storage and memory, as well as a sturdy feature list across the board.

With a print speed of only 16 pages per minute for legal sized paper, and 17 pages per minute for letter sizes, the HP 5000gn and 5000n units fall short significantly in the speed category. That being said, the two HP models, while slow, were designed with the personal user in mind, and therefore come at a low cost with a small footprint while still offering many high end features.

Print resolution is selectable between 300 dot per inch and 600 dot per inch quality for high speed printing, as well as HP ProRes of 1200 x 1200 dots per inch for high quality. A 100 MHz RISC microprocessor helps to keep things moving in heavy output scenarios, but the HP 5000gn and 5000n’s first page out times still remain at a fairly sluggish 13 seconds.

A non network ready version of the model is available (the HP 5000) which comes at a slightly lower price tag due to the stripped down hardware, and also comes stock with only 4 MBs of standard memory. The HP 5000gn and 5000n come stock with 12 and 8 MBs of standard memory respectively. Via DIMM slots included in the hardware, all models can be upgraded with 2, 4, 8, 16 or 32 MB DIMM chips for added performance when dealing with complicated tasks. A total of three 100 pin DIMM slots are available for memory upgrades, as well as two enhanced IEO slots, making the HP 5000 series one of the most versatile on the market in terms of memory expansion options.

The network ready HP 5000gn and 5000n come with a variety of network connectivity options including 10 Base T and 10 Base 2, as well as 10/100 Base – TX, Token ring, and Local Talk. Though standard paper handling is quite limited for the 5000 series models which sport only a 100 sheet single tray, expansion options include a 250 sheet optional tray, as well as a universal 500 sheet tray available for purchase separately.

Output capacity is locked at 250 sheets with an additional 50 sheet rear output bin for special media types that are incompatible with the HP 5000gn and 5000n’s standard paper paths. An optional duplexer is also compatible with a 250 and 500 sheet universal tray assembly. The maximum number of input bins is four, a very high number for a unit of this stature.

A width of 18.7 inches and a depth of 23 inches make the HP 5000gn and 5000n units slightly on the larger size for their performance category, and height depends entirely on the total number of input paper trays incorporated into the hardware. If you’re looking for machines that runs slightly too expensive as well as slightly too large for their output, look no further than the HP 5000gn and 5000n models.