HP Laserjet 4300dtn review

There was also noticeable grain in the 24-page DTP test, which includes a variety of photos and graphics. That said, detail capture was excellent, highlighting subtle lines that the 4100n missed or obscured by over-saturating the image. Gradient fills were also skilfully reproduced, with little banding. Performance was on target again too at 43ppm, although this drops to 23ppm using the highest-resolution ProRes 1200 setting. Print quality wasn't significantly better, though.

The dtn model also includes a duplex unit, which is a welcome inclusion. Performance was good, printing a 20-page PDF with high-resolution photos at a speed of 33 faces per minute.

Like the 4100n, the 4300dtn comes with HP's Embedded Virtual Machine (EVM). This provides support for a number of available JetCAPS Java applications such as PDF Direct, which processes PDF files natively, bypassing the print driver and thereby reducing network traffic. There's also a variety of finishing modules such as a stacker/stapler for £347.

The Laserjet 4300dtn redefines the workgroup laser printer category. It offers unparalleled performance, good-quality output and the best features on the market. Admittedly, £1,846 is a lot of money for a mono printer, especially with colour printers coming down in price significantly. But with the 4300dtn, you could easily replace several lower-volume mono lasers or two of HP's own Laserjet 4100s. The 4300 series looks set to continue HP's dominance in the workgroup laser market.

Author: Gareth Ogden