HP LaserJet 4100N

Network services and remote administration are now provided exclusively by Web JetAdmin, which requires Windows NT or 2000 to run. HP no longer provides JetAdmin as an option, although it will continue to be supported on existing platforms.

Running costs are also good, and the 4100N can accept the same toner cartridges as the 4050TN. The unit is supplied with a 10,000-page toner cartridge, which costs £130. This works out at a reasonable 1.3p per page at five per cent coverage, which is more than acceptable. The 4100N also supports HP's latest smart toner cartridges, which provide constant information on the amount of remaining toner and an estimate of the number of pages it will print. It's also possible to automatically re-order supplies and send customisable alerts to personnel, offering greater print management flexibility than the 4050TN.

The HP LaserJet 4100N is an excellent laser, and a worthy successor to the 4050TN. Print speeds and quality are superb, as are running costs and network capabilities. Plus, with the EWS and EVM facilities in place, the 4100N has the potential to do much more in the future. Looking back though, the 4050TN wasn't particularly cheap, and neither is the 4100N, but you get what you pay for - in this case a superb workgroup laser printer.

Author: Gareth Ogden