HP LaserJet 8100N

As with all HP printers, dealing with network connectivity is gratifyingly easy. The 8100N uses the same JetDirect dual- speed print server card as the rest of the range, and HP has also recently spruced up the main interface of its JetAdmin management console. I connected the printer to a NetWare 4.11 network and produced the first test print less than five minutes after installing the software. On first use, JetAdmin searches for any JetDirect cards and displays them ready for configuration. NDS (Novell Directory Services) is fully supported, allowing you to add print queues, user objects and assign privileges, making NetWare administration a cakewalk.

The bad news for the 8100N is that Xerox's DocuPrint N40 costs less and is better specified. The DocuPrint is 8ppm faster, has 24Mb of memory and PostScript Level 3 support as standard and many of its optional extras are cheaper. Neither printer will disappoint, but on this showing the DocuPrint N40 remains the ultimate in network laser printers.

Author: Dave Mitchell