HP LaserJet 8100DN

The HP name is synonymous with laser printing, to the point where the company has only had a handful of models to cover the workgroup market for some time. In fact, this particular model was first introduced in late 1998 when we reviewed the 'N' version (see issue 51, p176).

At 55kg, the main unit is quite heavy and not very manoeuvrable. Once you've filled the 8100DN to its 1,000-plus page capacity across two paper bins and possibly added another 100 sheets to the multipurpose side tray, you'll add 10kg to its weight. The construction is robust though, as long as your entire office is on hand to lift it into place.

Given the recent focus on overblown print speed specifications, it's heartening to find that the 8100DN is easily capable of meeting its 32ppm claimed speed. In fact, a time of 87 seconds for the Word text document actually translates to one page faster than that specified, proven further by its Excel speed of 33ppm seconds. In our other benchmarks the HP makes its mark: 52 seconds for the DTP test, and 23 seconds for the single-page quality test. This places it fifth fastest, but the Canon LBP3260 is only fractionally ahead, revealing the origins of the 8100DN's print engine. The only significant differences were with the DTP test where the Canon was six seconds faster, and the same Word test on A3 paper, where it was three seconds faster.

In quality terms nothing was seriously below our expectations. There was the smallest degree of banding on the monochrome photograph, and the 8100DN misinterpreted the yellow/brown shading of the Excel spreadsheet borders as badly as any other laser on test when left on default settings.

Impressive power-handling puts the printer to sleep at an impressive 32W, down from a maximum 716kW when running on all cylinders. The 8100DN remains as networkable as any workgroup HP featuring its own WebJetAdmin software, which searches for JetDirect cards and provides full NetWare NDS support with the facility for administering queues, objects and privileges.

At £164 for the 20,000-page toner cartridge, the 8100DN is also cheap to run. Unfortunately, the initial investment required isn't as reasonable. The HP badge commands a price premium and, even though this includes a hard disk and duplex facilities, £2,860 is too much.