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HP LaserJet 4050N



Price: Rs 101,836

Price of toner cartridge:

Rs 5,200

Toner life: 6,000 pages

Maximum resolution:

1,200 dpi

Duty

cycle: 65,000 pages per

month
Actual

speed:
16

ppm

RAM: Standard: 16 MB, Max: 200 MB

Vendor: Hewlett-Packard India Chandiwala Estate

Maa Anandmai

Marg, Kalkaji,
New Delhi 110019.

Tel:

11-6826000

E-mail: href="mailto:raveesh_kanaujia@hp.com">raveesh_kanaujia@hp.com


Website: href="http://www.hp.com/">http://www.hp.com/

Total score:

238

The HP LaserJet 4050N was

the costliest printer in this shootout, despite having a lower ppm

rating of 15 ppm. It took 28 seconds to print a full-page monochrome
graphics, 2 seconds longer than HP 2100TN, and 11 seconds more than
Optra. It also took 14 seconds to print the first page of a
multi-page document. However, it managed to outperform its own speed

ratings by giving print speeds of 16 ppm at its default resolution.

The printer didn’t do too well in graphics. They were banded and the

lines were not smooth.

hspace=3 src="pcq/images/hp_lj4050.jpg"

vspace=3 width="170" height="136">Setting up the printer was easy. Just plug it into any

network node and use the accompanying HP JetAdmin software to detect

and configure it. Once it has been correctly configured on the

network, the 4050 will appear as a network printer in the "Add

printer" wizard.

This printer comes with 16

MB RAM, which can be upgraded to 200 MB using HP’s proprietary

memory modules only. An additional I/O slot is available to attach a

hard drive or an additional network card. One feature unique to HP

printers is the infrared port, which can be used for wireless

printing. In this model, it’s an external receiver, which connects

to the FIR receiver port behind the printer. This can be great for

printing from laptop computers that usually have an IrDA port. The

accessories it can accommodate include an envelope feeder, a

duplexer used for printing on both sides of paper and an additional

500-sheet input tray.

Overall, though the printer does better

than its own rated speeds, its pricing is an issue. Being a 15-ppm

printer, and considering the fact that faster printers are available

at much lower prices, a price tag of Rs 101,836 can make you think

twice.

Sougata Das and Sachin Makhija at PCQ Labs