KickMe's Full Review: Hewlett Packard LaserJet 4050tn Printer
Let me start by saying that the picture EPinions has of this printer is misleading. The pic matches the 4050 and 4050N, but not the 4050T or 4050TN. The 4050TN has an extra paper bin which is not show above.
I must also begin by stating that my only beef with the 4050 is the same one that I have with all their current models; this thing should have been called the HP6+ and not the 4050, but HP abandoned their sensical numbering scheme for the X000 scheme, probably a decision made by marketing guys with too much time on their hands.
So the lineage goes: HP LaserJet begat the HP LaserJet II, which begat the HP LaserJet III who begat the HP LaserJet 4 and the 4+, who begat the HP LaserJet 5, which begat the....HP LaserJet 4000? Yep. Anyway....
That over with, I will begin my gushing love-fest of HP's 4050TN.
The T most likely stands for Two paper trays, which is a very handy feature. You can keep letterhead mounted in one tray, and blank paper in the other. Or checks in one and invoices in the other, if accounting is your shtick. The manual feed tray can also double as a third paper tray, holding about 100 sheets or so, and this actually gives you an effective THREE paper trays in one printer. And if you don't think that's enough, you can purchase an envelope feeder which easily mounts above an open manual tray. Not enough? Well, there's a monstrous paper-elevator option you can purchase which sits underneath the whole mess, and a duplexing option that sort-of attaches to the back. Can you imagine what this thing would look like with paper in two trays, the manual feeder, envelope feeder and paper elevator? Truly, this is one of the most expandable laser printers in existance today.
The N stands for Network. The 4050TN comes with a built in JetDirect card. Well, it's actually just a pre-installed JetDirect, not a built-in. But it comes with it, and that's a good thing if you have a LAN. The JetDirect is one of my favorite print server line-ups, even if the Windows management tool (HP JetAdmin) is flakey and prone to crashing your system under Windows9X. The print server can act as a Macintosh printer, Unix printer, Netware Queue server and a Windows printer (using special port drivers on the client side). Management in a Windows and Netware environment is accomplished with the aforementioned hateful JetAdmin software, but Unix guys can use Telnet to get it up and running. I'm not absolutely certain about the Mac environment, as I haven't much experience with Macs. There is an HTML console built in, but unlike other print serving devices, you cannot completely configure the printer from here. You can only monitor it and perform basic printer menu functions. Kind-of a bummer, but the despicable Windows admin tool works well enough to get it up and running initially. Speaking of the repulsively unstable Windows admin tool, my recommendation is to just reboot after using it. You'll end up doing so in a few minutes anyway.
For those of you who might have laptop or handheld computer users, the 4050 series comes with a little remote IR port on the end of a cord, which can be velcroed onto the serface of anything handy with its complimentary velcro kit. That gives you the flexibility to pace the IR port pointing in whatever is the most convenient direction, unlike other printers which have their IR ports in a fixed, and not always the best, location.
We've covered the T and the N and the IR....what else...oh, yeah! This is an HP. I have worked for 7 years at a computer networking value added reseller and consultancy (say that five times fast) and have serviced many laserprinters in my time. Panasonics die. Compaq Pagemarqs die. Epson ActionLasers die.
HP LaserJets never die.
With the exception of the HP LaserJet 4 printers, which had defective exit roller assemblies recalled by HP and later fixed in the HP LaserJet 4+, I have never had to repair even ONE HP LaserJet while it was still under warrantee. Sure, you have to replace fusers, toner cartridges, and pickup rollers. But those are all considered consumable items. Nothing else ever really breaks for years in the life of an HP.
And the HP LaserPrinters are so modular and easily servicable that diagnosing and replacing what does eventually break is a snap. And, as there are a large quantity HP LaserJets already in the field, spare parts are easy to find and very affordable, even for old models like the HP LaserJet II! So, if you are willing to foot the bill once in awhile for minor repairs, even a very old HP LaserJet can continue to provide quality service. (I have a couple clients with fleets of HP LaserJet IIID printers still performing as their only print source, and at least two clients for whom the HP LaserJet II is the oldest functional piece of computer equipment they own)
I can't guarantee the same longevity in the 4050TN as there was in the HP LaserJet II, III, 4 and 5 series, but I wouldn't bet on it being anything other than excellent.
I wholeheartedly recommend this printer to all who are looking for a flexible, expandable and fast laserprinter for small business or workgroup use.
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