HP LaserJet P2015dn > Reviews > Ideal for wired home networks & students

Author's product rating:   

Picture quality	Excellent
Printing speed	Fast
Colour sensitivity	Good
Ease of use	Satisfactory
Value For Money	Excellent

Advantages:	Reliability; specification dpi; trustworthy model; size
Disadvantages:	Weight; installation difficulties a possibility

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

Brief description: Compact, black-and-white Laserjet at 1200 dpi. Now discontinued, so ONLY available second-hand.

CONTENTS: SUITABLE FOR // INSTALLATION // SPECIFICATION //USE // CONCLUSION

-- SUITABLE FOR --
If you're looking for a second-hand printer, the HP LaserJet 4000n is generally good for home environments, especially those where a family has to share study space: it doesn't take up too much room on a desk, and the fact that the paper comes out the top means that you won't have your nice smooth copies smudging each other or spilling onto the floor. The HP LaserJet 4000n may also have a role to play in small business, but only if your company has a LAN connection (which many small businesses do not).

-- INSTALLATION --
Do be aware that, since the product is discontinued, you may not always get the technical support you need during a tricky installation. If you are only using the printer for one computer, or are confident with hub work (if all goes well, you just connect it to an unused hub-port. If not, you may have problems), this may be for you: if you lack technological know-how, be prepared to stand up for yourself on the HP helpline. Fortunately, their technical support is generally pretty good in the UK and Europe. I am told it is also good in the USA, but don't have personal confirmation of this. Do also consider the weight of the printer: a not-inconsiderable 17.8 kg (about the weight of a six-year-old child).

-- SPECIFICATION --
In all honesty, wired network printers have had their day, but as wired printers go, this one is good. It has an ethernet interface, with 5 expansion slots. It's a monochrome printer offering 1200x1200 dpi, but despite this you still get 100000 pages per cartridge, according to the specification! I must admit I haven't tested this yet, but my considerable student use does get through a lot of sheets of paper. Also, I've always found HP to be a reliable brand, so I would tend to trust their promises about the HP LaserJet printers they produce.

-- USE --
After the doom and gloom about installation, there is light at the end of the tunnel. The printer is
- Easy to use
- Durable (so a particularly good choice for a second-hand purchase: students take note. You may find fancier models at a similar price, but you can't guarantee its longevity)
- Of high quality: the specification isn't a false promise, you really do get 1200 dpi copies.

--CONCLUSION--
I would seriously reccommend this printer to anyone who needs to do a lot of printing. For a small business, I would usually reccommend buying a new printer (for warranty, etc, and the possibility of a wireless printer - do you want wires all over your office?) but if that's not an option, this should be your first choice. Students doing essay subjects should also consider this model: many laptop deals give away free printers, but these are generally very poor quality and spoil your essays with poor print quality and unreliability. Student presses and small-scale publications might also benefit from this model. You're paying for reliability and specialist skill which comes in the making of all HP printers. That stands whether or not you're the printer's first owner. Just make sure someone demonstrates it first - better safe than sorry, and even a really good printer can be mistreated.