Best Low-Cost Printer on the LAN

HP's new LaserJet 5Si MX will be the printer of choice for large workgroups

Dave Rowell

Network printers at the low end of the price range are getting faster. Case in point: Hewlett-Packard's new LaserJet 5Si MX. It's fast, and it comes with some great features for printing on the LAN. The 5Si MX's print-engine speed is 24 pages per minute (ppm). Its predecessor, the 4Si MX, has a 17-ppm engine. The 5Si MX holds 1100 sheets of paper, can handle 11- by 17-inch paper, and comes with bidirectional management software. This software supports real-time monitoring and control of the printer by administrators as well as users. All this for $400 less than the 4Si MX.

We tested the LaserJet 5Si MX on a mixed NetWare 3.1 network with Macs and Windows-based PCs. We ra n NSTL's network-printer benchmarks and compared the results to other recently tested network printers (see "12 Network Printers Set the Pace," November 1995 BYTE). Our testing revealed that although the new LaserJet didn't have the highest numbers in any one category, it consi stently ran near the top in all categories (speed, print quality, features, and usability). As a result, the LaserJet 5Si MX produced an overall score higher than any printer in that group.

The 5Si MX has a slightly improved print-quality score over the 4Si MX (both are 600-dpi printers) but ranks considerably higher in features, usability, and speed. HP's new LaserJet is fastest in its price class. In fact, it's competitive with the more expensive 30- to 32-ppm printers, although its 100,000-page monthly duty cycle is still only half as high.

Options include a 2000-sheet input tray ($1299), a mailbox with eight 100-sheet bins ($1889) for separating print jobs, a duplexing unit ($669), and a n envelope feeder ($549).

If you don't need a direct network connection and PostScript, you can consider the LaserJet 5Si (no MX) for $3499. It lacks the MX's 350-KBps JetDirect Ethernet/Local Talk card and PostScript SIMM, and it has 4 MB of RAM instead of 12 MB.

Cool Software

HP has upgraded the JetAdmin software so that it now provides easy network configuration and management, including installing printer drivers for users over the network. With bidirectional printer communications, you can now track print jobs over the LAN in real time, getting such details as where the job is in the queue, how much of the job is complete, or where it will be output.

Bidirectional drivers adjust to configuration changes automatically, so you always know what type of paper is in each of the 5Si's size- and capacity-sensing trays. With easy configuration, slick software interface, and neat new features like booklet printing and gray-scale watermarks, this printer is fun to use. If y ou're looking for a faster network printer that won't keep you from balancing that budget, check out the 5Si MX. It's the best in its class.

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PRODUCT INFORMATION

LaserJet 5Si MX $4899
Hewlett-Packard Co.
Santa Clara, CA
(800) 752-0900
fax: (800) 333-1917

http://www.hp.com

Circle 1090 on Inquiry Card.

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New and Improved

The LaserJet 5Si MX beats the 4Si MX in every way. We derived scores
using NSTL test and evaluation methodology. Quality, features, and
usability scores are scaled to a perfect 10.

                        HP LASERJET 5SI MX      HP LASERJET 4SI MX
P
rice as tested         $4899                   $5299
Pages per minute (PCL)  12.5                    10.7
PPM (PostScript)        9.7                     9.4
CPU speed (MHz)         40                      25
Engine speed (ppm)      24                      17
Quality score           8                       7.9
Features score          7.8                     7.1
Usability score         8.6                     8.3

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The LaserJet 5Si MX Through JetAdmin's Eyes

screen_link (37 Kbytes)

The LaserJet 5Si MX as seen from HP's JetAdmin administration utility. Similar interfaces, though with fewer configuration options for users, are built into Win 95, HP's JetPrint utility, and HP's Win 3.x printer drivers.

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Susan Colwell and Dave Rowell are BYTE technical editors. You can reach them by sending E-mail to scolwell@bix.com and drowell@bix.com , respectively.