HP 5500 Toner
LaserJet 5500 Toner Cartridges

HP 5500 Printer Review

Do you need a high-volume color laser printer that can also support wide-format printing? The HP LaserJet 5500 is perfect for graphics departments or other workgroups who need its flexible paper-handling and excellent print quality. If you don't need the high volume functionality, consider the HP 4600 toner printer instead. Print speeds are a little slower than competing models, and its price tag is on the high side. The affordable compatible HP 5500 toner will save you money in the long run when compared to the more expensive genuine HP toner cartridges.

The HP 5500 comes in multiple pre-configured models, but all of the extra features are also available as upgrades as well. The 5500N adds ethernet networking support for sharing, the 5500DN includes automatic duplexing (two-sided printing), the 5500DTN adds additional paper capacity, and the 5500HDN adds all of the above with enhanced paper-handling features.

Sharing the machine is easy, as most models include an ethernet port. Simply plug it into an existing network, run the setup routine, and in most cases you are finished. Administrators also have access to more advanced security features, allowing and restricting access to certain features on a per-user basis.

Print speed is around 22 pages per minute, which somewhat falls behind competing models. Both color and monochrome print at the same speed, however, due to the single-pass printing engine.

Toner cartridge cost is a significant factor, especially for color models. HP 5500 toner cartridges are some of the most affordable, making the cost of toners less of an issue. LaserJet 5500 toner cartridges have capacities of over 12,000 pages each, which results in a very low cost per page that saves money with each print. HP 5500 toner is also widely available in stores, keeping prices low.

Buyers who don't need its wide-format printing capabilities may not be able to justify the price and should consider the HP 2600 toner printer, but those who need a high-volume machine with excellent color printing quality will be very impressed with the HP 5500, and the affordable price of LaserJet 5500 toner will keep costs down in the long run.