HP LaserJet Pro M5035 MFP Toner Review

HP's LaserJet multifunction printer family just continues developing. The newest M5035 MFP is targeted at substantial workgroups of right up to 15 people with a need for mono A3 printing and also copying, colour scanning in addition to the ability to email documents straight from the actual laser printer.

Paper handling alternatives are impressive, since the bottom level model on evaluation includes a couple of 250-sheet lower trays, otherwise you could choose the subsequent models in the range which expand this by as much as 1,500 pages. In either case, the M5035 can be upgraded with additional trays, duplex unit, stacker/stapler and analogue fax card. The unit incorporates 256MB of memory yet as we found while using the M3035xs MFP, if you need to enhance HP will relieve you of an eye-watering £394 for a256MB 100-pin DIMM module. On a happier note, printing costs tend to be affordable, since the 15,000-sheet cartridge produces an A4 page for a mere 0.7p.

HP has streamlined the set up process well. We appreciate the menu option on the control panel's principal page, which allows you to look at and also print all network address information using two button presses. Driver and utility installations also are deftly dealt with, aided by the routine searching the network for HP equipment during this process. The printer's operator panel is simple to use plus there are scanning options aplenty, since you can easily copy and print numerous pages while using the automated document feeder, scan and email as an attachment, as well as scan straight to a network folder or perhaps FTP site. The second option worked okay using the Windows Server 2003 domain controller running IIS, and we could also send files to shared folders as PDFs, JPEGs or TIFFs. You are able to send documents straight from the control panel or even printer driver for storage on the internal 40GB hard disk plus each may easily be PIN secured.

The cited print rates of speed ended up being somewhat pessimistic: the assessments actually showed the unit to be slightly faster. A 35-page A4 Word document was despatched in 59 seconds at 600dpi, whilst an 18-page A3 document required 55 seconds. In addition, our heavy-duty 24-page DTP-style document printed in 40 seconds to get an average speed of 36ppm. Switching resolution right up to the absolute maximum ProRes 1200 setting did not phase it either, because this took 40 seconds as well.

We would like it if we might say the same with regards to HP LaserJet M5035 MFP toner cartridge print quality, but the M5035 falls flat on this area. Standard text output was pin-sharp all the way down to the smallest of font sizes, however charts as well as photographic images faired poorly. Bar and pie charts had an ugly banding, that turned out to be a lot more evident in photos, and the overall degree of details for the latter was basically poor. We ascertained quality for the M3035xs MFP to be ordinary, but with respect to the M5035 it was basically unacceptable. Additional tests likewise demonstrated very little recognizable distinctions in between the different resolutions offered by the driver panel.

HP's MFP equipment generally offer an unequalled variety of functions for the cost. The M5035 MFP is not any different, but it's a great disgrace that basic print quality is indeed so uninspiring.

HP LaserJet M5035 MFP printer toner cartridges are available here.