IT Pro Verdict
The HP Officejet Pro 8000 Enterprise's large consumables promise low running costs and infrequent, easy servicing by the end user. While it's slower than a laser and can't quite match a laser for quality, it's quieter, cooler and less power-hungry, while still being fairly robust. Not every enterprise needs a fleet of small inkjets, but this simple printer is brilliantly suited to those that do.
The expense, complexity and size of a fast workgroup or departmental printer makes perfect sense if the staff who'll be using it are concentrated in the same location, but that isn't always likely to be the case. With the Officejet 8000 Enterprise, HP is targeting firms with multiple small sites at which there may be limited support resources. Here, it argues, heavy-duty office inkjets can prove faster, easier to manage and far cheaper to run than entry-level colour laser printers. A similar logic applies in larger sites where a departmental laser handles bulk document printing, while one or more inkjets can be more economical for small-scale colour jobs.
This printer is more than a stripped down consumer inkjet.
Though inexpensive, the Officejet 8000 Enterprise costs considerably more than a no-frills inkjet, and about the same as the cheapest consumer colour lasers. Its print specifications are nothing special, with a maximum resolution of just 600x600dpi, a maximum speed of only 15ppm and no frills such as borderless or direct photo printing. While automatic duplexing is standard, the stock paper tray holds just 250 sheets however, at 20 or so for a second 250-sheet tray, an upgrade is cheap if needed.
Look in more detail and it's apparent that this printer is more than a stripped down consumer inkjet. The network port supports IPv6 and allows the printer to be managed through HP's familiar Web Jetadmin software. There's PCL 5, PCL 6 and PostScript 3 emulation onboard, too. The print engine is rated at a maximum 15,000-page monthly duty cycle which, while not quite on a par with a basic business laser printer, is more than enough for the Officejet's suggested role. Integrating the printer into an enterprise is made easier through support for automated driver rollouts, and supplies that can be included in managed print contracts.
