Just like paying taxes, buying a printer for a small office is not a job that most people relish. Today, there are so many choices that it can be overwhelming. It often seems that a new, better, faster version printer hits the market the day after the chosen printer arrives at the office. One option for a small office to consider, especially a new enterprise trying to save a few bucks, is an older or retired model printer. The HP Color LaserJet 4550 Printer and the accompanying HP Color LaserJet 4550 cartridges is one of the more reliable retired combinations.

While the HP 4550 is far from the newest thing to hit the market, it does have a reliable track record. From winning a printer award when it was first introduced in 1999 to the fact that it is still widely available and in use, this is not a disposable printer. HP has retired it many years back, but this is not a concern because the parts and toner are easy to find.

Obviously, the best way to purchase this printer is to look for what is available online. Not only do retailers offer it, but units can also be found on auction sites and even from private sellers. The HP Color LaserJet 4550 printer receives positive reviews from both technical writers and actual users. While not nearly matching today’s resolution capabilities, it does have 600 dpi. This means that professional quality documents, both text and graphics are the standard.

Another item for a buyer to consider is whether or not the speed of printing is the highest priority. This older color laser printer is understandably slower than current models. A pro for the purchase of a pre-owned or refurbished 4550 is that the HP bulk toner can be bought at prices that are far less than they were originally. Searching around online can net a full toner set for under a hundred bucks.

Of course, buying an older HP printer model means that it is going to need a little bit of space, in fact quite a bit of space within the office. This is no lightweight contender, as it is more than 22 inches tall, nearly this wide and a whopping 112 pounds. If space is at a premium in a small office, know that this laser printer may not fit the bill.

HP puts out operating and networking software that is pretty easy to understand for the layperson. The ease of installing the printer, getting it operational and replacing toner cartridges are all given favorable ratings in user reviews. Some users have even said that struggling to get the box into the office and the printer out of the box are toughest steps of the entire set up process.

Purchasing a printer is something that must be done. It might be for operating a small business or providing something for the kids to print out their homework. The HP LaserJet 4550 printer has a solid reputation for long lasting durability. The LaserJet 4550 toner cartridge is still widely available and reasonably priced. Not every refurbished or pre-owned printer has the HP’s reputation for quality. While price is always a consideration, reliability and availability of parts and HP toner is critical when considering a previously owned office product.

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