HP Laserjet P3005dn

Great Printer

We've got an aging Mac Mini at home, and the old LasertJet 4mp finally needed to be replaced. This 3005dn printer set up very quickly, and does exactly what it's supposed to do. I wanted a printer which has a 500 sheet paper tray (to hold a full ream of paper) and which does duplexing. I'm delighted with this machine, and haven't had the slightest problem with it for the first month.
Be aware of 2 things: it is a large printer. Also, when duplexing, the page comes about 2/3rds of the way out, then gets pulled back into the printer for printing on the back.
Also: this printer seems to print Postscript very fast... but I guess I'm used to 20 year old processor speeds. Anyway, it's a fast printer.
And finally: it is very quiet, and I like the configurable sleep mode.

Great! Got this over HP P2015dn

First, downloaded latest Vista Ultimate 64bit drivers from hp.com. Took a couple of minutes to recognize and install drivers on a Vista SP1 laptop. Printing with no issues in five minutes.

Great workhorse - added comment on great service

I have been using this machine in a business application for 4 months now. I am about to purchase another. It is flawless, easy setup with the network, quiet, high production, high capacity and fast. I understand the frustration over VISTA, but the techs clearly state it is not compatible with Vista as many programs and hardwear are not. I agree, it is not the fault of the equipment. And no, Vista is not the only OS system available or out there. Check with Dell TODAY and you we see an option. Windows XP Professional is still the standard for Network Applications and will be until Microsoft comes up with something that can actually replace it.
6/16/09
I am adding a comment concerning service. I have now purchased 4 HP3005DN and still love them. One did, however, begin to give an error message after every print. After speaking with HP, they sent a brand-new, in-the-box replacement and a shipping label to send the broken one back (on their nickle) AFTER I received the new one. They had no idea I was a fan or had more than one...it did not matter. This is the kind of service I have always received from HP and am disappointed that someone received something different.

works great with macs

I've had the printer for 3 weeks and it has been flawless. It does what it says.
- I plugged it into my router and the printer was recognized immediately by my mac.
- I upgraded the firmware to the most current available (a good idea in general for things like routers and printers)
I have not had one problem with it. Excellent printer. I do a lot of duplexing on legal size paper and it has handled it well.

The current 50% off promo on this printer makes it competitive with the Lexmark E352 on price.
Not sure if it will work well with windows from the reviews I've read but it works great on my mac.

Great printer - I don't thnk so.

The reality is that vista is the new OS, like it or not. And yes several HP models including this one have BIG TIME ISSUES with vista and recognizing the printer. I wasted countless hours with tech people and downloads and still had problems. Returned it and bought a cheap brother 5240 and have been printing with not a single problem. Plus the toner is one fourth of the cost of the toner for this model. No wonder it is at 50% off at some stores now.

Failed right out of the box

This model had a firmware issue (failure) right out of the box. Found on the internet that this is the case with this model. Wasted no time exchanging the printer. Purchased a P2015dn instead. Also bought a Kingston 256MB DIMM for $30 (not the $599 DIMM from HP). The P2015dn is working great... so is the memory DIMM. I use a Mac.

Needs NOT VISTA COMPATIBLE Warning Otherwise great

No amount of fiddling, using the printer install disk or downloads from HP seems to be able to make this printer talk with my new HP Laptop with Vista.

Vista does not recognize the printer, the software in the package apparently does not talk to Vista and the downloads thus far have been useless. And yes I know the first mistake was buying a Vista OS computer.

By way of comparison, it took about 3 minutes to have it up and running with my XP Professional desktop. Since I put the Vista computer in the closet the HP printer has performed flawlessly running XP. Great printer in terms of quality and speed. Perfect for the office or home office.

Update, thousands of pages later the printer is still working great. Vista is long gone. The world is great.