The HP Color LaserJet 2550L printer is an inexpensive laser printer using LaserJet 2550L toners that has reached the end of its production by HP. This printer produces a large number of color prints. Although no longer available new, it can be found used in several places.
The HP Color LaserJet 2550L printer is a two-tone gray printer. It is lightweight and easy to move. It owes its compact size to the fact that the four-HP ink and toner are arranged in a space saving carousel.
The low initial cost is the greatest advantage of this printer. Even when purchased new, it was one of the least expensive color laser printers for its day. To lower costs, HP designed the machine to be adjusted through the software rather than install an LCD screen in the printer.
Many consumers were not happy with this printer on a couple of counts, however. The printer does not come equipped with a paper tray unless purchased separately. In addition, the consumables for the machine can become expensive very quickly.
Unless you purchase the paper tray separately, paper is fed into this machine through a slot behind the front panel. This means that the panel must be left in the open position most of the time. Many owners of this printer do not like the configuration because it allows dust to get into the inner workings of the printer.
The drum of the HP Color LaserJet 2550L printer has to be replaced very often. For some consumers, the drum needs replacing every six months. The replacement drum cost about one third the cost of the machine when new.
Toner cartridges also must be replaced on a regular basis. These cartridges have a chip that counts down each print that is made. When the printer is set to print only black, the color toners count down for each print made. Therefore, consumers often report having to replace toner cartridges that are half to one third full, simply because their chip has counted down to zero. There are rumors that replacement chips can be purchased on the Internet that allow these still full toner cartridges to be used.
Color prints produced on the machine seem to be at best mediocre. Flesh tones are too bright and other colors are too dull. In addition, it is common for pinks to look purple and greens to look blue. Speeds of the prints are very slow by today’s standards. Color prints slow the machine to 3.1 ppm. Black text prints are excellent but only produced at 12.1 ppm.
The HP Color LaserJet 2550L set a standard that brought the prices of both black and color laser printers into the range of ink jet printers so that they could be affordable for many home computer users. While consumers may find many of these used machines being offered at low prices they should be warned that the cost of consumables and the fact that they must be replaced even when not empty makes this a less than desirable printer. It is also important to always have HP laser toners on hand. Compatible toner is the ink that the printer uses to print your documents. You can purchase HP Color LaserJet 2550L compatible toner online or in stores.