HP LaserJet 4250tn: 1,100 included sheets for wired printing review

Three included inputs for a wired document routine

The HP LaserJet 4250tn suits a prepared wired office that needs 1,100 ordinary sheets available across its included paper inputs. The package supplies Ethernet and an additional 500-sheet tray. Its deciding tradeoff is manual duplex: the third tray reduces ordinary refilling but does not turn pages automatically.

HP's exact US product page identifies Q5402A#ABA and marks the printer discontinued. The original US model comparison separately names the tn and confirms its extra tray and embedded server. This review covers the documented low-voltage edition as an earlier reference, without promising stock, condition or a working present-day driver.

Set up each tray for the paper you actually use

The front input holds 100 ordinary sheets and the two lower inputs hold 500 each, giving 1,100 at the manufacturer's 20-lb/75-g/m² basis. Letter, Legal and A4 are positively supported by the ordinary-size tables. The 3,100-sheet expanded maximum, high-capacity input and finishing accessories require additional hardware and are excluded.

In each lower tray, set the side and rear guides to the real size and turn the knob to Standard for a supported named size. Keep stacks flat at all four corners below the maximum-height indicators and do not fan the paper. The front input needs its support extended for ordinary sheets, with the centered stack beneath the guide tabs.

Match each input's size and type with the compatible job settings. If different sizes are loaded, the printer does not have 1,100 sheets of every size at once; the size-specific capacity assumes the relevant inputs all contain the selected ordinary size. One-sided letterhead loads front face up/top toward printer or lower face down/top toward user, with separate orientation when Alternative Letterhead mode applies.

Make the embedded network arrangement work

The included JetDirect interface is 10/100Base-TX Ethernet. The original network installation prints a configuration page, finds the IP address on its second page and uses it while setting up a compatible computer driver. A surviving Ethernet interface does not itself establish current driverless or mobile support.

Hi-Speed USB 2.0 and IEEE 1284B parallel are also included for direct printing. The period Windows procedure installs software before connecting the selected cable, excludes Windows NT 4.0 from USB and prohibits attaching USB and parallel simultaneously. The exact support record says the USB cable is separately purchased.

Historic PCL, PostScript and operating-system lists still need checking against your actual computer. The direct-PDF provision needs at least 128 MB of memory, above the documented standard tn arrangement. Wireless, Gigabit and Bluetooth servers are optional, and AirPrint, Mopria and Wi-Fi Direct remain unconfirmed.

Expect repeated batches for two-sided documents

The tn does not include the automatic duplexer. In the original Windows procedure, enable manual duplex and select Print on Both Sides (Manually) in the compatible driver. After first sides print, remove blank paper from Tray 1 and insert the printed stack there blank side up, top edge first. Press Select if prompted.

All second sides must use the 100-sheet front input, so a long document needs repeated batches even with both lower trays full. The original period Mac OS X setup does not support this manual routine, and Mac OS 9 needs the documented plug-in. If automatic page turning is essential, the dtn's different included mechanism matters more than this shared input capacity.

Up to ten supported envelopes also use Tray 1, face up with postage end toward the printer. Normally leave its extension in unless an oversize envelope needs it. Open the rear output for the straight path and choose the actual envelope settings. Neither the 1,100 ordinary sheets nor the optional 75-envelope feeder changes that standard envelope limit.

Use temporary PIN-held printing with its memory conditions

The original Private Job routine assigns a four-digit PIN in a compatible computer driver, then releases the user and job through the panel's Retrieve Job menu. The normal temporary arrangement uses RAM-disk AUTO and enough available memory; the no-hard-disk control requires at least 8 MB free. Complex jobs may need more memory.

Temporary jobs are lost at power-off and normally delete after release. Give them distinct names to avoid replacement by the same default name. Permanent Stored Job storage requires an optional hard disk, which is excluded. The routine is not a promise of encryption, unlimited storage or a permanent archive.

Account for the taller package and workload recommendation

HP's exact tn record recommends 3,000–15,000 pages monthly, distinct from the original 200,000-page maximum duty. Declared one-sided speed is up to 45 Letter pages per minute, separately 43 A4; none is a test here. This print-only machine includes no scanner, flatbed, feeder, copier or fax.

The closed three-tray body is 16.5 inches wide, 17.8 deep and 19.6 high, with guide weight 60 pounds without the cartridge. Allow opening and cartridge access beyond the body, verify the actual 110–127-V, 50/60-Hz plate and inspect supplies. Original replacement yields do not establish remaining toner, stock or current cost per page.