Envelope printer suggestions?

[Steve Wiltsie]

I have a customer that prints from just a few to up to 1000 envelopes at a 
time.  For the last 7 or so years they have been using a Lexmark T616TN with 
an envelope feeder and a third 500 sheet tray.   The printer is connected to 
their network and is used by their SCO Unix system and Windows 2000 server. 
Recently the Lexmark died and the repair 'expert' was unable to fix it or 
even get the tools to fix it.  In any case, the customer decided it was time 
to get a new laser printer.  I provided an HP LaserJet 4350TN with an 
envelope feeder and third 500 sheet tray - exactly the same configuration as 
the Lexmark.  It is plugged into the network and prints fine - except for 
envelopes.  The 4350 is rated at about 55 pages per minute but is only 
printing envelopes at about 6ppm!!  I've been on Live Chat with HP Tech 
Support and on the phone with the customer a good part of the day trying to 
figure out what is wrong.  For one thing, HP TS old me I shouldn't be 
sharing the printer from the Windows 2000 server but rather should load the 
software on each PC and set up the IP port printing on each one.  They went 
on to say that print jobs "can become corrupted" when printed from a server 
sharing the printer.  That was news to me.  They also said that the laser 
printer shouldn't be plugged into a surge protector because that could 
somehow provide less electricity than just plugging it into the wall.  More 
news.

So I went on-site and loaded the software onto one of the PCs that prints a 
lot of envelopes.  I also updated the 4350's firmware to the latest version. 
Once that was done and we had rebooted the printer, I had him print a few 
envelopes - it was just amazing.  The first one would pull and print right 
away, then there was a 4-5 second pause before the next one would pull and 
print.  This went on until the small job was finished.  The old Lexmark 
would print at near its rated speed of 32ppm so this is a real problem.

I came back to the office and got back with HP TS and was told that 6ppm for 
envelopes was correct because envelopes are "Custom Media" and the printer 
protects the fuser by pausing between 'pages' with custom media.  They were 
even so kind as to send me a Knowledge Base document with the title "HP 
LaserJet 4200 and 4300 Series Printers - Engine Speed Slow-downs, Slow 
Printing".  Well, gee - that's just great!!!!   To bad they don't make a 
point of that in the sales literature.

OK, the real reason for this message is to get a recommendation on a printer 
that will print envelopes at a good speed.  This can even be a dedicated 
envelope printer but it has to use laser or laser-like technology because it 
needs to look good.  It can be in addition to the current 4350.  Any 
suggestions?

Thanks,
Steve Wiltsie
microCONCEPTS Div. multi/user/inc.        Since 1981
(812) 474-0127                          Fax: (812) 474-0147