The 8500 series is also the only tabloid-size color laser yet announced with an optional duplexer.
Setup is surprisingly simple for such a large printer.
The unit, which is about the size of R2D2, rolls out of its shipping crate already assembled and mounted on wheels. Simply roll it to its spot, lock the wheels, and load the drum, toner cartridges, and paper, then install the driver. As tested, the 8500 N came with only a PostScript 3 driver. Hewlett-Packard expects to provide a PCL 5 driver in early 1999. As with the 4500 DN, the 8500 N driver offers ColorSmart, set to automatic by default.