When I print a document without a mail merge, it prints about 20 pages a
minute. When I do a mail merge, it prints about 6 pages a minute. I'm on
Windows XP using Microsoft Word 2003. My printer is an HP LaserJet 5siNX and
I'm using a 5si print driver.

On 9/9/05 12:17 PM, in article
, "S-Dog"
wrote:

Laser
...Is the answer to your question along with the fact that your reference
to 20 ppm pertains to printing successive copies of the _same_ page. (The
unit is actually rated @ 24 ppm.)

Laser printers 'draw' the page as an image on a drum which accounts for
approximately 12-20 seconds of the minute to generate the first copy.
Successive copies of that page are then cranked out within the rest of the
minute because the image remains on the drum and just has to have more toner
applied.

Keep in mind that laser printer speed is quoted based on the assumptions
that 1) the content is plain text with no graphic elements, and 2)
successive copies of the same page are being printed. Any deviation on
either point and speed goes downhill rapidly. The more deviation, the more
the speed decreases.

Also, in a mail merge the content is not only different for each page, but
is being derived from _2_ file, not just one if you are merging directly to
the printer. In this case the processing speed of the computer & disk access
speed also come in to play... Not to mention network connections, etc.

It may speed things up a little if you merge to a file first & then print
that file, but you will still not get anywhere near 24 ppm.

HTH |:)