If you're having problems with HP peripherals in Snow Leopard, now's your chance. HP techs will be moderating their support forums live, today only:
http://blogs.zdnet.com/hardware/?p=5379
Well, I missed the deadline since I just rediscovered the MacFixit Forums but I have not been able to print using my HP ColorLaser Jet 3800dn since upgrading to SL. I even Emailed HP and they responded saying they would look into it. Even the recent HP software upgrade did not resolve my printing issues.
The drivers are not available for download on the HP site.
Right now, I assume this is an issue HP is actively working to resolve.
This does in no way detract from your observations, but in case you haven't seen it yet, the Apple KB article
Mac OS X v10.6: Printer and scanner software provides information on drivers available for SL (it includes the HP ColorLaser Jet 3800), and may tell you something useful. Note that the asterisks in HP's driver listing refer to '
Vendor software recently updated via Software Update.'
Thanks; I read all these. Reinstalled all drivers from the SL disc and also installed the HP driver update through Apples Software Update and my printer still doesn't work following SL update. Ironically, a very cheap HP all-in-one that my employer provided and I never used for personal use works just fine through my new SL environment so I'm at a loss. My expensive color laser jet 3800 sits idle
People have had some luck just installing the last version of the driver directly from the HP web site, even if it's not the official Snow Leopard driver. So you might give that a shot.