The Samsung ML-2525W is simple by nature: it only prints black, but offers the advantages of manual double-sided printing, a single-sheet tray, and wireless networking. For all that, its biggest boon for home offices, students, and small businesses (especially in this post-recession economy) is its $150 price tag, making it one of the cheapest laser printers we’ve tested to date. We have no issue recommending the ML-2525W based on its capability to churn out near-flawless prints in record time for a great price.  (Source: CNET)

This printer uses the High yield (2,500 pages) Samsung ML-D105L toner cartridge and the standard yield (1,500 pages) Samsung MLT-D105S toner cartridge.

If you own this printer, let me know what you think about it. Thanks!

— CNET Rating: 4 Stars —

The good: Cheap; prints high-quality text and graphics-heavy documents; USB, wireless and Ethernet connectivity; small footprint.

The bad: Lacks autoduplexing; ships with starter toner cartridge.

The bottom line: The Samsung ML-2525W monochrome laser printer doesn’t pack in extra features, but delivers worthwhile improvements over previous generations in output speed and quality. We highly recommend this wireless workhorse if you refuse to sacrifice quality for affordability. (Read the full CNET review)

— Amazon Rating: 4 Stars —

A positive comment from Amazon.com:

Great wireless laser printer: small, quiet, and great quality prints

I bought this printer a few weeks back. So, my review can only attest to the initial quality and operation of the printer. When shopping for a printer, I wanted a small, wireless (i.e. WiFi enabled), laser printer that I could use on my home wireless network. This printer fits the bill.

Once I received the printer, setup was incredibly easy. You just hook the USB cable to your computer, follow the software prompts, and then the printer is suddenly connected to the WiFi network. That is the last time I used the cable. Now, when I hit print on my laptop, it prints wirelessly.

I also like that the printer is relatively quick (24 ppm) and prints clean, crisp laser prints quickly. For $99, this is great deal and I’m pleased with the purchase.

I’d recommend buying this laser printer over the all-in-one units. While those all encompassing units may be tempting, I think you end up with a better deal by buying this Samsung printer and then buying a high-quality scanner as a separate item. For instance, I bought a separate Fujitsu Scansnap scanner (also, a very compact item). It scans so much better than the scanner I have on the all-in-one that I bought a couple years ago.

A negative comment from Amazon.com:

Do not buy if you have a Mac!!

I have tried and failed to install this on a new Imac. I cannot believe the appalling support by Samsung. The installation disc they supply simply does not work and it is not as though they have not had this feedback from other customers – see other feed back on this thread. I am pretty computer literate and simply gave up after many wasted hours. A visit to their website to get support is laughable, it takes you through an installation process under the heading of this printer and talks you through setting up scanning software! Unless you are an advanced user i would really avoid this printer. I have returned it for a re-fund it is just a shame they cannot re- fund my time! (Read all Amazon.com user reviews)

The HP Officejet 6000 is HP’s latest offering in the single-function inkjet printer category. It doesn’t have many of the bells and whistles of the popular all-in-ones, but what it lacks in features, it makes up for in print quality and speed. Topping out at a competitive 0.46 full-color photos per minute, there’s no doubting the capability of the 6000, but it’s missing a few critical features such as a USB cord, LCD screen, and media card reader. The Officejet costs an affordable $90, but you can get much more office functionality out of the Canon Pixma MX330, a multifunction printer with a built-in fax machine, copier, scanner, color LCD, and an auto-document feeder for only $20 more than the HP. Check out the Canon if you want the most features for your dollar, but if all you’re looking for is a fast printer, you won’t be disappointed with the HP Officejet 6000. (Source: CNET)

If you own this printer, let me know what you think about it. Thanks!

— CNET Rating: 3.5 Stars —

The good: Prints high-quality text and photos, fast print speeds compared with the competition, network ready.

The bad: No USB cord included, no LCD makes it difficult to troubleshoot.

The bottom line: We like the simplicity of the HP Officejet 6000 single-function inkjet printer. The print quality meets HP’s high standards, and it outputs full color photos at an impressive rate, but its lack of an LCD screen takes some getting used to. Nevertheless, the HP Officjet 6000 performed well and earns our recommendation as a great single-function printer. (Read the full CNET review)

— PCWORLD  —

HP’s Officejet 6000 Wireless is an inexpensive four-color ink-jet printer that, as its name implies, has wireless 802.11b/g connectivity. It also has an inexpensive price per print–as long as you buy HP’s high capacity ink tanks. Though office ink-jets are nothing new, HP positions the Officejet 6000 as a greener and cheaper alternative to workplace color laser printers. (Read the rest of the PCWorld review)

— Consumer Ratings: 3.5 Stars —

A positive comment from Amazon.com:

Great wireless printer, ONCE IT’S SET UP…but

I gave the printer five stars, because of price point (at 89.00, the ability to print wirelessly and with such a good quality printer is amazing) and because the printer has worked seamlessly once it was set up. Also, because HP clearly cares enough to add (not so) little touches such as:

1. Including the USB cable with the printer (Canon does not do this, from what I remember).

2. Including (this is amazing) the actual cartridges with the printer instead of “starter” cartridges that print maybe fifty sheets before conking out. Truthfully, you have to factor that into the price of these “cheaper” printers and realize that you have to tack on another thirty or more dollars to the price to pay for decent cartridges. With the ones supplied, I should be able to print at least 400 pages of black and white letters, email, etc. befor replacing the black cartridge.

3. If, like most of us looking for a small business (or home business) printer, there is the option to use an extended black cartridge which will give you even more pages between changes. This wouldn’t be so important for a photo printer, but for what it is (it’s called an “Officejet,” remember) this is a wonderful feature.

4. The printer goes into standby mode and “wakes up” when needed. Perhaps all new printers do this (my last printer was from a few years ago) but I find this a great feature.

Some may be put off by the form factor – this is not a small printer and takes up a fair amount of desk space. Also, the majority of the plastic sides are in white, (or putty, I suppose) which I have a feeling will show dirt and smudges worse than a silver or black model.

Finally, let’s get to the frustrating elements. As I’ve said, none of these were bad enough for me to lower the five star rating, but they were a little annoying:

1. (this is trivial but if it saves someone else the headache, it’s worth mentioning) – the set up instructions included in the box clearly show a plastic back panel that looks to be inserted when one is not using the black duplex printing back that comes with this unit. Duplex printing means the ability to print on both sides of the page, and the black plastic back is called “optional” in the instructions. Well, upon unpacking the printer I couldn’t find the other panel anywhere in the box or on the printer -although it was clearly seen in the picture. I called HP and, as I surmised, the printer does NOT come with this flat back panel. You LEAVE the black duplex printing back (which sticks out in a bump from the back) in the printer all the time. The pictures in the instructions were for the NON-WIRELESS version of the printer. It would have been nice if someone had mentioned that the wireless printer ONLY comes with the black back.

2. It takes the printer up to ten minutes to set itself up when you turn it on for the first time. This is clearly marked in the instructions, but if you don’t notice it, you might think something is wrong as you wait…and wait…and wait…for it to print that magical first test page. NOTHING IS WRONG. Have patience.

3. As others have noted, the software is ridiculously slow to install. I will say that when I installed it in our XP (the second computer) it took a fraction of the time, so perhaps this is a Vista issue. But it took (I’m not kidding) forty-five minutes to load. I kept thinking it was hanging, but then it would inch foward another 1% and chug along. I have NEVER had software take this long to load since the DOS days! Oh, and make sure you disable your anit-virus software before you load it. I didn’t and it seemed to make it crash the first time I tried to install it. (obviously turn back your anti-virus software after installation).

The GOOD NEWS: Once installed, it found the router immediately and both computers found the printer with no problems whatsoever. To have a wireless printer that my wife can print her recipes without having to bother me or I can print without taking up a valuable USB slot on my laptop is fantastic. And the quality is great for basic office chores.

I have NO idea if it will last, but as of now, I’m am really delighted to have a wireless printer with so many features at thie price point.

A negative comment from Amazon.com:

A hundred-dollar headache

Over the years, I’ve used printers by Okidata, NEC, Brother and a couple of others with success and admiration for the technology. I was prepared to admire this one from HP, which would be a bargain for a color printer (wireless yet), if it could be made to work. My hookup is fine; I chose to use a USB cable. No software problem. No command-to-printer problem. After a little fussing, the color cartridges lock securely into place. That’s the end of it. There’s no apparent paper stop to guide the insertion of paper into the tray. The printer starts up with the huff and puff of a mighty machine, then spins its wheels, and spins then. Paper in further, nada. Paper in not so far, nada. Popups announcing a general printer failure. It doesn’t like 20 lb, doesn’t like 22 lb, doesn’t like 24 lb laid. Maybe there’s some finessing that will make this “bargain” work, but I’d rather pay more and get a machine that’s engineered for function. This isn’t it. (Read all Amazon.com user reviews)

The days of dropping 300 bones on an all-in-one printer are fading away, while $150 devices like the Canon Pixma MP560 are quickly taking their place on retail shelves. The MP560 looks great and offers useful features like an auto-document feeder and a bright 2-inch LCD display, but it can’t keep up with other multifunction printers like the Epson WorkForce 310 and Lexmark’s Impact S305. Canon technically gives you more features, but we suspect that the sub-$150 market is more invested in print quality and speed. That leads us to recommend the Lexmark Impact S305 instead, which gives you higher quality pictures and prints documents in half the time for $50 less than the Canon Pixma MP560. (Source: CNET)

If you own this printer, let me know what you think about it. Thanks!

— CNET Rating: 3.5 Stars —

The good: Intuitive scroll wheel; large 2-inch LCD for photo viewing; wireless; auto-duplexer included; dual paper trays.

The bad: Mediocre print speeds; competition offers better image quality for less.

The bottom line: The Canon Pixma MP560 multifunction printer and its flashy 2-inch LCD screen and auto-document feeder may seem appealing at first, but the average consumer will find that Lexmark’s Impact S305 offers faster performance and higher quality results for $50 less. (Read the full CNET review)

— PCWORLD Rating: 3.5 Stars  —

Pros: Very nice photo quality; Automatic duplexing and roomy paper trays; Fast scanning speeds

Cons: Mediocre print speeds

Bottom Line: For a reasonable price, you get automatic duplexing and dual 150-sheet input trays, but the trade-off is mediocre print speed.

— Consumer Ratings: 4 Stars —

A positive comment from Amazon.com:

Nice printer, nice scanner, great for novice users

This printer was purchased as a birthday present for my mother, who has been hampered by a Windows Vista computer and a malfunctioning HP Printer (it worked great with XP…). We purchased the Canon PIXMA MP560 printer for $85 (free shipping) on Amazon, and comparing the price to other retailers online (and the retail price), it was no contest.

This printer has some features that you may already know of via the product description page, but I’d like to elaborate on some of these features.
Thoughts out of the box:
-The MP560 has a folding LCD screen that covers the function buttons. The screen is not too large, but it does seem to have large enough text (and a simple GUI) to work well for novice printer users. There are not too many buttons, and they’re large, well-marked, and simple enough for anyone to recognize.
-The printer has a lower paper tray (for regular inkjet/copier paper) and an upper vertical tray (for thicker photo paper and other things). The vertical tray has an automatic two-sided width adjustment/alignment, so any size paper is aligned to the proper position every time (and the thickness is adjustable from maximum printing width of the printer, down to only an inch or so).
-The basic instruction manual is printed on paper, and easily guided me through the process of installation of the print head/ink, paper, software, and wireless network capability. This guide has simple words and illustrations, though it does not include every detail of the printer’s operations (the more complex instruction/user manual is electronic, and is installed with the printer software). There is a Network Troubleshooting guide, as well, that seems to be rather detailed (though unnecessary in my case). The printer comes with a sample pack of 4″x6″ photo paper, which we immediately tested (and it passed the test with flying colors). There’s other throw-away junk included, but nothing that surprising.
-The printer is clearly labeled so as to make it simple to place cartridges in the right location, once the print head is installed.
-The fact that the MP560 has multiple single-color ink cartridges may seem expensive at first, but with tri-color cartridge printers, we would always seem to run out of a single color much faster than other colors… so we were wasting a good amount of ink each and every time we replaced a cartridge. This printer seems to have ink cartridges that would be easier to refill than some other cartridges, as well.

After powering it on:
-It was EFFORTLESS to set up the MP560 on our wireless network. It quickly detected the network (our router is on another floor in the house, on the other side of the house), and it still had a good quality signal, and it only took a few minutes (and only a couple pushes of a button… plus entering our internet security key) before the printer was connected. There is a rotating pad (similar to an IPod) on the printer that lets you select any security codes you may have (and navigate through the GUI)… so it may take awhile if one has an alphanumeric password, but it was rather quick for a numeric 8-key code. Heck, my mom is not too familiar with computers, and I have no doubts that she could have set up this printer with the network.
-The printer comes with easy to use software (again, in Vista), though it does take a few minutes for the software to install itself on a PC. The basic instruction manual makes it rather easy to install everything, whether using Windows or Mac. Once installed, the printer is rather effortlessly found (remember to have attached the printer to the wireless network), and before you know it, you’re ready to print.
-The printer has a laser ink level meter for every cartridge, and it can be displayed on the computer and on the 2″ LCD screen on the printer (actually, pressing one button on the “Home” screen will allow you to see each ink level). So far, it does not appear as if this printer over-uses ink… in fact, printing on glossy photo paper seems to suggest there’s less “gunk” on the paper than some other printers, perhaps due to the finer ink jets this printer allegedly uses.

Using the printer for the first time:
-The printer and software actually WORK WELL with Windows Vista!
-The printer does take a few seconds to warm up, but after the first print job, it seems to be much faster.
-The MP560 didn’t have a single problem feeding thicker photo paper.
-The quality of printed pictures is very good, showing very tight pixels even on plain paper. Photo paper shows an excellent picture quality, and the software included with the printer makes it effortless to print photos with certain photo papers… no need to change printer settings manually.
-The scanner/copier seems to produce quality pictures, although this isn’t the fastest, nor the quietest, copier I’ve seen in a multi-use printer.
-The Duplex printing feature is a great thing to have in a lower-cost home printer, as few documents are of an official, legal nature, hence there’s no need for one-sided printing. It gets to be inconvenient to flip the pages by hand each and every time one wants to print on both sides of a piece of paper, so it is great to find a lower-cost printer that has this feature. This printer does not print internally, it prints on one side and extracts the page, then gathers the page back inside the printer and prints on the other side, so I don’t know how well Duplex printing would work on thicker media such as fabrics.

All in all, this is a great printer so far. It beats anything I’ve ever owned, in terms of print quality and functionality, and I’d say it’s a pretty good value to boot. Mom is certainly happy about this printer, and she’s going to test it with some of her crafts… let’s see how it stands up to the test of time when she puts it to use.

A negative comment from Amazon.com:

Are you Kidding Me?

It’s no wonder Canon took so long to come up with wireless printers–they had no idea of what they’re doing. I got this MX860 the other night and there are about 60 pages on how to setup one’s network. Apparently, one can not setup the network from the printer and printer screen, as they could with normal printers like Brother, HP, etc.
You have to start a USB connection and run an install program that runs as slow as dirt to run wireless on this printer. This is like starting a jet by pulling it by horses. It baffles the imagination that Canon could make this so convoluted and over-complicated. In addition to that Canon fills up your computer with garbage.
It loads up about five programs into your startup tray, which bogs down your computer, and really serves no purpose at all.
No thanks! This baby is shipping back and I’ll look at a company that knows how to make a printer like Brother or Epson. (Read all Amazon.com user reviews)

The Epson WorkForce 610 is a subtle refresh of last year’s Epson WorkForce 600. We don’t have a review for its predecessor, but the 610 is almost the same printer with the exception of an updated onscreen menu layout. For $200, you get a versatile mix of features such as an auto-document feeder on top of the printer for hands-free copying, scanning, or faxing of up to 30 sheets of paper, wireless and wired networking, and a comprehensive control panel that offers one-touch access to some of the printer’s most popular features. While we continue to applaud Epson for its consistently fast-paced output speeds and easy printer setup, we are disappointed that the 610 lacks an auto-duplexer, an extra hardware add-on that can print on both sides of a sheet of paper. The omission surely isn’t a deal breaker, but it’s something we expect to come included with a $200 printer. (Source: CNET)

If you own this printer, let me know what you think about it. Thanks!

— CNET Rating: 3.5 Stars —

The good: Rapidly prints graphical and text documents; includes Wi-Fi and Ethernet networking; attractive design despite its bulk; easy to set up.

The bad: Slow to print photos; large footprint; lacks automatic duplexer.

The bottom line: The Epson WorkForce 610 meets the needs of both businesses and home offices that are shopping for a competent, dependable all-in-one device. Whether it’s printing, faxing, copying, or scanning, this Epson is a cut above the competition. (Read the full CNET review)

— PCWORLD Rating:  —

No Review Provided

— Consumer Ratings: 4 Stars —

A positive comment from Amazon.com:

Recommended Home/Office General Purpose Printer & Scanner

I replaced an older Dell All-In-One printer with the Epson WorkForce 610. I have owned multiple HP all-in-one home/office printers that originally cost $300+. By far, this Epson WorkForce 610 is the best of the bunch.

Setup was easy. I downloaded and installed the latest Epson software from their website. It installed on my Windows 7 laptops very easily. One laptop directly connected to the printer and the other has a wireless connection. In both cases the install, printer discovery, and test prints/scans went well. The software takes longer than expected to install but there were no scary questions or screens so it was just patience.

Setting up the printer to work on my WEP enabled wireless network was easy to do from the printer’s front panel. There were front panel diagnostics that allowed me to check if the printer had an IP address so that i could make sure I had the right security keys installed.

The scanner and auto-document feeder work well and are much faster than my more expensive Dell or HP printers. Both a TWAIN and WIA scanner are exposed so it works well with lots of software. For me, interop with Paperport 12 was a must and this has been flawless – much better than the Dell or HP all-in-one printers. I tend to scan 8×10 and legal sizes stuff in the document feeder and that works fine. The adjustment guide only supports A4 & LTR/LGL sized paper so narrower paper may skew when being fed into the auto document feeder.

The paper feed mechanism is on the back of the printer and only holds 100 or so sheets. So good for lighter home / office use versus heavy use. I can easily insert an envelope over the paper to quickly print an occasional envelope. If I were printing multiple envelopes, i would remove the paper, adjust the paper guide to envelope size, and it holds 10 or so envelopes.

Making scans (to PDF, a File, or Email) from the front panel also works well.

I didn’t spend much time with the fax as that wasn’t important to me.

All in all, the best printer I have owned so far.

A negative comment from Amazon.com:

3 strikes and Epson’s out

After reading all of the reviews for all-in-one devices, this seemed to be the one to get. Setup for wireless use was very easy: I had it set up on 3 pc’s and one mac with no issues at all. The first unit I had developed a clog in the printer head which Epson diagnosed over the phone, after repeated attempts at cleaning, and so they had to send out a completely new unit. I received the second printer and had to go through the setup on all 4 computers again. One week later, the same issue occurred on the print head. Epson sent out a third unit: guess what…….. same problem. I was impressed with Epson’s customer service, but on the other hand it seemed too easy, like they know there is a problem with these units. I really wanted this thing to work, because it was very easy to setup (much easier than any HP I have owned). My other complaint is how loud the unit was, crazy loud at printing and scanning. Today I received a canon MX860 from Amazon. That unit was equally as easy to setup, but the big distinction is that the Canon has replaceable printer heads; so if it gets clogged, I don’t have to send back the entire unit. (Read all Amazon.com user reviews)

A single-function inkjet photo printer simply can’t satisfy the daily needs of today’s amateur photo enthusiast. As users discover more creative ways to get their photos on and off the screen, so too must their printers evolve to match these changing trends. HP is fully aware of the transition, and recently rolled out the HP Photosmart Premium Fax All-in-One, a device that combines an inkjet printer, fax machine, scanner, and copier into one $270 workhorse. Designed with the casual photographer and the work-at-home professional in mind, the All-in-One covers all its bases with an integrated auto-document feeder, double-sided printing, wireless networked printing, and an interactive control panel for direct editing that lets the printer function independently with your digital camera. There isn’t much missing from this all-in-one, and despite the higher than average cost to refill its black ink cartridge, we fully recommend the Photosmart Premium Fax All-in-One for photographers, students, professionals, or anyone else looking for a printer that can do it all. (Source: CNET)

If you own this printer, let me know what you think about it. Thanks!

— CNET Rating: 4 Stars —

The good: Prints high-quality color photos and documents; impressive output speed; attractive design; added extras like Quick Forms, ADF, and an integrated CD drive for custom prints.

The bad: Higher than average cost for black ink cartridge; minor omissions include a hinged scanner hood and speed-dial fax buttons.

The bottom line: The HP Photosmart Premium Fax All-in-One printer makes it easy to increase productivity thanks to its streamlined user interface. The fax, copy, print, and scanning features boast helpful extras like double-sided printing, wireless connectivity, separate photo trays, and quick-access control panel buttons, all while maintaining lab-quality photos and a low cost to print. We highly recommend this printer to anyone who can benefit from its multifunctionality. (Read the full CNET review)

— PCWORLD Rating:  —

Pros: Prints on specially coated CD/DVD media; Produces photos quickly

Cons: Very expensive to purchase; Copy speeds are sluggish

Bottom Line: Well equipped for both photography and light office use, this MFP is capable–but very expensive. (Read the full PCWorld review)

— Consumer Ratings: 3.5 Stars —

A positive comment from Amazon.com:

All the features I wanted

I bought this last week after taking back two others in one week (HP C4599 and HP6310 because salesmen assured me they had both fax and wi-fi but they didn’t.) This Photosmart Premium (C309) has EVERYTHING I wanted: color fax, print, copy, scan, 50 pg document feeder, very easy two-sided printing, built-in wi-fi and bluetooth, reads from Flash drives and memory cards, has LCD screen, and can work independently of the computer.
Hook-up and software loading took me almost an hour but was fairly simple, I did WiFi setup so it isn’t physically connected to my computer at all and can be placed elsewhere in my home office. I DID follow another reviewer’s advise to custom install and skip the HP updates and shopping junk that use up space and slow you down. Great advice. My added advice: Be sure to uninstall EVERY piece of HP software you previously had on your computer before starting.
OK, so besides the listed features here are my likes and dislikes:
LIKES: appearance very pretty; instructions very intuitive; can separately pre-load photo paper; unexpected neat little add-on features like Quick Forms to print calendar pages, graph paper, even a few games like Sudokus!; can reproduce photos with one button; color resolution is intense; can even print on CD’s (if you buy the right ones); prints fast once it gets started. One other very cool feature: it prints straight from my iPhone using free HP iPrint application.
DISLIKES: takes too long getting started after you press “print” and is noisy doing it (though quiet when actually printing); the black on documents is not quite black enough (though I suspect this may save ink and perhaps can be adjusted in settings); photo paper loading didn’t work with Kodak paper (but worked fine with HP paper); ink is expensive…I don’t yet know how long it’ll last.
Overall there are just too many good features to enjoy on this printer that I can’t focus on the few flaws. I’m in love.

A negative comment from Amazon.com:

Printer Problems, Customer Service Nightmare

Although a long-time Amazon customer, I should disclose that I purchased this printer from the HP on-line store. Why, then, is this review here? Because their similar customer-feedback mechanism would not permit the printing of my submission. (“The truth? You can’t handle the truth!”–Jack Nickolson)

This new-model printer turned out to have both software and hardware issues right out of the box. Since I have access to my university’s computer support department, which offers telephone assistance/troubleshooting for non-university-owned computer equipment, I first contacted them. Over the course of several telephone sessions, three different technicians identified a software problem, plus design issues that prevent the printer from operating correctly.

A possible solution to faulty software has already been suggested by another Amazon reviewer–do not use the CD supplied with the printer itself. Instead, download the driver software from the HP download site. This potential solution was never suggested by HP Technical Support, as HP would not concede the possibility that there was anything wrong with the driver in the first place. On my operating system, the driver would continually revert to FAX mode, no matter what I did. With another OS, the bug may manifest itself in a different way. Also, I have not tried the other reviewer suggestion by downloading the web-site version of the driver. That’s because, by the time I saw his/her review, the printer had been sitting in its carton out in the garage for 3 weeks, awaiting some sort of corrective action by HP.

The hardware issue is twofold. First, the smaller of the printer’s two paper trays cannot detect the presence of paper in the tray, gives an “out of paper” message on the little printer screen, and halts the printing process. I experimented with full paper trays, half-full, and just a couple of pages. No dice.

Secondly, I was initially able to override the error stoppage by pressing the OK button, and thereby printed a number of 4X6 prints. After making a couple of prints in a row, however, I found that the feeding process caused the plastic fence (meant to keep paper in the tray aligned) to become looser and looser, allowing paper to be fed into the printer slightly crooked, with the result that the borderless prints I made came out with white (unprinted) slivers along opposing edges of the print.

At the time I was having multiple problems with this printer, others were (apparently) giving the unit rave, 5-star reviews on the HP store’s web site. I thought “Why just me?” and submitted a negative review that was rejected by the powers that be at HP. Now, however, the two printer design issues noted above have finally appeared, in reviews on the last and next-to-last page at the HP site. These appear to be genuine reviews by actual purchasers of the product.

This review already exceeds the desired length requested by Amazon, but I feel that an explanation as to why this dreadful printer still sits in my garage is in order. The technicians from my university felt that the problems I was experiencing were inherent in the printer’s design (and its driver software), and therefore cautioned me not to accept a replacement printer, but instead insist on returning it for a refund.

This type of problem is handled by HP Customer Care via a lengthy (2+ hour) process that includes a mandatory independent review of the product by one of their own experts from HP Technical Support. Without knowing what I’d previously been told by university technical staff, this person came to essentially the same conclusion.

However, when I was eventually able to speak directly to the decision-maker (who had access to notes recorded by the 6-7 other people I had to go through in order to speak to her) she elected not to allow the return, offering only a replacement unit, as I’d been warned. The reason? Some sort of ongoing beef with HP Technical Support, whom she regarded as a bunch of incompetents.

So that was my choice, a replacement or nothing. When I continued to press my case for a return, as I had for more than two hours, this person (called a “case manager”) hung up on me.

Having said all this, I feel obliged to point out that a (single) test of the printer’s 8 1/2 X 11 printing capability yielded a perfectly acceptable print. The scanner’s operation was less than ideal, as it required several attempts to produce a complete scan without having it stop 1/4 or 1/3 of the way, but when it finally produced a complete scan the quality was top-notch. I never attempted to use the FAX function.

With regard to the product reviews printed on their site, those on the first two pages are clearly suspect, with uniformly rave reviews accompanied by 5-star ratings. (Being subtle is apparently not the author’s strong suit.) A couple of later submissions do provide a glimpse into the printer’s shortcomings. I believe that HP’s unwillingness to print the review I submitted derives from its conclusion/recommendation, which was phrased something like this: “potential purchasers of this printer would be well advised to delay buying it until a number of outstanding software and hardware issues affecting its performance have been rectified.”

I believe that it was probably this recommendation, more so than the operational issues per se, that doomed the submission to the “round file.” It was (and is) based on several well-substantiated operational issues, and it comes from someone who has been and will continue to be a big fan of HP printers. As the owner of 5 HP printers (including 4 currently, including the one in the garage) I believe that HP produces the finest monochrome printers in the world (their LaserJet series) regardless of price.

Last year I purchased two LaserJets (from Amazon!) to replace a LaserJet III that seemed like it had lasted practically forever–requiring replacement toner cartridges at intervals nearing two years. I was wary of the smaller, plastic printers ordered from Amazon, but the one that at the time was HP’s cheapest printer (Model 1020) produced 1st-class results, and continues to do so 1 1/2 years later. Further, HP’s dismal customer support isn’t an issue, as nothing ever seems to go wrong with the LaserJets.

Color printers, on the other hand, appear to present difficulties for all manufacturers. Certain models targeted toward the professional market appear to be well-regarded. But for those of us who don’t have the thousands of dollars these printers cost, shopping for a quality, reliable color printer or all-in-one seems all but hopeless. Pick any (affordable) make and model of color printer, run a search on it, and the search is likely to reveal scores of unhappy owners.

So my review is not meant to demean HP, just to sound a cautionary note as a counterpoint to the many positive reviews I see–particularly in view of my newly-developed cynicism regarding authorship of product reviews. However, if some product failure were to occur, I think customers deserve far better treatment than they now receive at the hands of HP personnel. And if they or any seller opts to solicit and present product reviews on their web-site, I feel that they have an ethical obligation to inform the reader when the reviews reflect anything other than (1) all submissions, or (2) an honest random sample of those submissions. Reviews by people affiliated with the company, or which have been chosen in such a way as to exclude some or all negative comments should be accompanied by a clear disclosure of these circumstances. (Read all Amazon.com user reviews)

The Impact S305 is Lexmark’s budget printer for homes that don’t have a lot of money to spend but still want the added functionality of a multifunction printer. We hesitate to slap the “all-in-one” label on it, as the device has no dedicated fax capability. It can print, scan, and copy, however, with ease and impressive speed. The Impact S305 not only printed faster than every competitor in the sub-$100 range, but also maintained a solid quality rating across every sample print. The $99 Lexmark Impact doesn’t flaunt the most groundbreaking design, but we suspect you will find the printer’s speed and efficiency equally satisfying. (Source: CNET)

If you own this Lexmark printer, let me know what you think about it. Thanks!

— CNET Rating: 4 Stars —

The good: Fast print speeds; inexpensive; easy wireless setup; comprehensive driver features.

The bad: Lacks automatic document feeder; small LCD screen.

The bottom line: The Lexmark Impact S305′s low price tag, simple setup, and straightforward features are sure to draw in budget customers with intermittent printing needs. With extra features like wireless printing and a media card reader, the Impact earns a solid recommendation. (Read the full CNET review)

— PCWORLD Rating:  —

No rating available.

— Consumer Ratings: 2 Stars —

A positive comment from Amazon.com:

What’s with all the negative reviews???

I have had this printer for about a week, and I can truthfully say (so far) it’s been one of the easiest and best printers I’ve ever had. I was, at first, somewhat intimidated by the wireless feature, but the software lead me through the set-up step by step and within 10 minutes I was printing. The unit prints beautiful colors and it’s quick and quiet, and it has a power saving feature that shuts it off after a few minutes.
I can find nothing to say negative about this printer as of right now. That might change, but for now, I just don’t get all the negative feedback.

A negative comment from Amazon.com:

Awful!

I have never left a review on Amazon that I can recall, but I decided to take the time since this was such a ridiculous product. I had this printer for 2 weeks and gave it away. It was that bad. The wireless set up finally required me to call for support. The support was somewhat helpful. After about an hour, we finally had this set up. One flaw with this is that the printer powers itself off and if you send something to the printer and its off, it just gets everything messed up in the driver. Also, you have to go into printer options and require the printer to print only in color as the “all available ink” option makes the color on the pages print out in grey and the words (that are suppose to be black) in invisible ink. Not good! Obviously, if I gave this away after two weeks, you get the idea, this was a complete waste of money. I now ordered the Epson Workforce 40. It prints beautiful pages similar to laser quality. (Read all Amazon.com user reviews)

Good question. And, probably one that should be answered before more folks start to ask why I know so much about all these different printers.

I do not have the time or resources to review each and every printer model out there, so I have to depend on reputable sources for assistance. Right now, two of the best sources for reviews are CNET and PCWorld. But, a critics review is not enough. The critic uses the printer for a short while in their work place. Because of this I also like to depend on user reviews. The user actually owns the printer. He/she takes it in to their house and uses it for an extended period of time. The user has real, intimate, knowledge of the printer we are trying to talk about. The best place to find user reviews, right now, is Amazon.

My goal is to present both the critic’s and user’s reviews for you to read. I pull data from CNET, PCWorld, and Amazon and present it in a post for you. I don’t get to fancy, or original, in these posts. I’m juse presenting the information as it was written by others (and giving them credit).

My hope is that it will provide  you with a useful summary that will help you make an informed purchasing decision.

If you have any suggestions on how I can improve these posts, please let me know. Thanks!

The HP Color LaserJet CP2025n is a pricey color laser printer built with the small business owner or work group in mind. At $450, the CP2025n can connect to multiple computers of a wired network, and the printer produces high-quality prints, but it’s not without minor faults: the output speed for text and presentation documents is slower than the competition and it’s missing an auto-duplexer for double-sided printing. At the same time, HP redeems itself with a toolbox full of helpful settings, instructions, and features that brighten the user experience, not to mention the CP2025n’s optimal quality prints. Although it’s not perfect, the positives do outweigh the negatives and we recommend the HP CP2025n for offices that need a dependable color laser printer. (Source: CNET)

Do you own this printer? Tell me how you feel about it. Thanks!

— CNET Rating: 3.5 Stars —

The good: Impressive print quality; fast output for color documents; high monthly duty cycle; comprehensive driver features and warranty; easy networking setup.

The bad: Slow black printing; no auto-duplexing; can’t print directly from USB thumbdrive or digital camera; lacks wireless connectivity.

The bottom line: Although the HP CP2025n is rather slow to print black documents and is missing supplementary features such as USB-direct printing and wireless, the color laser shines in output quality, and the software holds your hand through a somewhat daunting learning curve. The CP2025n also has a high monthly duty-cycle, so we recommend it to anyone hunting for a workhorse printer to complement an equally diligent work environment. (Read the full CNET review)

— PCWORLD Rating: 3 Stars —

Pros: Inexpensive; very good print quality; Competent speeds

Cons: No weekend support; Some pieces rattle and feel cheap

Bottom Line: For the price, you get solid overall performance–but a somewhat less solid-feeling package. (Read the full PCWorld review)

— Consumer Ratings: 3 Stars —

A positive comment from Amazon.com:

Decent Printer

Everything about the printer is good, except the ink cartridges are expensive and it doesn’t come with full cartridges. After about 600 copies the machine says I need to purchase another black cartridge. A full cartridge should print 3x that amount.

A negative comment from Amazon.com:

Good standalone printer, but not good network printer

Like any other printers that I work with I find that this printer is a nightmare. I have no quarms about setting up this printer as a locally installed usb printer, but failed miserably as a network printer. Our Windows 2003 DHCP server sees 18 hexadecimal mac address instead of 12. I have a nightmare when I try to install the driver to the server, server would freeze, and I had to reboot the server to finish the installation. HP Webjetadmin only sees the NPXXXXXX name and not the name that our dhcp server would provide. Lastly, when I updated the firmware trying to fix the problem, the mac address of the printer actually changed. I would recommend that you purchase for standalone printer only, and not for networking.(Read all Amazon.com user reviews)

The HP Officejet Pro 8500 wireless all-in-one inkjet printer is a near-perfect solution for small businesses and home offices hunting for a device that can print, scan, fax, copy in record time, all with high-quality results. This printer sets the bar high in terms of all the features it manages to pack into a relatively small footprint: autoduplexing, 802.11b/g, a 3.45-inch touch screen, 50-sheet automatic document feeder, and a legal-size scanner are only some of the extras this machine has to offer. Some will balk at the $399 price tag, but spend half an hour with the Pro 8500 and we’re sure you’ll want one of your own. (Source: CNET)

I’d love to hear what you have to say about this printer. Please take a minute and share your thoughts. Thanks!

— CNET Rating: 4 Stars —

The good: Autoduplexer; automatic document feeder; easy to use 3.4-inch LCD touch screen; painless 802.11b/g wireless setup; industry-leading print speeds; excellent quality prints.

The bad: Lacks autodial fax buttons, Bluetooth, and a dual paper input tray.

The bottom line: The HP Officejet Pro 8500 wireless makes a convincing inkjet argument for offices with a high volume of prints. With a function touch screen, multiple networking options, and an astoundingly fast print speed, it makes perfect sense to give this workhorse an Editors’ Choice award. (Read the full CNET review)

— PCWORLD Rating: 4 Stars —

Pros: Fast print and copy speeds; Cheap inks; lots of features

Cons: Very expensive purchase price; Slow scan speeds

Bottom Line: A small office that wants it all can get it here: features galore, including really cheap inks. (Read the full PCWorld review)

— Consumer Ratings: 3 Stars —

A positive comment from Amazon.com:

Another Opinion

Recent reviews of the HP OfficeJet Pro 8500 Wireless were critical of noise, vibration, and ink usage. Here are what I have discovered since installing this printer.
1. On most surfaces the noise from the printer is minimal. Movement of the plastic gears on HP, Canon, and Epson are not silent. Perhaps newer versions of the 8500 by HP will address this minor concern.
2. The printer vibrates slightly compared to a laser printer, but not to the extent that it is objectionable. Perhaps HP can reduce or eliminate this in future models but probably by increasing the weight of the printer. Most users, I suggest, would not want a heavier printer.
3. Ink usage is part of the printer expense “game” but with HP you can continue to print in B&W even if any or all of the color cartridges are empty [Verified by HP Support] That may not be the case with some recent offerings from Epson or Canon, although I personally prefer Espon and Canon printers for color prints.
4. The ink cartridges are dated, but they will continue to function even after the “expiration” date. HP prints a date on the ink package, but it does not prevent the cartridge from working. As a matter of fact, ink will remain usable in a SEALED packet for an extended period without concern. This date code is not a rip-off by HP anymore than other companies who print a freshness date.
5. It is certainly less expensive to order color prints online than to purchase OEM ink and paper. For those with a digital camera who need a quick print now and then the quality of the HP is excellent.
6. Setup is easy. I would only add a note to the directions for Step 7 to input your choice of language and then follow the touch screen directions as the printer processes alignment. The directions are not clear on that one point, and you could wait for 30 minutes wondering why it hasn’t competed alignment of the print heads. Check this out if you purchase this printer.
7. I am punctilious concerning most purchases and, at least in this case, I feel that this printer is an outstanding VALUE even when other offerings from Canon, Brother, and Epson may be less expensive. I have seen printers on sale for less than $50, but the thin plastic housing and the print quality reflect the price. We wanted Print / Copy / Scan / Fax, although we will seldom use the FAX function. (I will only connect the FAX as needed).
8. Follow the directions CAREFULLY and install precisely and you will enjoy owning this printer.

A negative comment from Amazon.com:

My HP Officejet Pro 8500 has unacceptable high pitch noise

If it wasn’t for the high pitch noise, I would give this printer 5 stars – it really is a terrific printer.

I have decent hearing and I use it in a quiet home environment. The printer is making a constant non-stop high pitch noise when it is on, even when not printing. The noise comes where the power cable connects to the back of the printer. No matter where I place the printer in my home office which is 10 x 13 feet, I hear the noise. It is absolutely driving me crazy and I can’t stand it any longer (it’s only been two days to give you an idea of just how annoying the noise is to me).

Not everyone can hear the high pitch noise. I think it depends somewhat on how good your hearing is. For me, it is really a nuisance. I am not happy about it because I really liked the printer, it made great quality print outs and the ink is cheaper than toner.

To make sure it wasn’t just my printer, I went to 3 different large box retail stores, and all of the HP 8500 display models were emitting the same high pitch noise. I could even hear the high pitch noise in one store despite having loud TV’s blaring in the background. I will be returning this printer. No matter how great I think the printer is, it cannot overcome this major problem in my opinion. Surprisingly, only one other person has mentioned this in their reviews.

I did an Internet search and found a couple of similar complaints with this particular model. I guess most people do not hear high pitch noises.

(Read all Amazon.com user reviews)

A few months ago, we tested the Canon Pixma MX700 with strong results. The multifunction printer, scanner, fax machine, and copier performed intuitively and yielded excellent quality prints. Most importantly in the world of multifunction printers, each of the functions operated easily and efficiently on their own. Our only complaints were that it was a tad slow on text prints, lacked advanced faxing options, and didn’t have an autoduplexer. Canon answered those issues with the new $400 Pixma MX7600. The MX7600 features superb photo print quality that you simply won’t get with a laser printer. This, coupled with a new proprietary print head system, autoduplexer, and significantly faster output speeds, make the MX7600 an excellent option for anyone in the market for a high-grade, photo-capable all-in-one. (Source: CNET)

If you’ve got a minute or two, I’d love to hear your opinion of this printer. Thanks!

— CNET Rating: 4 Stars —

The good: New clear ink cartridge improves print quality; auto-duplexer; dedicated one-touch fax keypad; intuitive photo-printing controls; increased faxing options; very fast photo and graphic prints.

The bad: Unwieldy size; text speed hasn’t improved; higher price tag might deter prospective buyers.

The bottom line: The Canon Pixma MX7600 multifunction is a huge improvement over the previous model. With additional features such as an autoduplexer, increased faxing options, and an upgraded control cockpit, we have no problem recommending the MX7600. (Read the full CNET review)

— PCWORLD Rating: 4 Stars —

Pros: Very fast; reasonably priced inks; Great print, scan, and copy quality

Cons: Very expensive; bulky; Control panel can be too busy

Bottom Line: Good speed, great print quality, and features galore make it worth the price; it lacks only Wi-Fi. (Read the full PCWorld review)

— Consumer Ratings: 3 Stars —

A positive comment from Amazon.com:

Great for general home office use

I offer this review to comment on the general home office functionality of the printer. I use this printer as a networked printer at home to service both PCs and Macs. I hooked it up to my wireless network and was able to very easily set it up as a networked printer within minutes. With previous printers, I was never able to do this and had to resort to using USB cards to move files back and forth to be printed from remote computers to the one computer in the house that was hooked up to the printer, which was a real drag.

As you can imagine, I was elated when I was able to set up the printer as a networked printer without any hassle. We typically use the printer to print out homework assignments, presentations, work related items, and other items typically generated in MS Word and MS Excel. My wife has PrintMaster Gold and she uses the printer to print out cards and pictures occasionally, and the printer does an excellent job. We also use it for making copies and for scanning. The software that comes with the printer for scanning is really easy to use. I was able to show my family how to use the scanner and copier in just a couple of minutes, which was great. I’ve had the printer for about 3 months and so far I’ve only had to change out the black cartridge. I will mention that I couldn’t find cartridges for this printer at Office Depot or at any retail stores where I’ve purchased cartridges in the past. I had to order them online, and they were kind of hard to find. I was able to find and order them, so all is well. I just did a Google search for the names of the cartridges and found a couple of outlets from which to purchase them right away.

We use the printer about 5-10 times per week during normal school time, so we are not “heavy users” of this printer. This is a very good printer for a family. It turns off automatically to save power and turns back on quickly when you’re ready to print, so it is very energy efficient. Great printer – I highly recommend it.

A negative comment from Amazon.com:

MX 7600 extremely disappointing, noisy and no ink

The Canon MX 7600 is very noisy. It annoyingly clicks and clacks for minutes after it is done printing, and while speed of page printing itself is OK, the printer waits for up to a minute to start printing many times. I’ve had the machine for 2 weeks and already it has started jamming paper every 15 sheets or so. And the ink required by the MX 7600 is not sold over the counter by any store in New York City. No stores even list the ink, so you have to buy it online. And Canon’s support dept. was absolutely no help whatsoever with coming up with a solution. How can Canon launch a product and not provide the ink anywhere!
I replaced a Canon MP 780 which I liked, after it wore out, with this MX 7600 and am extremely disappointed and will now try another company’s products. One last inconvenience to note, unlike the Canon MP780, paper for normal use in the MX7600 cannot be loaded from the rear, but must be loaded from the front cassette which holds less paper.

(Read all Amazon.com user reviews)