Today HP has released four new Printers to its consumer inkjet printer portfolio one of which is a Premium Fax All-in-One Printer, fax copier scanner great for a small business but perfect for a home office, and we have had the chance to review it already.
The HP Photosmart Premium Fax All-in-One is a first for HP, as it doesn’t have a model number. Previous HP printers would have a number model after the name for example the Photosmart C8180 or the Deskjet F4280, but this new Photosmart is just the Premium Fax All-in-One, and I have been told that HP plans to eliminate the model numbers in the name for their future printers.
HP has obviously done their homework on the design, I love HP printers but when it came to their design they weren’t the coolest looking things on the block, especially their All-in-Ones. They looked plain and well just overall boring, but the new Premium Fax All-in-One is sexy and you want to show it off.
When I first unboxed it and saw how nice it looked, I knew it belonged in the living room, where everyone could see it and have easy access to it, so that’s exactly where I have it. I actually had someone come over on the weekend and the commented on how nice it looked. I hope HP doesn’t mind someone actually saw it before the NDA lifted.
The First thing I wanted to do, since it is a Wi-Fi printer was see if I could install it onto my network without having to connect it to a PC. I personally believe the point of a Wi-Fi printer is to eliminate the need for a USB cable and or a computer to set up the Printer. So I plugged it in, turned the printer on inserted the ink, like it asked and in the settings there was an option to connect the printer to the wireless network. I selected it, found my router entered my security phrase and I was on the network.
After it was on the Network I simply went around to my various computers and installed the printer onto them using the Windows Vista Printer wizard and using the included disc for the driver.
Along with the driver for the printer the disc also contains Photosmart Essentials software which allows you to use every feature the printer has to offer, but it isn’t needed for the basic functions. The software also allows you to edit photos and create labels for CD’s easily and quickly so if you’re creative it will come in handy.
One small gripe though about the Photosmart Essentials software, it installs Yahoo’s Toolbar and never ask you if you want it installed or not, it’s a quick uninstall but I would of liked to have been asked if I wanted it to be installed or not. I however need to ask HP if the software included with my printer is final or not. However I did speak to HP and they said “You are correct that the Yahoo tool bar should be optional so let me flag that for our product manager.” so if you purchase the HP Photosmart Premium Fax All-in-One they apologize if you are not given an option to install or not install the Yahoo toolbar.
After I installed the printer onto my computers, I really wanted to set it up on my Playstation 3. The Photosmart Premium Fax All-in-One is DLNA certified meaning I can connect it to my PS3 over the network and print from my PS3. I have been dying to do this since I got my PS3 but never had a compatible printer. Until now, the set up was flawless and printing was a breeze, I think I printed every single screen shot from Grand Turismo that I have saved over the past year.
After I was done playing with the PS3, I got to testing the Printer, and I have to say it’s the fastest printer I have here. I timed it at about 35 pages per minute for plain black, and about 29 pages per minute for color documents. That’s pretty darn fast. That’s better than my old Brother laser printer.
After seeing how fast it printed, I wanted to see if when copying it printed at the same rate. I tend to notice most printers are slower when copying than when they are printing. That pretty much has to do with the fact the scanner has to scan the document.
But there really wasn’t a decrease in speed. It printed the copied documents just as fast as if I were printing them from a computer. This should also serve as an indicator as to how fast the scanner is. If you’re curious the scanner has a 4800 x 4800 dpi scanning resolution.
I also noticed is the ink that the Photosmart Premium AIO uses dries a lot faster than the ink on my C8180, both use Vivera inks but different versions. Not exactly sure if they use the same formula or not but I will ask HP and update this part of the review to let you guys know. (I only had the printer 3 days)
I then I printed some photos to test out the quality and speed. Something I noticed right away is how fast and easy the printer switches from plain paper to photo paper, as long as both trays have the paper in them the switch from plain paper to photo paper is quick and easy. All you do is make sure the trays have paper, the printer does the rest.
Watch the video below to see how fast the Photosmart Premium Fax AIO prints photos.
The three pictures printed in less than 2 minutes, the quality was amazing, not sure if you can tell from the video my hand was a little shaky, and the ink dried fast.
After printing the pictures I decided to test out the CD printing, and it was pretty fast also. Again just watch the video below.
It took longer I think for me to get the CD into the tray, I couldn’t get it seated correctly (I know I’m a n00b) than it did to actually print the disc. I love printers that allow me to print pre-labled disc like this, because they are a lot cheaper than Lightscribe and labelflash disc, and the labels are a lot better looking than when you put permanent marker to a disc.
After I was done fiddling with CD printer, I decided to test out the fax, if you Install the Photosmart Essential software, you can easily fax from your computer, if you didn’t like me faxing is very easy from the Photosmart Premium AIO itself. Place the document you want to fax on the scanner and dial the number and send it.
It works as it should and it also receives faxes as it should. It even works with Distinctive ring.
I tested the Fax with Vonage and MagicJack and it worked with both, so if you have VoIP phone service, chances are the fax will work with your service.
Overall the Photosmart Premium Fax All-in-One is a great All In One Printer, and as I said it’s great for the small office and perfect for the home office. For that we award it our 5 Star Editors Choice Award for the month of March.
CuteGeek.com which launched yesterday will also have a review on the Photosmart Premium Fax AIO, visit CuteGeek.com to check it out.
The Photosmart Premium AIO should be available now directly from HP for $299.
Comments: (30)
Chris on Mon, Mar 02nd, 2009 at 02:13 PM
After reading your Artisan 800 review a few months back I considered buying that All in one, but after seeing this one, it does look better. But it doesn’t have a touch screen that I can tell.
Which would you recommend? This or Artisan 800?
Michael on Mon, Mar 02nd, 2009 at 03:51 PM
both are super fast printers, the 800 as you said has a touch screen but i really don’t know which I would choose.
Artisan 800 has the touchscreen
Photosmart has the fast printing and cool cd printing.
Eric Trattner on Tue, Mar 03rd, 2009 at 03:11 AM
The printer is indeed great 
One remark however (concerning the review): this printer DOES have a model number - it’s C309a (and there are some EIGHT sub-models, with various part ordering numbers, probably set for various localizations of the product (you may wish to see the info at < http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c01618963&lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us〈=en&os=228&product=3737195 > in this respect).
Enjoy using it!
Eddie on Sat, Mar 07th, 2009 at 07:44 PM
Can you scan wirelessly? I actually use a Mac, but I’m going to assume that if you can scan wirelessly in Vista then I’ll be able to do it from my Mac.
Thanks.
Michael on Sun, Mar 08th, 2009 at 02:45 PM
Hi Eddie-
I didn’t get to test that but I do still have the printer, and will test shortly, just need to fix my wireless network she decided to act up today.
However from previous experience with HP printers such as the C8180, I could scan over the network and via my web browser when accessing the Printers control panel.
Michael on Wed, Mar 11th, 2009 at 09:52 PM
Hey Eddie forgot to reply to you, it doesn’t seem like you can scan from the photosmart software, however you can scan via a web browser.
Eddie on Wed, Mar 11th, 2009 at 11:24 PM
Thanks for the time you’re taking to do this. Via a web browser? What control level do you have of the scanning? Preview? Scan only one section?
Michael on Thu, Mar 12th, 2009 at 02:14 AM
You can just scan. since it auto detects the location of what you are scanning you don’t have to crop etc, it pretty much just saves all the scans as an image and opens it in another browser.
Angela on Thu, Mar 12th, 2009 at 08:43 AM
does anyone know if this scanner is CCD or CIS ?
Chris on Fri, Mar 20th, 2009 at 01:52 AM
Firstly, I just want to say that it’s great that you’re ahead of all the competition in reviewing a new model printer! Even better you’re fielding questions on the product!
I’m particularly interested in the scanning side. I was ready to buy a dedicated scanner, but spotted that these AIOs are cheaper with seemingly very similar features. But I have had a problem in finding details on the detail & cost. I’m still stuck on a couple of things (as HP’s sales support have been very slow in getting back to me). Does the product scan to mutli-page searchable PDFs like the dedicated scanners do? It’d seem as though you weren’t able to do this ... The product includes a 50 page duplex ADF and their brochure says: “Fax, scan and copy up to 50 pages, unattended, using the automatic document feeder. You can even process two-sided documents automatically with the
built-in duplexer” at http://h20195.www2.hp.com/v2/GetPDF.aspx/c01685420.pdf. Generally, one manufacturer’s product is very similar to the competition and Canon’s PIXMA MX7600 can “Push Scan, Network Scan” - see brochure from http://www.canon.com.au/pixma/range.aspx. Canon’s brochure also describes PDFs and OCR. HP’s dedicated scanners have a lot more description of included software including OCR. Do HP’s AIOs have this? I’d really love to hear how the AIOs compare to dedicated scanners
In general, how does HP’s product compare to Canon’s, e.g. print quality and cost? I found an old review of print costs that was very good at http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/multifunction-printers-call-tune,1221-18.html. I was a little frustrated that HP would list the cost per page for their similarly featured OfficeJets, e.g. HP OfficeJet L7580/90, but not for their Photosmarts. How does a printer photo print compare to a lab photo print? The Tom’s Hardware review said the older model prints were excellent, but the example photos were awful! See http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/multifunction-printers-call-tune,1221-14.html - note this is a Feb ‘06 review. Are they really photo quality yet?
Angela on Fri, Mar 20th, 2009 at 06:24 AM
I’m mostly interested in scanning, but also have been noticing that AIO printers are just as cheap. My concern is the difference between CCD and CIS element.... As the CIS seems to be the cheaper route and being used on more and more AIO machines? I’m so confused at what to buy. I want my scans to be perfect as possible. Which do I go with
HELP
Eddie on Tue, Mar 24th, 2009 at 07:52 PM
Well, I went ahead and bought one. Great deal at Staples where you take an old printer and they’ll give you a $50 rebate (via mail). So that’s $50 off their price of $299.
Since I use a Mac, I thought I’d share my initial impressions. Set up a small blog for those interested.
http://tinyurl.com/hp-photosmart-mac
I’ll add more impressions as time goes by.
Kay on Wed, Mar 25th, 2009 at 12:11 PM
Can someone explain what VOIP phone service is? Also, to use the fax on this printer, do you need a dedicated phone line? Thanks.
Leon Gross on Thu, Mar 26th, 2009 at 11:45 PM
Thanks for the great review. I am particularly interested in faxing, you mention you can fax from the PC, how does this work in practise? Special software or a printer fax driver? Also what about receiving faxes? Will they be sent to the PC as images or only printed?
Many thanks in advance!
Michael on Sat, Mar 28th, 2009 at 02:13 PM
Hi lean, sorry for the late reply I was gone a few days.
You can fax via the PC what HP has done is created a fax (in your printer folder) so basically you print to the fax.
They will not be sent to the PC (If they can be sent I don’t know how) they will print out when they are recieved.
Melody on Wed, Apr 01st, 2009 at 07:34 PM
If I had to choose 1 of these great printers I would have to go with the Epson Artisan 800. And that’s saying alot since I am a hardcore only use HP printers and scanners type of consumer. They are both great printers and it was hard to make a decision so I made it based on the ink test. HP Ink Smudges and bleeds when wet and Epson doesn’t. Mike has a video on youtube for that. The only problem I have with the artisan is that the touchscreen is only availabe if the printer is used with a usb cable instead of on the wireless network. If anyone has any thoughts on this please comment. Loved you HP, now Epson artisan 800 my new love.
Angela on Wed, Apr 01st, 2009 at 08:26 PM
Regarding the Epson Artisan 800: - how is it with scanning? thats a VERY important feature for me, I need the scans to be as close to perfect as possible. I noticed that its a CIS scanner (not CCD).. isn’t CCD better ?
Ronda on Wed, May 13th, 2009 at 06:26 PM
I currently have and Artisan 800 I love it except that the ink usage is so high I may be returning…
Martin Drozd on Wed, May 20th, 2009 at 04:27 AM
Answer to CIS or CCD question: according to these technical specifications (http://h20195.www2.hp.com/v2/GetPDF.aspx/4AA2-3390EEE.pdf) this MFP uses CIS technology.
Ray on Thu, May 21st, 2009 at 09:25 PM
Costco currently has this model in stock at $209. I’m headed there to get one after reading your review. Thanks!
Marvin8 on Mon, Jun 01st, 2009 at 06:55 PM
Just picked one up from Costco yesterday. Haven’t unboxed yet, but am looking forward to. Hope the ink doesn’t smudge and that print costs aren’t too high. Will hardly do much color printing, actually.
Josh on Wed, Jun 24th, 2009 at 05:58 AM
Hi all, can anyone please tell me if the HP Photosmart Premium is capable of sending fax to PC? Does the software that ships with the unit support fax receiving? It’s quite an important feature for me to be able to store all faxes for archiving.
Leon Gross on Wed, Jun 24th, 2009 at 06:24 PM
Josh, I wondered the same thing and ended up buying it anyway, don’t receive too many faxes to worry about it. So far I cannot find any way of getting received faxes into the PC other than re-scanning the printed fax. Seems like an easy thing for HP to do since it can send scans to the PC and faxes from the PC to the machine to send out.
On another topic, has anyone had any problems with memory cards in the unit’s reader being very slow and causing issues when trying to copy them to the PC? Or should I not be doing this? A stand alone card reader seems much faster and more reliable than the printer’s card reader…
Michael on Fri, Jun 26th, 2009 at 08:13 PM
No problems for me with the memory card, as for Josh question yes but you have to send it as a Scanned document not as a fax it self.
Josh on Sun, Jun 28th, 2009 at 06:12 PM
Hello again. Thanks Leon and Michael for both of your replies.
I’d just like to clarify the point of receiving FAX to PC. From my understanding, to receive the fax on the PC, you will need to scan any faxes that are received once they have printed out? Or, you can send the document from the fax memory to PC as a scanned document?
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