Moderate Color Workhorse Printer for the Masses
Written: Feb 23 '01
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Pros: Very sharp and colorful prints. Easy to use. Quiet. Fast. Price Drop of $100.
Cons: Color not as good with cheap paper. Inconsistent handling of odd-sized paper.
The Bottom Line: Solid performer with a reasonable cost-per-print ratio. Especially compelling now with the recent price drops.
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| bczernik's Full Review: Hewlett Packard Deskjet 952c InkJet Printer |
[ history ]
This is the final review in my trilogy of Printer Reviews (HP LaserJet 3150i and the Lexmark Z12 being the other two). While the Lexmark was a temporary printer, I purchased the HP 952c as my main color printer of choice. For the vast majority of my printing needs I use the LaserJet, but for those times when I want and need dependable color prints, the HP has been a good companion. I've owned the DeskJet for around 9 months and have had no bad issues with the printer. When selecting the printer I looked at reviews and then went to stores to print some samples. For the price, range of functions and HP name, it was a good choice.
[ getting started ]
It has been a long time since I've needed to do an installation with this printer. If my memory is accurate, the setup was slightly easier than that of the HP LaserJet 3150i (of course the 3150i has scanning, copying, and faxing functionality as well). Enclosed is a well-documented and large diagram that shows how to setup the printer. The steps were easy and everything worked as hoped from the start (of course, I follow the directions diligently). For my setup I've used the Parallel hookup. I believe USB is available but I have never tried it. The software took a good 5-10 minutes to load. But after installation I was able to print out a test page in short order (~15 minutes).
I was tempted to try and print a more challenging print than the test page. I sent a photo to the printer and left the room. When I came back I expecting the printer to still be printing. Of course it was already done, but it is tough to tell because this printer is surprisingly quiet. And the print was exceptional. I was wowed and feeling very good about my purchase.
[ performance ]
My main criteria for this product is that it prints images very well and text well. I believe it succeeds on both accounts, particularly if you use the more expensive paper. I also wanted the printer to output fairly quickly, since I procrastinate a lot I often need to print things at the last minute. I would say that on average I am able to get 2-5 prints a minute. If you print a larger color photo, expect a few minutes on the higher resolution settings.
The 952c is exceptionally quite and consistently prints well on photo papers. On other papers you can't always tell, but I've tended to get some bleeding on cheaper papers. I keep both papers around and I bring out the expensive stuff when needed. In all paper formats the text can tend to be a bit blurry (a small complaint) while the color can be almost of professional quality. The 952c is capable of a very high resolution of 2,400 by 1,200 dots per inch (dpi), making its photo prints look nearly professional.
I have found working with alternative types of paper (slightly thicker or odd shaped) a bit challenging. Sometimes it is fine. Other times I've had a few mis-feeds. In any case, the issues have been small.
[ details ]
The DeskJet connects via parallel (a parallel cable is included) or via USB. It is compatible with Windows NT 4.0, 98, 95, 3.1x (Enhanced Mode only), Windows 2000 , Me. The package also includes:
o A decent printer/photo software and user guide;
o One black and one color print cartridge included;
o A parallel printer cable
o Some sample 4x6 photo paper to use on the built in photo tray.
o Easy touch buttons that include Print cancel and Cartridge status
o Comes with a 1 year warranty.
o Weight of 13 pounds and dimensions of 17 x 8 x 15 inches
o Optional automatic duplexing with HP's two-sided printing accessory (purchase separately)
[ design ]
Although it has been around for a while, the 952c still sports a nice design. It also runs very quietly. The machine is very compact for its functionality and can probably fit on most average-sized desks. The printer is well conceived with features which include a low-ink indicator, a print cancel button and a fold-up paper tray. Aside from the fixed paper input/output tray, the 952c also includes a special purpose 4-by-6 inch photo paper tray which works well (most of the time).
[ value ]
When I do my review, I determine value in the following way: (a) How good is what you get for the original cost; (b) How good is what you get when compared to similar products of a similar cost (assuming they aren't all bad); (c) What is the cost of the product over time.
For the price, this machine is a very good buy (especially now with the recent price drops). Over time this machine costs A LOT less to run than the Z12 I used for a short period, while producing better prints (although they are not comparable products, with the Z12 costing $50). Aside from the slightly blurry text and the so-so paper handling, this is a good addition for a person needing moderate color printing.
[ support ]
Hewlett-Packard backs the DeskJet 952c with a one-year warranty and PAID technical support. The Web site offers a wide variety of resources, including plain-English searching of the knowledge base, downloadable drivers and user guides, FAQs, email support, user forums, and information on ordering consumables.
[ final comments & upgrades ]
The HP DeskJet 952C is not an ideal machine, but its capabilities are a good match for its moderate price.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 299
Operating System: Windows
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Epinions.com ID:
bczernik
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Location: Iowa City, Iowa
Reviews written: 19
Trusted by: 3 members
About Me:
Wanna-be poet and troubadour, typically working as an Internet Strategist.
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