Product: Hewlett-Packard OfficeJet 5510 Price: $1,888 Pros: Churns out prints, faxes and scans fast; easy to install and operate; produces good prints Cons: Consumables such as ink cartridges and photo paper are expensive
It can be hard to find new things to say about a printer, but I recently found myself raving about the OfficeJet 5510 from Hewlett-Packard. This multifunction printer, copier, fax and scanner is a must-buy if you are setting up an office at home. There is a reason why HP still sells more inkjet printers than Epson when Epson delivers better quality photo prints. It comes down to ease of operation, installation, performance - and value for money.
The 5510 weighs 8.7kg and does not take up much desk space. Unlike the wireless HP 2510 which costs about $500 more, the 5510 has the same capabilities minus media card slots and Wi-fi, though it has Ethernet support.
Capable of producing prints at up to 4800x1200 dots-per-inch (dpi), the 5510 handles all types of paper and sizes, from postcard up to the US 'legal' size (216x356mm). You can print a proof sheet of thumbnails, print brochures, cards and 4R, 5R and 8R photos. Mark which shots on the proof sheet you want printed, feed it back into the machine, and the 5510 will output your choices. The Canon and Epson all-in-ones do not have this useful feature.
Print times are consistently impressive. A 10-page test document takes more than 15 minutes at best quality, and just 1-1/2 minutes in a good-looking draft. Borderless, A4 photos at best quality take about 5-1/2 minutes.
Three 4R photos on one page at 4800x1200 dpi took nearly 10 minutes. Surprisingly, they came out clearer than the same photo developed at Fotomax.