If you need something to remind how cheap
ink-ket printers have become, HP Photosmart 5510 MFP is a proof. It is not very
expensive in HP’s product series, but it has a combination between printer and
scanner, color touch-screen, memory card reader, and wireless network
interface. Also, it is cheaper than even a petrol tank. Like other cheap
products, we always want to ask where the disadvantages are.
However, first it does not sound like that.
This is a small smart device completely suitable for a home office or student’s
bedroom. Though it is not as gaudy as some other HP’s more expensive MFTs, it
has small and simple touch-screen and does not try to imitate iPhone’s
touch-based data method, and this is good for it.
This is a printer easy to set up and print
directly from smartphone using HP Android app and ePrint service. However, we
do not like HP’s PC setting program or the fact that its default includes
Microsoft Bing search bar. Although it can be deselect in custom setup option,
we are still not very enthusiastic about the printer’s driver or scan
interface, both of which are essential to use the product.
At the fisrt glance, the printer’s driver
may be easy to use, but in fact, it is over-simplified, with common options
like non-margin printing hiden in the Advanced Options dialogue box that is not
very friendly. Standard interface lets you choose one of the three printing
quality presets, or choose custom setups – however, when we chose Custom, 3
other settings were disabled, so we could not change our mind without escaping
from the printing dialogue box.
Like the printer’s driver, scan interface
is quite simple. The first step is choosing preset setting like Color Document
or Photo, then click on Scan, and you will be taken to the preview screen –
unless you feel lucky enough to deselect the option and create a scan. Our main
complaint about software is that although advanced settings are available, they
are not very advanced. For example, there is no option to turn off the
processing apllied automatically on images, and you can only choose certain
resolutions. Image quality is acceptable, except from the proof of sharpening
that we have seen from many other HP scanners.
Results from the printer were more
positive, with clear text, dark graphic on plain paper, and nice image on white
paper. The most noteworthy problems were that little detail is lost in the blue
sky of a picture, and calibration is a bit askew when the 6x4inch photo
printing paper is used.
This is a good MFP for daily work, but its
software is disappointing. Epson and Canon products are much better in this
field.
Summary
Verdict. An attractive, cheap, and competitive MFP reduced in value due to over-simplified
printing and scanning softwares
4-color ink-jet MFP. 4,800 x 1,200dpi printing resolution,
11ppm maximum speed (mono), 8ppm maximum speed (color), 1,200dpi scan
resolution, USB interface and 802.11n wireless, 146 x 436 x 325mm, one-year RTB
warranty
Power consumption. 1W – standby mode, 4W – free, 17 – on
mode
Ratings: 
Price: $75
Website: www.amazon.com
