Picture Perfect All in One
Written: Nov 25 '03 (Updated Nov 25 '03)
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Pros: Excellent photo quality printing, superb scanning and copying, fax capabilities. Great software.
Cons: Setup was difficult with wireless network. No USB cable supplied.
The Bottom Line: The PSC 2410 is another solid entry from HP. This is an excellent value for $300.
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| lap0530's Full Review: Hewlett Packard PhotoSmart PSC2410 Thermal Inkjet ... |
I've Been Waiting Too Long
I have been waiting for nearly three years to purchase an all-in-one multifunction device. My wish list included flatbed scanning, color and black and white copying, color printing, and photo quality prints. My needs didn't really include fax capabilities, so I finally decided on an HP PSC 2110, which retailed for $300. I based my decision on the HP reputation, on reviews of the 2110 itself, and on the speed and quality of the printed output.
However, it seems I waited too long. When I attempted to order a new 2110 from Office Depot's web site, I found that the unit was discontinued. As is usually the case, HP is its own best competitor. I found the PSC 2410 for the same $300 price tag, but with substantially improved features and faxing capabilities to boot.
An Out of the Box Experience
The bulky carton belies the relatively light weight of the 2410 (18 lb.). The small footprint allowed me to place the 2410 next to my monitor on the computer desk, although an overhanging shelf means that to use the scanner and copier functions, I have to pull the unit forward slightly.
The first thing I noticed was a poster-size installation sheet with instructions for PC users on one side and Mac users on the other. That sheet was all I needed to install the PSC, and I have yet to refer to the user's manual.
It would seem that if you pay $300 for a printer, HP could throw in a $20 USB cable, but they didn't. Luckily I had a spare one on hand. The software installation was laborious at best, taking a full 45 minutes. In addition to the drivers and files for the PSC 2410, the included CD installs HP Director (a command center for the PSC), and HP Photo and Imaging Gallery, an excellent program for capturing, sharing, and printing photo-quality images.
I installed the PSC on a Windows 98 Compaq, and the software told me that my old AMD-K6 CPU was probably underpowered for the 2410. That was probably an understatement, as I discovered when using the HP software.
Do You Network?
Then I got a brainstorm! Why not install the PSC as a network printer and use the powerhouse gaming computer in the next room to run the bulky HP software? I found through trial and error that I could do just that, but first I had to disable my VirusScan software and firewall program. After installing the software on both computers and sharing the PSC as a network computer, I encountered another problem. The drivers installed on the Win 98 machine did not work on the Win XP machine, and had to be installed separately on that machine. Once that was accomplished, I found it amazingly quick to print from either computer.
The Functions of a Multi-Function Device
One never really appreciates the convenience of having a copier at home until it becomes necessary to have a copy of something immediately and he or she is faced with having to drive to the office or library. We had an insurance estimate of which we needed to keep a copy so we could submit the original. I placed the original on the machine's platen and pressed the Start, Black button. Although I could have used the HP Director software to initiate the copy function, I like to do things the simplest way possible. In a second or two, I had a copy that was virtually indistinguishable from the original. Goodbye, Kinko's, hello PSC.
My mother-in-law's 80th birthday celebration took place on the day after we got our 2410. We decided to scan photographs from her various life stages and make a montage for the party. The HP Photo and Imaging Gallery software was simplicity itself, and our prints looked fabulous, even on plain paper. I used photo quality paper to print an 8 x 10 copy of a 5 x 7, and the result was as good as a studio print even without the available 6-ink photo cartridge.
The PSC 2410 uses HP's drop-on-demand thermal inkjet technology for laser-quality black text and up to 4800-optimized dpi color printing. Printing speed is rated at an astounding 21 ppm in black (draft quality) and up to 15 ppm in color, but realistically, one can expect about 7 or 8 ppm in black (normal quality) and 1 ppm in color (best quality). These are certainly acceptable speeds for a $300 machine. I put the machine through its printing paces by printing two articles I am currently working on, one of 24 pages and the other of 15 pages. I sent both to the printer, and pages began spewing forth immediately. I had neglected to pull out the paper tray extension with its fold-out paper stop, so I watched in dismay as the printer shot pages two or three feet across the room! Thank goodness for numbered pages. Next time with the tray extension and paper stop in place the printer behaved itself and kept the paper where it should be.
Digital Camera Interface, Too
I can't wait for Santa to bring me my new digital camera (hope he's reading this). The 2410 boasts a color LCD panel for image previews. On the front of the machine are slots for digital camera memory cards supporting CompactFlash, SmartMedia, Memory Sticks, Secure Digital/Multi Media, and xD-Picture Card. Using these interfaces and either the LCD or the HP photo proof sheet, once can view, select, and print photographs without the need for a PC.
Just the Fax, Ma'am
Finally, the 2410 includes a built-in 33.6 Kbps faxmodem. It supports both b/w and color faxing with 60 speed dials and up to 50 pages of fax memory. The major drawback to faxing is the flatbed structure. Only one page at a time can be faxed, and there is no multi-sheet feeder attachment available. For me, the fax capability was lagniappe anyway, so I imagine that I will use it occasionally, just as I will the copying function for the sake of convenience. In those situations, the flatbed should not be much of a problem.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 300
Operating System: Windows and Macintosh
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Epinions.com ID:
lap0530
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Location: Anderson, SC
Reviews written: 122
Trusted by: 332 members
About Me:
Psychology and management professor and business consultant
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