I telework for a living and need a scanner, small copier, FAX machine and quality computer printer to maintain my link with my remote office. I was dreading trying to fit all of that technology into my den and had visions of the FAX on the floor, the copier in a closet and the scanner shoved under the desk to be moved out when I needed it. I read several reviews of all-in-ones and, because all of my printers have been HPs, looked into the various HP multi-function models.

The G85 has the footprint of a large office FAX. You can load it like a FAX and it has front paper-loading. The controls are on the front panel, clearly legible and not too difficult to understand. The top swings open like a personal copier for scanning, FAXing or copying. It uses the same ink cartridges that my old 932 did (HP45 and HP78) which are available at most office supply stores.

I've been very pleased with everything I've asked it to do. You can run any of the functions from your computer screen or from the front panel of the G85. I've found the FAXing software a little difficult to get used to, but it's not impossible.

The $500 price tag is a bit much, but when you consider that it replaces four machines that would each be $150 minimally - it isn't bad AND you only have to keep one type of replacement ink cartridge in stock.

I don't know that this is durable enough (as an ink jet) for a regular office, but it suits the home office worker to a "T." It's bigger than my old printer, but still can sit on the small file cabinet that I used to use as my printer stand. It connects best through a USB port (I couldn't get it to work at all with a parallel cable). Fortunately, my Dell Dimension has two USB ports.

I've only used it for 6 weeks, but the machine seems reliable and the paper jams aren't nearly as frequent as they were with my old 932. It still has a tendency to jam if the paper carries any kind of static charge and especially when the stock is getting low. I'd recommend that you change it's default settings to "fast" and "less ink" for most applications and, as always with an inkjet printer, try to get paper that is designed for inkjets.


Recommended: Yes

Amount Paid (US$): $500
Operating System: Windows