5550

The HP DeskJet 5550 offers home users versatility combined with appealing modern styling. This cleanly designed inkjet printer flows smoothly from high-speed monochrome reports to exquisitely detailed family photos with minimal effort. Specially engineered paper sensors automatically adjust for various weights and surfaces, creating optimal print quality every time. Standard resolution is an impressively clear 1,200 x 1,200 dpi, while photos receive an exceptional 4,800 x 1,200 dpi. Top print speeds are 17 pages per minute for monochrome and 12 ppm for color. Paper sizes range from letter and legal sheets to envelopes and cards; transparencies, labels, and iron-on transfers can also be processed with ease. Discount HP inkjet cartridges together with value twin packs are available alongside economical compatible ink cartridges.

HP Deskjet 5550 Ink Review

After numerous years of inflated features unable to meet prospects, you would imagine the public would have learned a lesson. But, with manufacturers still waving 4,800dpi inkjet printers below our noses, it appears all of us have some way to go. High resolutions may sound remarkable, but it is merely a tiny part of the picture. HP in addition has accepted that high resolution is not the be-all and end-all: even though the Deskjet 5550 offers huge numbers just like 4,800dpi, in addition, it presents HP's very first six-colour photo engine.

In addition, HP will immediately admit that the brand new 600dpi PhotoREt IV device generates indistinguishable quality to 4,800dpi in nearly a quarter of the speed. Instead of changing PhotoREt III (which is still used in combination with the standard cartridges fitted), the next generation of PhotoREt has been created particularly for HP's new C6658A photo cartridge.

The print rates are not poor either, with an A4 PhotoREt IV test finishing in five minutes, 17 seconds, as compared to 20 minutes, 31 seconds on an indistinguishable 4,800dpi print.

The 5550's most amazing printing rates of speed, nonetheless, ended up being in draft text setting on plain paper. Our 25-page letter test was basically concluded in only one minute, 54 seconds - a stunning 13.2ppm, and the quality is not awful either, if a little bit washed out as well as juddery. This helps make the Deskjet 5550 perfect for smaller businesses searching for laser text speed combined with the assurance of full-colour performance when it is necessary.

With the black ink cartridge in position, the colour fade plus DTP results on HP's Premium Inkjet coated paper ended up comparable to those from the Deskjet 990Cxi but this is again a subject which is far better supported from the photo cartridge. With this set up, the DTP test was among the best we've seen, having highly detailed razor-sharp text as well as superbly smooth graphics.

There is a small amount of grain, nevertheless. It was increasingly evident in the colour fade tests, while the fades also demonstrated a level transition with little stepping. In its favour, the colour exactness was one of the greatest we have now observed, and also photo cartridge helps to smooth out the noise produced within greys and also browns where the amalgamated make-up was once noticeable and speckled.

Similarly, our CorelDRAW image-quality test ended up being all the greater for being printed using the photo cartridge, especially with regards to greyscales. You'll find that there's truly just one downside to the photo cartridge and that is the smallish black ink capacity. This would not end up being efficient to make use of continuously in the office, but it offers an option for high-quality colour printing if you need this.

And it is not really as if the print level of quality not having the photo cartridge is horrific. It does not have the smoothness and also has certain banding, but it is nevertheless above standard with regard to everyday printing. The black cartridge also offers the bonus of speeding things up just a little - the four-page DTP test needed 17 minutes, 42 seconds using the photo cartridge together with 16 minutes, 43 seconds without. An A4 photograph making use of PhotoREt III likewise needed 51 seconds less time to accomplish.

The Deskjet 5550 is not packed with sophisticated attributes nonetheless it offers almost everything you might be genuinely likely to utilize also it looks great as well. The programmed HP Deskjet 5550 ink cartridge alignment in addition to paper detection continues to be a good function, plus the generally ignored flat paper feed works for saving desk space.

The best bit, nonetheless, may be the price, causeing this to be the best-value all-round printer available. It remains in front of the competition having satisfactory print quality in each and every area, rapid print rates of speed and also the choice for high-quality sleek photograph as well as colour printing if you'd like it.