
I thought I got a deal on this printer at $160, delivered, a few weeks ago. Now it's available for slightly less. Friends, this is a deal. Look at the prices for the top-end photo printers from HP, Epson, or Canon and you'll see that this model is a bargain.
I will not attempt to duplicate the many excellent reviews already posted. I will just post a few comments:
1. This printer replaces my Deskjet 9650, which also printed up to 13x19. Three gripes:
--The Deskjet had a rear-feed slot for straight-through printing of heavy papers or cardstock. The B8550 lacks this feature. It's not something I used often in the Deskjet, but it's something you miss when it's not there.
--You could specify a custom page length up to 50" on the Deskjet. On the B8550, it's 44". Question to HP: Why? C'mon, HP, panoramas are pretty popular these days. Why the reduced page length in the printer driver?
--No "Banner" selection in the printer driver. If this setting were available, several programs (like Qimage, which I find invaluable) would allow printing panoramas well in excess of the maximum page length in the printer driver.
I just got interested in panoramas a month or two ago, which is why I mention the gripes above. In reality, I can probably live with a 13x44 maximum page size. But I'm always puzzled by printer-driver limitations like this.
On the upside:
1. Haven't printed 13x19 yet (just received the paper), but prints on 8½x11 paper have knocked my socks off...and have elicited comments from others like, "Did you have this professionally printed?" A noticeable step up from the Deskjet 9650, for which I paid $300 (on special) in 2004.
2. HP has done a great job of optimizing their printers for the paper they supply. Don't curse them for this, as I used to do. Just go to your local Wal-Mart and buy the HP Advanced or Premium paper for about $0.50/sheet in 50-packs and use it. You can see the difference.
3. This printer is NOT an ink hog. Unlike most other HP printers, the printheads are NOT built into the ink cartridges. Instead, ink from the cartridges is pumped to the printheads...meaning that a good amount of the ink in the starter cartridges supplied with the printer will be used up by the time ink is pumped to the printheads--meaning that you will get "low ink" warnings very soon in your experience with this printer. Take my advice: order a full set of the 564XL cartridges the same day you order the printer.
4. The ink is not especially expensive. OEM cartridges are available on Amazon for FAR below retail...and even less than the $12.95 Walgreens charges to refill cartridges.
5. To those who complain about no cable being included, I must ask: Is this the first USB printer you have ever bought? Even if it is, every Staples & Wal-Mart on the planet carries the appropriate cable.
6. As clearly stated, this printer will print on 13x19 paper. If you open the box and discover that it's much bigger than you expected, you are dangerously unobservant. Read the specs, here and on the excellent HP site.
7. Stay around during the software installation for this printer. You actually have to push a button & do a couple of things to complete the installation (test print, etc.)
8. I have no idea why a few reviewers report installation problems and/or poor print quality. I was getting great prints 30 minutes after setup & installation.
9. A basic test: Using the built-in card slots, print a photo directly from the printer. Print quality okay? If so, open the same photo on your computer and send it to the printer. Print quality NOT okay? Don't blame the printer, please. Color management is screwed up somewhere in your software. GI,GO.
10. I was going to end by echoing other reviewers: if you only occasionally print larger than 4x6 and 8x10, you don't need this 13x19 printer...but at less than $150, why not? Go for it.Get more detail about
HP Photosmart B8550 Inkjet Photo Printer.