If you’re looking for a decent multifunction printer that can handle photo printing, but you’re restricted to a tight budget, check out the HP Photosmart C4480. In this review, we’ll look at the major features of the device to help decide if it’s worth the expense.
The multi-function printers in Hewlett-Packard’s Photosmart line have become quite popular among those looking for a device that’s capable of printing high-quality photographs in addition to traditional printing, copying, and scanning of documents. Although the range of features (and associated prices) of the models in this line make it a little difficult to give a simple linear explanation detailing which is “better” than the other, it’s clear that the HP Photosmart C4480 is meant to be the budget model in this series with its suggested retail price of $99.
Weighing in at 11.16 pounds and measuring 17.09 x 11.42 x 6.38 inches, the HP C4480 is compact enough that most users will have no trouble finding a permanent place for the printer on their desk or in their work area. It’s still a bit too heavy, in my eyes, to be considered a mobile unit, but it might be able to function as such if you’re really in a pinch.
Despite the focus on its photo printing capabilities, the HP C4480 is a true all-in-one device that features both color and black-and-white printing, scanning, and copying functions. The printer is compatible with Windows Vista, both the 32 and 64-bit versions, as well as Windows XP and Mac OS X 10.3.9, 10.4, and 10.5.
If you do massive amounts of printing, you’re really better off going with a laser printer over almost any type of inkjet. With that being said, you still don’t want to sit around and wait all day for your documents to print. The HP C4480 performs adequately in this regard, printing or copying up to 30 pages per minute in black-and-white mode and up to 23 pages per minute in color.
This may not be the lightning speed found in larger office printers, but it’s definitely fast enough for most home users. Plus, the device is extremely quiet – that’s a great bonus for those of us who do most of our work at night when everyone else is asleep. If you want two-sided (duplex) printing, you will have to do that manually.
A USB connection is required for this device, so if you do decide to buy, don’t forget to pick up another cable if you don’t have a spare somewhere around the house. While the printer does come packaged with basic ink cartridges and all other power cords, the USB cable does need to be purchased separately.