Size Matters (HP psc 1210)

Member Name: somebodyrandom

Product:	HP psc 1210
Date:	21/06/04 (603 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: scan, photocopy and print from 1 machine, saves space, only needs 1 USB socket

Disadvantages: can make some strange clanking noises

After my Epson Stylus C42 colour inkjet printer had given in and due to a computer upgrade my old scanner didn't seem to get along with Windows XP (as many people/things don't. I suppose its just like in summer when people wear sandles AND socks. Cringe. Ashamed to be the same nationality as them. Its not the Labour government that brings this country down, its the SAS [Socks and Sandals])) I was in need of a new printer and scanner.

I took a look at the usual suspects, another Epson printer and probably an Epson or Visioneer scanner. Pricing them up, I knew I was looking at a bill of sixty to eighty pints of Stella (one fifty to two hundred quid).

It was only when I was in PC World that a sales assistant (beware, I'm about to compliment a PC World sales assistant) said to me what about getting an 'all in one' instead of two separate machines.

An all in one acts both as a printer and scanner, but also has the capability of being a photocopier (eat your heart out Clark Kent and Superman!). All in one machine are housed in one box (no sh*t Sherlock) and so only take up a fraction of the space that a printer, copier and photocopier would. They also use only one set of cartridges, so there is no need for you to remember which cartridges you need for a printer and then which toner you need for a photocopier. All in ones also suit older computers better than two separate devices, because there is only one (USB) cable that needs to be plugged into the computer itself (and likewise only one plug). This means that fewer drivers need to be installed on the computer (the piece of software that takes up some of the computers memory and basically tells the computer how to recognise the machine. I suppose its a bit like sticking a sticker on a big boned person's back saying 'wide load' and then going 'beep beep beep' when he walks backwards. Extremely annoying for the person, but totally necessary!). On the contra
ry (Mary, Mary... how does your garden grow etc), you will not be able to scan and print at the same time.

There are many all in ones on the market from a wide range of manufacturers (Epson, Lexmark, HP and a couple of others). So why did I choose the HP PSC1205? (Well, why not. You did ask for that response!). Firstly it was in the lower end of the price market, at time of purchase it was £98. All in ones range from cheaper Lexmark ones starting at £65 to expensive Epson ones coming close to £200. HP is a reliable and internationally renowned brand. They are famous for building high quality computer products at reasonable prices.

The PSC1205 (by the way does anyone know what 'psc' stands for) is only 42cm wide, 25cm deep and 15cm tall (or thereabouts). Beware you need to allow room height-wise for the lid to open, and about another 15cm in depth for the paper tray. Unlike other all in ones, the paper tray is horizontal, and so you don't have to allow for a whole sheet of A4 paper to stand up in a paper tray. However, the paper does get taken into the printer and gets carried around so it comes out into the same paper tray. This means that any stiff (ish) card might come out after printing a bit bent. With normal 80g/m2 paper though it is fine. It is less bulky than many of the Lexmark and Epson ones.

The quoted print speed is 12pages per minute black and 10pages per minute colour. These are slightly exaggerated- take about four pages off each to get the actual print speed. It is still quick compared to quite a lot of other printers. The print resolution is quoted as 4800 dots per inch, so for normal printing and copying it is fine. It does an OK job at printing photographs, but don't buy it especially for that. A photo printer is what is needed.

In order for the machine to photocopy, it simply needs to be plugged in. The computer doesn't need to be plugged in. However, unlike a photocopier, I wouldn't rec
ommend getting drunk and sitting on it to photocopy your arse cheeks. It isn't as robust as a stand-alone photocopier. You can either copy in black and white or in colour and just requires you to press one button. To scan a document in also requires the press of just one button.

Apparently the paper tray can hold up to 100 sheets. To be honest though I am not sad enough to count. The only thing that is not included with the machine is a USB cable, however no printers come with a cable included any more (or very few), but a cable from an old printer or scanner will do, or shell out. Spend three quid on a new cable (one and a bit pints of Stella).

The cartridges last quite a while, two or three months when used lightly/moderately. The HP cartridges will set you back about forty-five quid for a black and a colour. I strongly urge using the original cartridges for the first year, as using the compatible ones could void your manufacturers warranty.

The machine was very easy to set up- simply a matter of plugging in a couple of cables then inserting a CD into the computer. The instructions are simple and concise, with a national rate support line in case you get stuck.

Overall this is a small and nifty machine with loads of features for such a small price tag.
:-)

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