Model - HP 695C (HP Deskjet 610c)

Member Name: Islander

Product:	HP Deskjet 610c
Date:	10/12/00 (138 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Cheapish?

Disadvantages: Slow, Expensive to Run, Noisy,

I’ve had this printer for about 18 months now and to be honest I wish I hadn’t bothered with it. I bought it at the time because I was on a tight budget and the Epson I had, had gone wrong just outside the guarantee period and required a new colour printhead that cost more than replacing the printer. This printer was the only one at the time I could afford that would do what I required (not wanting to risk another Epson, and the Canon would not take the thickness of card I was using).

The print quality is average to say the least, with the printout of colour photos poor (unless an expensive photo cartridge is bought). It is slow, noisy and makes the desk shake with its vibration.

Replacement original cartridges are expensive and if a black and a colour cartridge are needed at the same time, it is cheaper to buy a new printer (black averages £24 each and colour £27 each), with the price some are sold at now and you get both cartridges and a new 12 month guarantee, even reconditioned cartridges are nearly as expensive as some originals for other makes.

I have tried refilling the cartridges, but they do not lend themselves to be filled easily and the black one ended up leaking, the printer is a pig to clean and consequently the printouts tend to come out smudged, and it sometimes gives out a message asking for paper when there is plenty there.

At the moment I still have some colour ink, but when both cartridges need replacing I shall certainly buy a new printer (probably a cheap Epson, as it is now at a throw away price – my last one a 500 cost over £200).

Summary: