Man, HP printers really get a broad mix of reviews here. I'll try to summarize my experience, since I bought this MFP to replace a 24 year old HP 5P (its maximum print speed was either 5 or 6 pages per minute!) and technology has changed quite a bit since then.
First, a basic description behind my rating. The printer, once setup, is really, really fast. It scans well, and printed text is clear and contrasty. I'm impressed with it as a printer.
The downside to the product: there is no SMTP scan to email feature. HP's own technical specification claims there is, and Amazon's own product images shows a checkbox next to scan to email, but it's genuinely *not there*. HP's Embedded Web Services should have an option for it, and it's not there.
So I took off one star. It doesn't mean scanning isn't possible. It just means you have to be at a computer with some sort of scan software running to scan. Note: scan software comes with Mac OS and with Windows, so it's not a matter of needing difficult-to-use software -- it's strictly a matter of push-button convenience.
Apart from this, the printer is fairly sleek, and it's not too loud for a laser printer. I think 4 / 5 stars is warranted, pending long-term reliability. Remember my 24 year old printer? We'll see how this one does.
Second: installation, which seems to be a sticking point in the reviews below.
Let me start by saying that the printer is NOT so smart that you can just turn it on, select a WiFi network from its display, and voila, you have a printer / scanner / fax on every computer. *Some* setup is needed if you want the device to show up wirelessly. The good news: it's not too difficult. The bad news: HP's instructions are a little iffy.
If you just want a USB printer, just plug in the included USB cable to your computer, and any Windows machine will recognize the device and download the necessary drivers for it. As a wired printer, you don't need to follow any of HP's setup instructions. Using Windows 10, which has a built-in scan app, you can hit the ground running even with the scanner with no confusion.
If, however, you want to use the printer on your local Wi-Fi network, I think you'll have to install HP's "HP Easy Start" software. (If someone else has another way, feel free to comment on this review.) This is step 6 in HP's "Getting Started" guide, but in Step 5, small text says NOT to connect the USB cable to the printer until the software has been installed. Connecting the cable before HP's software is installed and running allows Windows to grab the driver and set up the printer before HP's Easy Start does, which might cause issues later on in the installation.
Once that software is installed, it will guide you through step-by-step to getting the printer on the wireless network. Once it's connected to the network, the LED of the antenna button on the touch panel will be solid blue, and you can use any computer -- Mac or Windows -- to look for devices, and the printer will be there.
Realistically, once the Easy Start software is installed, it can actually be uninstalled, since the wireless settings will be written to the printer during the Easy Start setup process (via the USB cable, which the installation prompts you to plug in at the right moment). I've printed and scanned documents now from two computers, neither of which have HP Easy Start on them, as well as the computer that I originally installed Easy Start from, with no issues. I uninstalled Easy Start on the original computer I used to communicate with the printer and it can still print and scan via wireless.
So, in all reality, it shouldn't be too difficult to set up the printer, even though HP's instructions are a bit of a nightmare. The main reason to go through their steps is to get the printer on the wireless network. They should read:
Step 1: plug in printer to wall outlet
Step 2: wait for printer to initialize
Step 3: install HP Easy Start via the URL provided in the Setup Guide
Step 4: run the software and follow it through*
----
Step 4 is really the last one to get the printer on wireless. The next steps aren't really different from any printer installation of any sort.
----
Step 5: uninstall Easy Start if you prefer
Step 6: if you have other computers, add the printer per that operating system's normal instructions. If you're on wireless, the printer will have a complicated network name alongside its model name (M148xyz).
Step 7, if needed: HP Easy Start does offer the choice to install about 300 MB of additional software, such as OCR (optical character recognition) software. It's the "full software installation" option during the installation process.
Once installed, to print, simply select the printer. To scan, either open the Scan app (Windows 10) or search Spotlight for "scan" (Mac OS). The appropriate app will allow you to choose a scan filetype (e.g. PDF, PNG, TIFF, etc) and scan resolution. You can then process this file as you need to -- email, print, save, etc. HP Easy Start has some additional options that you
* note that HP Easy Start includes two default settings that allow HP to monitor what the printer is doing. You can disable these during the installation process. Read the description of each service reporting data to HP and decide for yourself if you want the data to be collected and provided.
"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." (A. Clark). This printer is a good example of that.
Everything works automatically, out of the box, flawlessly, and much faster and with less hassle as I expected.
1. Printer was packed in the box really well. The box was dented, but the printer was intact.
2. The printer in the box came pre-assembled. Including trays, toner, etc. is already installed and secured inside the printer. All you need to do is to find a place to position the printer, remove adhesive tape strips that secured parts in transit, plug-in included cables, insert paper, and you re (almost) in business. Keep in mind, that if you want to pass the phone line through the printer to an external phone, you will need an additional phone cable -- the printer comes with one phone, one USB, and one power cable.
3. The first time after powering up the printer makes all sorts of worrisome noises. It will complete the self-adjustments in a couple of minutes. During this time both green circle and orange Alert triangle will flash, but no worries: it will settle down and will not do this any more.
4. If you have a wired TCP/IP connection available and your router has an available DHCP address spot, plug in the network cable in the back of the printer. At this point, you are 99.99% done. All you need is to open Printers in your Windows 7 or 10 system, click Add Printer, and it will install automatically (see screen shot below). You do not need to click on the button to install the app -- everything will work without it and you will be able to control all printer functions from a browser session. This is a true plug-and-play at its best. I have never seen printers being added so fast and flawlessly, even with large corporate printers. If your computer is on the slow side, you may wait for a couple of minutes until it loads the driver. The progress bar will show the status, and don't worry if it is stuck a bit around 2/3 of its scale -- it should be fine, just give it another minute.
5. Now the magic begins. Even thought the printer is connected to the wired network (and the Wi-Fi is Off), all mobile devices on your home network will "see" it and you will be able to set up and print from your iPads and Androids in seconds -- worked for me. You will need to follow the Add Printer on each device. Remember that at this point, you do not have any cloud services and have the printer only on your local network. hence, it's a network (not Internet) printer for all these devices.
6. You can use Wi-Fi instead of a wired network. I have not tested this option, because I do not see the benefit since I already have the network drop and all devices work with the printer using their LAN connections.
7. Technical specs on the power consumption: 475 watts (active printing), 4.5 watts (ready), 1.0 watts (sleep), 0.1 watts (Auto Off/Wake on USB, enabled at shipment), 0.05 watts (Auto-off/Manual-on), 0.05 watts (Manual Off). The peak power consumption is twice lower, sleep - 10 times lower than in older printers, like Brother MFC 8500.
8. The printer has an excellent browser-based interface, which has enormous number of settings. Make sure you understand what you change or side effects will make you regret that. I touch more on this lower in this review.
9. It goes from sleep to active printing literally within 2-3 seconds. I cannot believe how fast it spits out pages!
10. It can print double sided pages, but you must set this when you submit each print job, every time -- this makes it a bit tedious. I wish this setting could "stick" for every device and every job.
11. In addition to a superb flat class copier, it also has automatic document feeder (up to 10 pages) for scanning and copying. Works fine. However, when lifted, the document feeder top does not hold well and can slam down on the printer. Be careful.
12. Black cartridges will set you back by ~$80 with tax for 1200 pages and ~$140 for 2400 pages. Not cheap, but reasonable.
13. The printer has enormous number of features, from Internet printing to FAX to email scanned documents, etc. One needs a lot of time to try them on. The features may be complex. Changing a gazillion of settings may have unexpected side effects. However, the printer allows to save its configuration in a file and restore it later. So, save the configuration that works for you, then re-test all important functions after the change.
I was dreading connecting a new wireless printer. Ive had my old trusty (non-wireless) Hp for years and it was long in the tooth. So I decided to get another HP, this time wireless. Well, I hate the idea of setting up wireless as it never works as advertised...not this time! It went incredibly well and seamless. Opened up my iPhone, went to print something and ‘walla’ there was my new printer ready for service. I pressed print and ‘boom’ it spit out a beautiful printed page. We use it to fax also, and no trouble. I also opened my MacBook, went to print a page, found my new HP, selected it and after a few seconds it loaded whatever software it needed and printed right away! I couldn’t be happier. I highly recommend this printer for you wireless needs.
Excellent copier! Right out of the box to making copies. I don't have wifi or internet service. But, this copy machine works without. It uses just black toner. Just what I need for home use.
I bought one of these to replace a brand new Brother which went back to Amazon three days after it arrived (a total piece of junk). After using the first HP unit for a week, I bought a second unit. By way of information, I have worked in the commercial printing world for 30 years, and am intimately familiar with analog and digital print technologies.
The unit looks good and is office-appropriate (rather than the Darth-Vader-black of the Brother and Epson units). It is relatively quiet and handles paper well. Solid black is rich and the machine handles greyscales and gradients with ease. Even at 1400-dpi scanning, the unit is fast and consistently accurate. Be aware that the unit does not make two-sided copies from the document feeder (and the reason for 4 stars rather than 5).
I'm not wild about the user interface--there are only icons (without text descriptors "copy", "menu", etc.). I also think the process of inputting the number of copies is cumbersome. One irritant is the lack of a slow-close or shock absorber mechanism on the platen (the glass from which copies are made) cover. When making multiple copies/scans, this becomes a real irritant.
HP, please spend another 50-cents and add some buttons. I would have preferred the ability to do 4.5 stars, but compared to the competition (and regretting tremendously that Samsung appears to be getting out of the consumer printing market) this unit is outstanding.
Feature Product
- HP's BEST-VALUE LASER PRINTER - With 1,000 pages of toner right out of the box, HP Laserjet Pro M148fdw is an all-in-one wireless monochrome laser printer that lets you print more for less. High-yield toners also available.
- UNCOMPROMISING QUALITY - Print, scan, copy, and fax consistently high-quality documents with the HP Laserjet Pro M148dw all-in-one wireless laser printer, HP's best-value multifunction printer for automatic two-sided printing
- SPEED THROUGH TASKS - Stay productive with an auto document feeder, 250-sheet input tray and print speeds of up to 30 pages a minute from this all-in-one wireless laser printer
- BEST-IN-CLASS MOBILE PRINT APP(1) - The highly rated HP Smart app allows you to print and scan from smartphone or tablet, print from the cloud, such as iCloud, Google Drive, and Dropbox. The app also supports easy device set-up and toner ordering.
- MAKE PRINTING AS EASY AS TALKING - HP Voice-activated printing enables your HP printer to now work with Alexa, Google Assistant, and Microsoft Cortana (2)
- PRINT WITH OR WITHOUT WIRES - Print, access and share resources on a network with this duplex printer's built-in Ethernet and wireless capabilities. Those without a network can connect mobile devices directly to printer using Wi-Fi Direct
- SAVE ENERGY AND RESOURCE - Help save energy with HP Auto-on/Auto-off technology that can turn your all-in-one wireless laser printer on when you need it and off when you don't. Use less paper by printing two-sided documents with this duplex printer
- ONE-YEAR LIMITED HARDWARE WARRANTY - 24-hour, 7 days a week FREE HP Web support.
Description
Easily print, scan, copy and fax professional-quality prints with this HP LaserJet Pro M148fdw, ideal for 1–3 users printing less than 2, 000 pages per month. Keep things moving with this all-in-one laser printer, which can reach print speeds of up to 30 pages per minute, and save paper with automatic two-sided printing. Access this wireless laser printer from virtually anywhere: use built-in Ethernet or wireless capabilities to print inoffice, Wi-Fi Direct for mobile printing without a network, and the HP Smart app for printing on the go and scanning with your smartphone camera. Print using voice commands by connecting your virtual assistant to your HP printer. You can experience easy, uninterrupted printing right out of the box since this laser printer scanner comes with enough toner to print 1, 000 pages of sharp black text and smooth grayscales. This all-inone laser printer also comes with a long-life imaging drum designed to last up to 23, 000 pages. You can save energy with an Auto-On/Auto-Off feature that helps ensure your duplex printer is only on when you need it.(1) Compared to OEM mobile printing apps for the majority of top-selling inkjet & laser printers & all-in-ones for home & home office, priced less than or equal to $429.99 USD. Market share as reported by IDC CYQ2 2018 Hardcopy Peripherals Tracker. Claim based on research of printer manufacturer’s mobile print apps and Keypoint Intelligence - Buyers Lab hands-on testing and study commissioned by HP. See September 2018 report at
I only used it for 1 month and printed about 50 sheets. About this printer....
1. It doesn't keep the connection with my router. When I try to print documents, I keep getting that the printer is out of connection message. I googled and found that I am not the only one who has the same trouble. My router is from Spectrum cable company. I do not know if the trouble is with the router or not. I have to keep the printer off (not sleeping mode), and turn it on when I have to print something. It will save some electricity. But I don't want to keep turning it on and off all the time. I have a canon printer (wifi connected) at work. It seems to be just fine.
2. As I mentioned above, I only printed about 50 sheets of paper. Some single sided, many double sided because I like to save my paper and reduce the weight I have to carry. Since yesterday, the printer started to print messy edges on both sides. (Please find attached photos.) I don't know if it is because I printed double sides. But, this printer has double side print function and I like to use it. And messy edges are not welcome.
3. The printer is quieter than I expected. I like it.
4. It starts the first page fast and does the same for the rest of the job. I love it.
5. It is a bit bigger than I expected. But, I can live with that.
10+ times faster than other low-end desk printers I've had over the years. Printer works well. If I can't set up the scanner feature to be easier to access, will reduce a star. Set up instr. could be clearer.
=====
Reduced from 5 to 4 stars.
200 page users manual goes into depth. Not easy to locate manual online. Link should be highlighted on the skimpy 2 page paper setup guide. Doing a search on HP website for this product not very user friendly.
This is new product (9/18 or 10/18). Toner not at Amazon or Office supply stores. You can buy printer direct from HP for same price as Amazon. Printer not at stores either.
I have a small business home office. After 15 years, my HP 3015 AIO Laserjet died. I played with it for a while but couldn't get it to work right. I looked up HP Laserjet AIO printers on-line and found this one. I am very happy with the purchase, but you should note the following:
- Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be anything out there which shows the difference between the various HP models.
- I am enamored with HP Laserjet printers because I have had problems with other manufacturers in the past, and inkjet printers tend to have problems with cartridges - dried out and cost.
- Competitors do not seem to support things like legal documents and Windows XP, both of which I need
- This printer does duplex (2-sided) printing great, scanning is only single-sided. For 2-sided scanning through the ADF you have to feed the document through twice, once on each side.
- This printer has a 2-line display as opposed to a touch screen display. This means it does not support scan to network folder nor scan to email from the printer. You can do both tasks from the software on a connected PC, but not from the printer. For the extra functionality see the HP 227 line
- This printer does not support a dedicated fax line. See printers with an fdw notation after the number for that capability.
- There is no dedicated front-panel USB port on this printer. This is used for printing from files on a thumb drive.
- You can connect this printer via USB to a dedicated computer; network using a router and LAN ports, or WiFi. There is a facility for printing from a remote device (android, iphone, or computer), but I haven't tried it yet.
I was thinking of playing around with the old printer and trying to get it to work; but the features on the new one are so much better and the price is so good, that I'll probably just trash the old one.
This machine does double side printing, self-feeding copying, scanning, and faxing. It can be wirelessly connected through your wi-fi router. Set-up was pretty straight forward. I download the program to use its features to my computer and it prints excellent looking documents, and the copier does a great job as well. I will not be using the fax function, but the ability to scan right to my computer is nice. You can also connect your computer via a USB or a network cable if you prefer.
Most amazing is the price. I set up my last office in the year 2000. For an HP lazer printer that only printed, I paid $700. For a self-feeding copier, I paid $1300. For a fax machine I paid $200. For a flatbed scanner I paid $200. And none of these devices integrated with one another and they took up a heck of a lot of space. This machine cost me only $130!!! Granted, it is not made for the abuse of an office environment, but if I were to go into a small business with modest printing needs, I wouldn't hesitate to get this one. I'd only be risking $130.
One thing I notice is that in addition to having to replace the toner (it comes with a cartridge rated at 1000 pages, so you can count on it to give you about 600), it has a function that will tell you when you have to replace the drum. That indicates that the machine is not nearly as hearty as those I bought 19 years ago for so very much more. But, the toner for this machine is no more than for the old machines. When it is time to replace the drum I may just buy a new machine. Who knows how much lower they will fall in price by then.
HP has always made great printers, and this is no exception. I recommend it without reservation.
An amazing value for a laser printer. Everything works just as advertised, printing is lightening fast including back to back printing. Yes, scanning is done through software, but the automatic feeder allows for scanning multiple pages at a time. And wifi works great once the rubix cube setup is done.
So why 4 stars.... WiFi setup is an enigma. I can't think of a better word. Documentation is unusable. So you must first setup printing by connecting in our case, a Windows 10 laptop to the printer with USB. Driver installs automatically, nothing simpler, but no wifi option. Spent 30 minutes searching for wifi setup, nothing, and I know tech. Gave up and debate the hassle of returning this printer. So a few hours later fire up the printer, select print document and I get a message saying "heh [dummy] have you considered setting this printer up for wifi?" Really? All the setup values I was looking for are presented one by one and I am printing via WiFi in five minutes. So what happened? Clearly there is a large wifi print driver download and install process that is started once the initial wired based driver is installed. No where is there a message or documentation that this is happening. I wonder how many printers have been returned with wifi doesn't work comments.... Hopefully Apple users have a better setup experience.
0 comments:
Post a Comment