HP Photosmart C7280 All-in-One Printer

Received this new HP C7280 3 days ago and absolutely love the print quality and features. The software load is absolutely embarrasing (VERY BAD). The CD that came with the printer failed on numerous attempts during the loading printer software sequence (after loading the drivers). I tried various "schemes" including both USB and network all to no avail. Finally after 4 hrs, I tried the website software version (9.01) and it loaded the first time without issues. The CD disk that came with the printer was marked with version 9.02 which I assumed was more recent than the website's Jan update (9.01). BAD ASSUMPTION, so trash the disk and use the HP website for latest software.I discovered several new options with the printer including "school paper print", which allows one button printing blank lined paper, graph paper, music paper-great for HS kids. Also the printer allows you to connect by either USB or network (ethernet or wireless). I have both connections installed (at the same time-and it works great!)since the USB is very fast (less than 2 sec to start print), whereas the network is slow (10sec to start print), it allows others on your home router to access the printer. Also the network option allows you access the printer directly via IP address and to change more options and get status, which is quicker that the HP software.I followed the below recommendation of someone else in this forum and installed those software options listed EXCEPT I ended up adding OCR later. I ended up installing OCR as you need this in order to have the option to scan to a pdf file. Also, turn off your firewall and also your virus checker during the install.Unzip the download and run. then...1. Choose the custom (not the "easy" recommended) installation option.2. Choose "NO" on the next pages which asks if you want to do auto updates. Anytime you select this for any product you now have another application running in the background all the time polling the internet. It will slow your computer down.3. On the next screen select "custom". Don't be afraid, ever if you're not an "advance user" as it recommends.4. You get a screen with a bunch of options to install. The first one you have to select, the drivers. Then uncheck "shop for HP" (just crap), "HP Updater" (memory & bandwidth eater), "customer particapition program" (memory & bandwidith eater), "smart web printing" (you can try it, but more resident sw to eat up cpu and memory), "HP photosmart essentials" (not essential and from what I read it's crappy software. You can try it, but it'll save you 40MB not to install), "OCR" (unless you really use OCR or need to save to pdf.)OVERALL-I am very pleased with the purchase. Amazon's price can not be beat out in town since they offer free shipping (takes 7 days since it comes from NV). The photo quality equals prints from any photo service and the text print is great also (not as good as a laser), but certainly good enough for home use (photos are much better than my deskjet 995 and the text print equals the deskjet in quality but is 2x the speed in fast draft, about the same in quality print mode). Many of the other complaints regarding slow response, high use of ink, bad print quality, jamming, just do not exist with my printer. I got the FAX to work, but it is touchy if one of your house phones has an answering machine (true for most of us), as the HP sometimes does not pickup the fax tone if the answer machine message is slow or noisy.Also loaded OCR (so I could save to pdf) and tried it. Using the option to scan to MS word, it was simple and accurate. Much better than my old version that came with my other HP scanner. I converted 1 full page of text and had only one error and it kept the formatting. No need to buy another OCR program

The printer is great, I have an older HP in the dumpster, had a problem with photo paper. Couldn't print on photo paper to save itself. Hundred's of $$ in print cartridges in the dumpster.The 7280 has performed well, printing both letter and quality 3x5 photo's. That said. After spending a week agonizing over buying a new printer, because of an 0X "Print system Failure" after many days and resets, got it working again. Sitting on many "NEW" $$ cartridges. Now after a system reboot. "a print cartridge is "expired date", not empty just expired. And no clue which one.Printer is again dead. Show's a "o" expired.HP isn't in the business to sell printers, they sell ink, and at a premium.PS: As I understand it, HP has installed a chip in their print cartridges, to keep track, so refilling will not only cause an error, but cause printer shutdown, but as you buy color packs, they can go beyond expiration date, pink etc. An out of the package print cartridge will shut down your HP printer. Won't print, won't even talk to your computer.Just saying, great printer, good quality scanning, and printed documents, no problem printing good quality black and white, good quality pictures. Just upset, cause wanting to be prepared bought $$$'s worth of color cartridges, didn't realize they expired in the box while unused, an expired cartridge will disable your printer. Expiration date not negotiable.Even if it's yellow, black and white print, printer shuts down. No print. As I said, HP is selling ink, not printers, while very good at what they do. Be prepared to buy ink cartridges. And make sure they're fresh, how I don't know.Update: 2-2015. Printer dead, won't communicate, shut's down stupid. No point pre-purchasing ink, on that night you need the printer, ink low, put in a fresh cartridge. Oops! HP has set a dead on date. Fresh out of the package, fresh full cartridge, printer goes stupid. They're in the ink business. No wonder HP is losing stock price, Good printers, a business plan to take advantage of anybody buying an HP product.

I bought this 2 months ago and I think it's easy to use. Photo quality is good. Some people complain about being too noisy and taking too long for setup but setup is not that long, I didn't mind at all. Noise when it prints is also not any louder than any other home printer.I have another HP printer which prints almost as soon as you press PRINT, the HP C7280 takes longer to receive the data and actually print and I have it connected via ethernet cable, a little annoying but not a deal breaker for me since I don't print that much. I think wireless connection and ethernet connection takes similar time to print.By the way, setting the wireless connection was vvery easy and fast to do, I have windows Vista.Sending and receiving faxes works great. Scanning is also good, you can plug in your flash drive into the C7280 and it will save it nicely cropped to the area where the image is, nice feature.Copying also works nicely, is not the fastest but it gets the job done!I always have the machine turned on to receive faxes, there are 2 o 3 buttons that stay light up, I wish they will dim like the display does.Over all is a good printer/scanner/faxing/copier and I'm pretty happy with it because it saves space and I have everything I need in a not so big machine.That's all!