HP Deskjet series - small printer with a great history

As good as cheap: Sometimes it just has to be a deskjet.

An HP Deskjet is perfect for home use: it's not for the big international companies, and not for the users who want the convenience and management of their printer. His role is that of a stable, reliable all-rounder that can be had for little money and daily demands.

And that's actually a quality that not every printer in its price range can guarantee: some give up too quickly, others make life difficult for the user with regular breakdowns, or even deliver a printed image that is not worth the paper. However, an HP Deskjet usually takes its tasks very seriously. No wonder: after all, he was already there when the OfficeJet was not even born!

From ThinkJet to Deskjet - a quick look back

HP launched the first Deskjet printer in 1988. Four years earlier, HP had ushered in the end of the still very noisy matrix printing with the so-called "ThinkJet" and a new inkjet technology. The Deskjet, however, was the first mass-market inkjet printer to handle black-and-white printing, offering much better print quality than its predecessors. With a price of $ 1,000 (!), It was the cheapest non-mechanical printer available at the time.

Without Deskjet there would be neither OfficeJet nor Photosmart

Over the years, sales successes made it possible to significantly lower the price of a deskjet, making it affordable for a broader audience. The 1993, much more sophisticated version of the inkjet printer was sold for $ 365.

In 1994 it was colorful - the first Color Deskjet came on the market. However, perhaps the greatest advances came with the invention of the moving printhead: For the first time, a printhead was installed directly in the cartridge for the HP Deskjet - a step that helped to significantly extend the life of the small printer. The Deskjet developed all the latest HP inkjet printers: Deskjet, OfficeJet and Photosmart.

HP Deskjet 2540 All-in-One Series: All this can be a deskjet today

With the modest black and white device of that time, the multifunction device of the Deskjet 2540 series has not much to do. The price of a deskjet has dropped even further: with an RRP of € 79.99, the Deskjet 2540 is a great value for an all-in-one. Its features, however, have undergone a significant upgrade. Not only can he print, copy and scan, he also offers the user Wi-Fi and even mobile printing via iPhone®, iPad® or iPod Touch®. It is uncomplicated to use and can be easily accommodated even in a small amount of space: The deskjet is still one of the small and space-saving in the HP family!

New in the program: The HP Deskjet 1514 All-in-One

The latest addition to the HP Deskjet series is the 1514 AiO - a multifunction printer that is even a few euros cheaper than the HP Deskjet 2540. The manufacturer also sees it in a private environment or as an easy-to-use all-rounder for print, scan and copy jobs to a manageable extent. Like most desk jets, it is exemplary easy to install and use; With only four buttons on the device, the entire spectrum of functional options is covered.

Unlike the HP Deskjet 2540, there are no mobile options for this model - such as sending print jobs via smartphone. It is possible that HP would like to anchor this additional benefit in the business sector, and from the point of view of the Deskjet user, the manufacturer would not necessarily be wrong: Anyone printing their photos, invitations, official correspondence and other private documents at home with their Deskjet will do so usually without time pressure and if he is home anyway.

To send the print job already on the way probably would not occur to the least. Especially since the printer must also be turned on and equipped accordingly.

Advantage and disadvantage at the same time: Most desk jets work with only two cartridges

If you are not in the mood for constant replacement of printer cartridges, you may be pleased to find that only two cartridges need to be replaced if necessary: ??the black ones on the one hand and the color cartridges in cyan, magenta and yellow on the other. The disadvantage is, of course, that often not the full potential of the color cartridge is exhausted and therefore remain unused color residues.

The OfficeJet series offer more options to print inks to the last drop - almost invariably offered as separate color cartridges, mainly due to the higher print volume and the associated savings. Of course, with the Deskjet cartridges, users can also save money by opting for multi-pack or value-pack variants or avoiding alternative ink cartridges, such as those from Prindo. Here, noticeable savings are possible.

However, if you attach great importance to photo printouts, you should consider before buying if an HP Photosmart is not the better alternative - not only for cost reasons.

HP Deskjet 1110: Only printing works

The base units of the Deskjet series can be had for less than 50 € and reduced to the essentials: printing. Because, in fact, there are situations and users for whom simple standard features such as a Deskjet 1110 are just the thing. The advantage of these models lies not in their versatility, but in the ease of use, the reliable output of colored and black-and-white documents and not least in their compact form.

Because such printers - in the 1110 version in modern, stylish white - can be accommodated wherever it lacks space and footprints: on the desk, on the Bisley, on the shelf. The nice thing is that you are no longer unattractive boxes that you would rather hide, but classics in a contemporary, simple design. This too is a purchase argument that should not be underestimated.

Conclusion: the deskjet remains!

One thing is clear: If you rely on extensive convenience functions or if you are looking for a high-volume office printer for networked user groups, you will not opt ??for a deskjet. On the other hand, users who simply need to print, copy, or scan regularly can be happy with a solid Deskjet printer: not only does it print reliably, but it also cuts a fine figure in any small work environment. We think there must be such.