Roundup: 13 Multifunction Printers : HP Photosmart C4580
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Digital Versus,
published on March 18, 2009
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6. HP Photosmart C4580
Scanner and copier
Scanner speed and quality are satisfactory, but far from exceptional. Fine for basic use, but not for any photo touch-up work. Full scan of a 300 dpi 4x6 color photo takes less than 14 seconds, which is pretty good.
The copier is fast. A black and white copy takes a little less than 14 seconds and a color copy 22 seconds.
The Photosmart C4580 is comparable to the C4480, with a useful function added on: Wi-Fi. The print speeds are similar and so are the cartridges. In terms of qualty, you can’t really hope for better – the C4480 is already a reference in terms of office work, and a good photo printing model too.
Office printing: okay, but a little disappointing
With such a difference in price between the C4480 and the C4580 (about $50), you would hope to an increase in print quality. The specifications, however, are listed identically and the performance is identical, too. The C4480 and the C4580 are one and the same: even the real speeds of 5.2 pppm in standard color mode, 7.3 ppm for black and white and 23 ppm for draft.
These speeds are comparable to the average and come with more than satisfactory quality. With the exception of draft mode, where the black is washed out, the text and graphs are both sharp. The text is a deep black and the characters precise. The tinted areas on graphs are truly nice and even and the characters are clear.
Photo printing: as slow as the C4480
Count on 1 minute 30 per 4x6-inch print and 3 minutes for an A4. The photos are nevertheless nice, with good contrast and accurate colors (better than Canon). They look really good to the eye, although you can make out the drops of ink if you look really close. There is an optional photo cartridge but using it makes the cost of prints much more expensive.
Cartridges
Low capacity cartridges really are expensive. We recommend you go for the high capacity (once those that come with it are empty) so that your cost per page drops back down to average.
Office printing: okay, but a little disappointing
With such a difference in price between the C4480 and the C4580 (about $50), you would hope to an increase in print quality. The specifications, however, are listed identically and the performance is identical, too. The C4480 and the C4580 are one and the same: even the real speeds of 5.2 pppm in standard color mode, 7.3 ppm for black and white and 23 ppm for draft.
These speeds are comparable to the average and come with more than satisfactory quality. With the exception of draft mode, where the black is washed out, the text and graphs are both sharp. The text is a deep black and the characters precise. The tinted areas on graphs are truly nice and even and the characters are clear.
Photo printing: as slow as the C4480
Count on 1 minute 30 per 4x6-inch print and 3 minutes for an A4. The photos are nevertheless nice, with good contrast and accurate colors (better than Canon). They look really good to the eye, although you can make out the drops of ink if you look really close. There is an optional photo cartridge but using it makes the cost of prints much more expensive.
Cartridges
| Cartridge | Lifespan | ||
| 350 (black) | 200 | ||
| 351 (color) | 170 | ||
| 350 XL (black) | 1000 | ||
| 351XL (color) | 580 |
Low capacity cartridges really are expensive. We recommend you go for the high capacity (once those that come with it are empty) so that your cost per page drops back down to average.
| HP Photosmart C4580 | |
|---|---|
| Pluses | Minuses |
|
|
This machine is pretty good. It gives the quality of the 4480, with Wi-Fi on top. Perfect! But HP is charging a very high premium just to get this additional functionality.
Check prices on HP Photosmart C4580
I've used Epson photo quality printers at home for years and have been very happy with the print quality and costs. My only issue, is that after a few years 3-5 they clog up and print unevenly. The good news is by then, the newer printers have much better quality and cost less.
if you guys at toms still have these machines i would love to find out if they still work after you leave them sitting for a month and a bit.
my biggest issue with all ink jets is they dry up on me.
i have been through both cheap and pricy ones and all die.
i have given up and turned to mono laser and for the rare occasion i need colour i go to the local copy shop.
the only think I can say is I'll NEVER buy an Epson printer. Good quality colors, yes, but SHIT ink design.
I am still using my HP officejet 1170c which must be well over 10 years old now and not a problem yet (touch wood) would never touch a lexmark again last one lasted about a year and went in the bin
here's a tip for dainsane1 - leave the printer on 24/7 to fix drying/clogging print heads
I just bought a MP620 and so far so good, great quality printing, photos are fantastic, but must use Canon paper for this and so much easier to set-up than and Brother MFC machine (what a nightmare!) had Epson before this and it crapped out after 2.5 years. Its so good to have a WIFI machine !!! At least in Auckland its so damp the jets will never dry out!
This is a really poor article,
1/ some list cartrige span, some don't/
2/ prices? where are they?
3/ Is this easy to use as its simply easy on the front panel? or has the reviewer actually used it?
4/ I could go on and on, I can't make much sense out of whihc to go for, no conclusion, limited info, few facts, duplex?
terrible article, read elsewhere....
Stinkyink now offer ink cartridges for the Kodak ESP5 ink. Oh and it's free delivery too!
Stinkyink now offer ink cartridges for the Kodak ESP7 ink. Oh and it's free delivery too!