Don't even consider purchasing this printer. The software is the worst I've encountered in the last 5+ years. Total junk. I have considerable computer expertise and couldn't get this machine to operate fully under either Windows 98SE, ME or 2000. The printer might work, but not the scanner. The thing might scan, but not print. The OCR never worked on the rare occasion the scanner did. More often than not the software would cause errors during boot-up. I had to repreatedly restore from an older registry to get the machine back up and running. Maybe you'll get lucky if you are running XP, but I wouldn't count on it. Installation errors galore...missing files...incoherent and often outright incorrect instructions given by HP on-line help. And the software takes up close to 1 Gigabyte! The software for the Brother MFC-210C I replaced the HP with takes up less than 10 Megs! It has all the functionality of the HP...and it works!!!! And watch out if you have to uninstall the HP software...that function doesn't work either. Even if you download the special uninstall program from HP's web site. You're left with HP stuff scattered all over your system. Stay away! You've been warned!!! The Internet is filled with horror stories.

This printer is excellent. When I bought it I was hoping and praying that I would like it and not have any problems with it. Sure enough, this printer turned out to be a great investment for us. I have no problems with it and it has been a year since I bought it. Alll four functions (copier, printer, fax and scanner)work well and the color is clean and crisp. Personally, this multifunction printer is great for me and my family. I love it!

Ok I got mine and installed on a fresh computer, with new WinXP Home Service pack 2. (All updates from Microsoft were added before printer install.) I also build computers.
Followed directions about NOT plugging in printer until software is set. (I get the feeling that some people did not do this.)
The printer works VERY well. All-in-ones used to do everything poorly. (Bad print quality, low res scans, blotchy faxes...etc) This all-in-one seems to do it all very well. (I agree with everything said in the main review on this printer.)
Still agree with some people that the software could be better. I don't like to have extra icons on my startup, eating up resources, when I could just run the software when I need it. I like to have that option.
Also the only other big gripe I have is when I use Quicken to write checks. The paper is loaded face DOWN. So when I go to print checks, I have to get ONLY the number of checks that I have to print and put them face down on the feeder. BUT if I have only one check left on the 'last' sheet I have to make sure it gets pushed up to the paper feeder, while its on the 'bottom' of the pile. The printer will then print the last check first, on up to the single 'first check'.
BUMMER
The Epson I used before I just grabbed a slug of checks and put them in the feeder and it would just spit them out...in ORDER!



For the people that had trouble, send that printer back and get a new one. (A few just sounded like they were bad.)
But before you try installing again, scan your computer with an UPDATED virus scanner.
Next get into IE and go to tools and click on Windows update, make sure ALL the Win stuff is up to date. (You should be doing this once in a while anyway.)
A new install would be the best thing, but people tend to not want to wipe out their drives once a year.

the device works fine but the software is a major pain in the butt. it took me a few days to get it working correctly (esp. the scanner). and i had to download the latest software from hp with is an amazing 354 megs!! unbelievable. now i've got it working, but the software is huge, memory intensive, and is generally a pain.

I purchased this printer to upgrade from the HP 932C plain color printer. I needed the copy, scan and fax functions for my home consulting business.

Well...it's been an 8-month fight with this printer. Every day sonething goes wrong with it. What prompted me to finally write this review was again trying to print envelopes to business partners. This printer cannot print envelopes - even simple text only addresses. The envelopes cannot feed properly, there is no feeder slot to keep them straight and the roller bars cannot handle the thickness of an envelope. The type comes out bunched, smeared and the envelope is coverd with random line-smears. Very unprofessional.

In the eight months that I have had this printer, I repeatedly have to unplug it to get it started again, have had it stop functioning mid printing and have had a host of other problems. HP help is no help either with this printer.

It's OK for an 'occasional use' printer, but don't expect to use it every day, or for nice professional looking correspondence.

It simply is not up to the challenge.