HP 350 Printer Review
The HP Deskjet 350 isn't the most attractive device in its class of mobile printers, suffering from setbacks such as slow maximum print speeds of only 5 pages per minute for monochrome documents and 2 pages per minute for color. This unit is also the base model in a series of inkjet printers that includes the 350c and 350cbi, which are more advanced and expensive devices. Due to its price and mobile design, however, the 350 is a good solution for users that are frequently on the go and need a cost-efficient way to print simple text or graphic projects.
A number of features make the 350 a portable printer, from its compact size of 12x2x5 inches and light weight of only 4 pounds to its optional adapter that provides wireless connectivity. The device also includes a USB port that can connect to their computer directly. Provided drivers and utilities can be installed onto a user's computer if it runs Windows or Mac operating systems.
Many newer and more advanced portable printers are smartly designed to include a versatile control panel with memory card slots and a color display. The 350 is an older model, providing a much more limited range of features, with only a handful of buttons and LEDs for alerts on job errors and low Deskjet 350 ink. The device also only incorporates 512 KB of RAM and has a small maximum paper capacity of 30 pages, making it suitable for low volume use.
When considering its disappointing output and resolution of 600x300 dpi using color HP 350 printer ink, this unit's mobility might not be worth it for users that are also looking for professional-quality printing. Monochrome text projects don't look much better, printing with blurry lines and a resolution of 600 dpi using black Deskjet 350 ink.
The device operates with two separate HP 350 ink cartridges, one tricolor that uses cyan, magenta and yellow printer ink and one black supply. Purchasing OEM replacements may cause users to spend more money on HP 350 ink cartridges than on the actual device, but the optional remanufactured supplies are an available solution for low-cost printing.
There's very little appeal to the 350, especially when there are many new mobile printers flooding the market that are more affordable, versatile and easy to use. When this portable inkjet printer first came out its compact size and wireless connectivity were impressive, but improvements have been made on this class of devices, making the 350 outdated.
