HP Deskjet 5740 Ink Cartridges

HP 5740 Printer Review

The HP Deskjet 5740 and 5740xi are similar color printers that are well liked by experts due to their decent bundle of features and inexpensive asking price. One downside is the unit's maximum speeds of 26 pages per minute for monochrome documents and 18 pages per minute for color graphics that place it below some of the quicker models in its class of single-function inkjet printers. The 5740 redeems itself with its high-quality output that ranges from professional-looking photos to sharp text, as well as its use of affordable Deskjet 5740 printer ink.

This simple printer has a desktop size of 17x8x6 inches that incorporates standard fixtures such as a USB port for PC connectivity, omitting extras like mobile printing or memory slots for digital camera cards. The device also provides a single input tray that can store 100 pages of media like specialty photo paper, greeting cards and labels. Considering its small media capacity, maximum monthly duty cycle of 3,000 pages and a total RAM of only 16 MB, the 5740 is best suited to handle light-duty personal use.

Combining its PhotoREt image enhancement technology and HP 5740 ink, expert tests reveal this unit's best asset to be its above-par output that prints graphics and photos with a resolution of 4800x1200 dpi. Text output prints on par, with crisp monochrome characters and a resolution of 1200x1200 dpi using black Deskjet 5740 ink.

The device operates with one black and one tricolor HP 5740 ink cartridge, but provides users with the option of switching the black supply out for a photo color printer ink that expands it to a 6-color system. Standard-capacity supplies last up to 330 pages for the tricolor replacement, 480 pages for the black supply and 130 pages for the photo color replacement. Optional high-capacity supplies can yield up to 560 pages for the tricolor replacement and 860 pages for the black HP 5740 ink cartridge.

Users that want a fast performing and feature-driven inkjet printer won't get their money's worth with the 5740. However, if buyers only require excellent output quality and have low-volume printing needs, this device is a good low-cost choice.