HP Deskjet 940 Ink Cartridges

HP 940 Printer Review

Looking for an inkjet printer that does not have the extra bells and whistles that can often complicate a simple process? The HP Deskjet 940 is a basic, single-purpose device that is compatible with most major operating systems and offers standard USB and parallel connections. As a personal printer, it is not equipped to handle the daily needs of an office nor does it have the capability to be shared by multiple users. The base model is also known as the HP 940c or 940Cvr.

As an example of the simplicity of this unit, the control panel consists of only 3 buttons and 4 lights that are used to indicate errors, no paper and low HP 940 ink. There is no LCD or primary printer menu to navigate, however, the 940 does include software that helps create very crisp and vivid photographs. In fact, the highest resolution that can be reached for standard documents is 600x600 dpi, but with the PhotoREt III software, high-grade Deskjet 940 ink and special photo paper, images can print at a resolution of 2400x1200 dpi.

The speed of production will vary based on the print mode that is set, the color gamut that is required and the overall complexity of the task. A black-and-white text document printing in draft mode can be produced at a rate of 12 pages per minute. Draft mode is the most economical, as it slightly reduces the amount of HP 940 printer ink used per print. Full color pages in the same mode are generated at a rate of up to 7 pages per minute, and 4x6 inch photos can be completed in about a minute and a half. If the print mode is set to ‘best', which will create the highest resolution, the speed will be cut in half.

Black HP 940 printer ink cartridges can yield about 500 pages, while the color supplies will render about 450 pages before expiring. Third-party vendors offer compatible versions of the Deskjet 940 ink cartridges, which yield the same amount, create the same resolution, and cost significantly less money.

With a monthly duty cycle of 2,000 prints, a built-in memory of 2 MB, and an input paper capacity of 150 sheets, it is apparent that this 15-pound inkjet printer was not built for heavy-duty use. Still it offers versatility in the media types that can be used, including envelopes, photo paper, transparencies and labels.

"Simple" is the name of the game with the HP 940 printer. It has basic features that are easy to use and offers the reliability that is essential in a home, as well as impressive photographs and solid text documents.