HP Photosmart C3180 Ink Cartridges

HP C3180 Printer Review

A printer, scanner, and copy machine are all wrapped into the 6x17x15 inch frame of the HP Photosmart C3180. This color inkjet unit would be an essential addition to a small workgroup, but it could also serve well as a personal printer for the house. With speed to rival some laser printers, the C3180 can print or copy about 24 full-color pages per minute and up to 30 pages per minute for black-and-white documents. For photo printing, a 4x6 inch borderless picture can print at the maximum resolution in about two and a half minutes.

Up to 9 copies can be made per original and the built-in software will automatically fit the image to the page. The scanner also offers an automatic image editor to remove any flaws in the original, ultimately equating to an enhanced scan resolution of 19,200 dpi.

The drop-on-demand inkjet technology implements a number of nozzles that precisely eject tiny dots of HP C3180 printer ink. For black-and-white printing or copying, the maximum resolution is 1200x1200 dpi, but when using all four colors of Photosmart C3180 ink, the highest resolution is 4800x1200 dpi.

The input tray can hold up to 100 sheets of standard paper, 10 envelopes and 20 sheets of alternative media, such as transparencies and cards. The monthly duty cycle for the C3180 is 3,000 prints, the maximum memory capacity is 32 MB and memory card slots are included. The only connection option is a USB port, with no support for networking.

User reviews for this unit vary, though most are satisfied with the performance of a machine that is so affordable. Some users have complained about the cost of replacement HP C3180 ink, but alternative options are available online. Many third party vendors offer compatible Photosmart C3180 ink cartridges for a much lower price than the OEM versions, which still give the same yield and quality. The standard HP C3180 ink cartridges can yield about 220 pages each, but the optional photo printer ink for creating the highest quality images can only yield 130 pages.

The quality and speed of the HP C3180 makes it a solid unit for a small office, but its photo printing capabilities also make it appealing for a home. It has basic features, multiple functions and the affordability to fit into a small budget.