HP Photosmart C5550 Ink Cartridges

HP C5550 Printer Review

Fully loaded with multiple functions, various trays, and a sharp white outer shell that measures only 8.5x17.8x15.2 inches, the HP Photosmart C5550 is a compact inkjet printer, scanner, and copier with the ability to generate professional-quality text documents as well as bright, vivid photographs. This machine supports Windows and Mac operating systems, though reviews indicate that Mac users have struggled with compatibility issues.

Slots for inserting memory cards to load pictures without a PC are available, and the 2.4-inch color LCD makes previewing and editing these images simple. A USB 2.0 port is provided for connecting to a computer, and the C5550 is Bluetooth-enabled. Unfortunately though, the Bluetooth capabilities are limited to printing, so the USB connection must be intact for scanning documents to emails or files.

In Draft mode, this unit can produce up to 32 pages per minute in black-and-white, 24 pages per minute in color, and a 4x6-inch color photo in around 26 seconds. The mode must be set to Best, however, to reach the maximum quality, which is 4800x1200 dpi. Only about 2 pages per minute can be generated in this quality-focused mode. Additionally, to reach the optimal color quality, the black HP C5550 ink cartridge must be replaced with the photo color supply, which consists of black, light cyan, and light magenta printer ink. The specialty photo option combined with the tricolor Photosmart C5550 ink supply creates a powerful 6-color system.

When it comes to the paper handling for this unit, there are a few unique features that should attract consumers. There is a standard 125-sheet input tray and 50-sheet output tray, but there is also a special tray for photo paper and a slot designated for printing on CDs and DVDs. Various media types are supported, such as envelopes, cards, and transparency film, and photos from 4x6-inches up to panoramic size are able to be printed.

For users who prefer black-and-white photographs, special photo gray HP C5550 ink can also be used in this unit and will replace the tricolor supply. The color and black Photosmart C5550 ink cartridges are available in two capacities, with the highest yield being 750 pages and the lowest at 170 pages. The specialty gray printer ink yields only 80 pages per supply while the color HP C5550 ink will yield up to 130 pages.

Overall, this inkjet printer is efficient for work and personal use. Though it may not be ideal for a high-volume environment, for users looking for a machine to create professional business documents and top-quality photographs, the HP Photosmart C5550 is a good choice.