• Photosmart 3210...
• • Shoplet
  • $374.40

Spearheading the new approach taken by HP of creating printers using separate cartridges, the Photosmart 3210 corrects the main defects of the previous range, by considerably reducing cost per page, and by increasing print throughput.

Functions And Ergonomics

As is usual with HP, the Photosmart 3210 isn't mean with its functions. Admittedly, its size is a bit overwhelming, due to the six separate, large capacity cartridges located away from the printing head. The net result is a printer weighing in at 15 pounds. But this "obesity problem" is quickly forgotten when faced with the product's ease of use. Equipped with a big 2.5" LCD screen, its control panel is particularly clear, and HP has made available a very effective on-line help system. Despite the absence of a fax function, on the right side of the control panel are numeric keys with which you can decide how many copies you want to print when using the copy function. The software is also very comprehensive, and comes with Image Zone, which enables the efficient management of all your images.

Print Quality

The Photosmart 3210 works with six separate cartridges, as just mentioned. To the four usual colors they have added light cyan and light magenta, a configuration that is usually based on two cartridges containing three inks each. As usual, Vivera inks are used, but this time, in an improved composition that can adapt itself to different types of paper. The result is right at the top of our expectations-whatever type of color result you want, the pale and dark colors are perfectly reproduced, and the shades don't appear to show any graining. The results are admittedly a little less brilliant than could be obtained with a Canon product-which draws ever closer to the quality of a laboratory mat print-but they're generally excellent. Only black and white is a little disappointing compared to the previous generation, because the Photosmart 3210 can't be used with an ink specifically designed for this type of print.