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Mobile all-in-one stands out among trio of new HP printers

HP has taken the wraps off three new consumer printers, including an update to last year's mobile all-in-one.

The HP Officejet 150 Mobile is a refresh to the HP Officejet Mobile 100, a useful accessory that earned a 7.5/10 CNET Editors' rating back in 2011 for its flexible connectivity options, Bluetooth accessibility, and rechargeable battery. This time around, HP updates the mobile inkjet sidekick with quick scanning and copying directly to a compatible USB drive or memory card.

The printer's physical composition retains the same general clam shell design of its predecessor but adds a 2.… Read more

HP announces 15 new printers for consumers and small businesses

HP held its annual Imaging and Printing Conference in Shanghai today, where the company announced plans to build out its business imaging division with 13 new printers designed to grease the workflow for small to midsize businesses. Along with hardware announcements, HP also unveiled new consumer features like ePrint Wireless Direct that lets users print with a smartphone without the need for an Internet connection; an advanced HP Printer Control app (PDF) for iOS devices; and a twist on HP ePrint called SocialID, which lets you assign a custom e-mail address that makes it easier for multiple users to print in the cloud.

One of the new product offerings you'll see soon is the HP LaserJet M275 (PDF), a multifunction printer with new TopShot Scanning that's essentially the reverse of 3D printing: the scanner bed can capture a 3D image of any object placed on the top-mounted tray.

This workhorse laser targets SMBs, so it can only hold up to 150 sheets of paper, but it also features ePrint and is fully compatible with Apple AirPrint so you can output images and documents directly from your iOS devices.… Read more

HP adds three Web-connected printers to ePrint lineup

Following last week's Apple AirPrint announcement, today HP introduces three new printers featuring HP's ePrint technology that lets you print any document or picture from the Web using the unique e-mail address assigned to it.

Each printer takes drastic leaps away from previous consumer models inside and out, but each has the capability to connect to the Web through one-touch print apps for maps, movies, tickets, coupons, coloring books, and so on--as we first saw on last year's HP Photosmart Premium TouchSmart Web. The new line of printers thankfully have shorter names as well, so let's take a look at the offering:

HP Envy 100 e-All-in-One

The HP Envy 100 e-All-in-One appears to be the simplest of the three in terms of aesthetics, but the in-person briefing blew us away with the subtle design that hides it in a simple black rectangle when not in use. You'll notice it lacks that ugly paper tray marring most printers today because both the input and output trays extend and retract mechanically, like a CD tray on a desktop computer.

The eAll-in-One can print, scan, copy, and connect to the Web (hence the e-prefix) with print speeds rated by HP at 30 pages per minute for black ink, and 25ppm for color, and distributed by two ink cartridges (one black, one tricolor cyan, magenta, and yellow) hidden inside. The Envy 100 is a boon for the environment, as well, with zero PVC used to build the printer for easy recycling and reduced waste. Finally, you get a 3.45-inch touch-screen display with HP's TouchSmart integrated control panel for browsing and installing Web apps. The Envy will sell for $249 when it comes out on October 4.

HP Officejet Pro 8500A Plus

Next up is the HP OfficeJet Pro 8500A Plus, a juiced-up version of the OfficeJet Pro 8500 Wireless that earned our Editors' Choice award last year for excellent performance speeds, a functional touch screen, and several networking options. This time around, the 8500A Plus gets a whole new look with eFeatures to back it up.

Instead of the small 3.45-inch screen on the old model, the A-Plus version upgrades to a 4.3-inch color graphics touch screen for flicking through the latest apps on the HP ePrintCenter app store, which now has partnerships with sites like Google Docs, Google Maps, Yahoo, PBS, Kraft.com, and more.

The all-in-one inkjet also gifts you the usual array of connectivity options including USB 2.0, an Ethernet port, PictBridge USB support, and 802.11 b/g/n wireless support. Techy details include 4,800ppi scan resolution, a 250-sheet input tray with a 50-sheet auto-document feeder, and a wider scanner bay for legal-size sheets of paper. The OfficeJet Pro 8500A comes out on September 13 for prices ranging from $299 to $499, depending on your choice of add-ons.… Read more

Down the line: HP Photosmart printers

Choosing the right inkjet printer is a daunting task with several brands and printing technologies to choose from, each one suited for different needs. Inkjets come in all shapes and sizes, from tiny travel companions to workgroup workhorses; some are geared toward photographers, others are for multitaskers. The brand and model you buy should reflect your printing habits and the features that will ultimately make things easier for you.

To facilitate your online shopping, we've compiled a brand-by-brand rundown of each line from top-tier printer manufacturers, starting with HP's Photosmart printers. From $70 for the basic C4680 All-in-One … Read more