The HP OfficeJet Pro 8500, an inkjet multi-function device, commonly known as MFD, aims to handle large printing volumes with ease. The company claims that this printer is about 50 percent cheaper to operate as compared to a laser printer. The HP OfficeJet Pro 8500 is 494mm wide, 331mm high and 479mm deep. Its size is similar to that of a typical laser printer. It gives you the option of connecting to your PC via USB. It also offers wireless (802.11g) networking support. The front side of the printer houses a huge control panel that boasts of a touch-sensitive colour display that has a size of 3.5 inches. This color display enables you to preview and edit photos on the printer directly before you print them. The printer also gives you the option of loading your images through its multi-format card reader or its PictBridge USB port. The color display also lets you to have access to features like faxing, scanning, and copying documents.
The printer however lacks any kind of physical navigation buttons. The OfficeJet Pro 8500 also offers sound effects under which you can mute and un-mute these sounds. You will also notice that a majority of buttons on the control panel are dedicated to fax use. The printer features a 50-sheet ADF (automatic document feeder). It also features a duplex unit that can be attached to the printer’s rear. You will have to manually install this duplex unit at the back of the printer. This duplex unit enables you to have fully automatic double-sided printing.
As far as printing speeds are concerned, the printer offers average printing speeds of 35 pages per minute for mono and 34 pages per minute for colour prints. The high-capacity black ink cartridge of this printer is good enough for around 2,000 pages. The color cartridges of the printer are good enough for around 1,400 pages. This level of performance is actually 50 percent cheaper that the level of performance of a typical laser printer. The print quality of the prints comes out to be excellent with a good text output and vibrant and vivid looking color output. This printer prints a colour A4 print in 30 seconds and a black and white one in 22 seconds. The HP OfficeJet Pro 8500 is available at a price of £299. It is a printer worth considering and can serve as an alternative to a laser printer in your home office.
