HP Deskjet 3650

First impressions can be misleading. Despite the tiny size and low price, the HP Deskjet 3650 is one of the best personal printers we've seen, combining quality desktop output with lightweight portability. Notebook users might want to take notice.

When not in use, the two-tone grey unit occupies a minimal footprint. Lifting up the carriage hood reveals a pair of hinged flaps which fold down and telescope out towards you to form the paper trays. Close the hood, put up to 100 sheets of A4 office paper into the lower tray and, assuming you've installed the ink cartridges, you're ready. Printouts emerge face-up in the tray above.

Real-life print speed is nowhere near the official rating, which is based on draft mode. In practice, black-only text documents printed in normal mode will output at around four pages per minute (ppm), while colour documents such as web pages may only achieve 2-3ppm. Print quality is as good as any HP Deskjet, achieving excellent 600dpi plain paper results and striking 4,800 x 1,200dpi photo output on glossy paper. The Deskjet 3650 produces cleaner office documents than we've seen from many laser printers - a lot more quietly too - yet it can equally print borderless 6 x 4in photocards. You can fold back the trays underneath the carriage hood and pick up the 2.3kg unit in one hand.

If you don't mind replugging the mains and USB cables each time, this printer can be moved from one PC to another with ease or carried around with you for ad hoc desk use with a notebook. Just remember to carry some spare ink cartridges with you, as they're small and don't last very long.

Contact: HP 08705 474 747
www.hp.co.uk

Specifications:

• Thermal inkjet printing
• 100-sheet input tray, 50-sheet output tray (face-up)
• 17ppm black only, 12ppm colour
• 1,200 x 1,200dpi (4,800 x 1,200dpi on glossy paper)
• Two cartridges
• Four colours (optional six)
• USB2
• 2.36kg
• 429 x 206.2 x 143.4 mm (w x d x h)

See also:

Lexmark P707

A compact printer from Lexmark.  21 Nov 2003

Epson Stylus Photo 830U

You'll be surprised at the great-looking photo prints this £100 printer can produce.  10 Sep 2003

Lexmark X1150

Slow, but great value and output quality.  19 Aug 2003

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