Entered CNET Catalog: 01/12/2006
SKU: C8969A#B1H
Manufacturer: HP
Manufacturer description
Fast, affordable, efficient. With laser-quality black and white, direct photo printing, and networkability, the HP Deskjet 6980 Color Inkjet Printer has all office bases covered.User opinions
Select a User Opinion to view: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
User Rating: 
3/10
Very disappointing
Pros: Prints text well
Cons: Below average photo printing. Has locked up many times.
User Rating: 
2/10
a real turkey
Pros: sometimes works
Cons: mostly doesn't
User Rating: 
4/10
Good hardware; bad setup software
Pros: USB setup a no-brainer; good print quality
Cons: Wireless hopelessly complex; incompetent setup wizard
User Rating: 
6/10
HP tech support agent's Opinion
Pros: not many issues
Cons: ink issues, hard to install wireless
The print heads are built in so if there are issues with that you have to replace the entire printer(which is covered by warranty as well).
its very easy to install unless you are trying to make it wireless and dont know much about computers or simply dont understand wireless settings. And setting it up Adhoc(wireless directly to computer not through a router) is a pain in the butt. I suggest if you want a wireless printer(any wireless printer) you are setting it up through your wireless router.
for a cheaper printer this one is pretty good. just consider an extended warranty on it. Of course some of the spring issues i described causing the ink error lights are a known issue that on some of the older models are still covered even out of warranty. but your printer has to fall in a specific set of serial numbers and has to be having that issue to be replaced.
User Rating: 
9/10
Nice printer for the money
Pros: Remote Management, Print quality
Cons: Ink Cartridge Cost. Then again, they're all expensive....
User Rating: 3/10
It lasted 70 days, then died!
Pros: Not many, just another HP printer.
Cons: Began to malfunction 30 days after purchase.
User Rating: 9/10
Great Value Printer
Pros: Wireless, fast, verygood print quality, very nice photos
Cons: Wirless is slower than USB
User Rating: 9/10
Excellent Printer
Pros: Excellent print quality and speed.
Cons: Lack of memory card support.
Have it connected by ethernet because the product does not have Draft-N wireless support.
Ink cartridges are pricey but worth their weight in gold. HP 96 (Black) cartridge is good for approx. 800 pages which is well worth the money.
Replaced Epson c64 desktop printer.
User Rating: 
1/10
Set-up is a disaster
Pros: Sure it's a great printer
Cons: ... if you can get it to work
I'm sure the printer is great if you can get it to work, but after my lackluster experience with HP, I'm not about to try again.
User Rating: 
5/10
This is my third 6980. HP is faithful to replace them as a particular mechanism keeps breaking.
Pros: Prints well. Easy to setup and operate. Software included is very useful.
Cons: The printer has a design flaw in the mechanism that retains the black ink cartridge. The plastic tab that retains a spring device that positions the ink cartridge is fragile and breaks off easily.
User Rating: 
10/10
Perfect Printer
Pros: Fast, Easy Setup, Quiet, Small
Cons: Small ink catriges
User Rating: 9/10
Geat printer for a good price
Pros: Wireless, mac and pc ability
Cons: Paper tray a little plasticy feeling
User Rating: 10/10
Perfect and easy.
Pros: Print Quality, Good looks, Connectivity, Quiet, Good Pricing, Embeded web server options
Cons: Lack of memory card slots, No bundled usb cable, Useless HP software bundle.
1. Connect the power cord.
2. Connect to router with bundled ethernet.
3. install cd
4. check router configuration
5. remove ethernet cable when prompted.
I have not tested ad-hoc connectivity.
I found the printer to be equality quiet in "normal mode" and "quiet mode".
I really like the load of options and statistics available in the embeded web server menu. A great netword printer for home or office use.
Currently really cheap at Stalpes.ca with 100$ mail in rebate from hp until 31/01/2007
User Rating: 3/10
Disappointed with connectivity
Pros: Nice color and packaging
Cons: Wireless connection never worked
After 3-4 hours with the chat tech support, they realized that the disc supplied did not have the correct drivers. All my computers have XP or XP pro. They supplied drivers for ME and 98! The tech support person said they would send me a disc for free (WOW!) I suggested downloading the drivers and they said they would use generic. I gave up after their suggestions disconnected my laptop from the wireless router. After 4 support techs, I gave up on them. The initial tech sent me a web link which was exactly like the manual.
It may be that this connection would have worked flawlessly had they sent a good software disc, since the "easy secure setup" buttons on my router and printer seems to work fine. It was the software install that gave me problems, along with the arrogant tech support personnel. I am no longer an HP fan.
User Rating: 
7/10
Good printer, but has a glitch
Pros: Speedy, good print
Cons: Picks up multiple sheets
Fanning the sheets before printing doesn't seem to help with this glitch.
Otherwise, this is a nice little machine.
User Rating: 9/10
Great value-priced printer, packed with high-end features
Pros: Built-in wireless and wired networking, speed, double-capacity cartrage, bluetooth option, Killer looks!
Cons: Buggy software for Macs, wireless didn't work too well for me
Because I am taking both a laptop and desktop with me, I was in need of a printer with networking support. Currently, my 6980 is plugged into my router, where it then is broadcasted to my wired and wireless computers. So far, this setup has worked great, and set-up was pain-free.
Despite all these good points, I do have two problems which prevent a score of 10. First, my original intent was to use this printer's wireless connection to set up an ad-hoc connection (a direct network connection) between my laptop and printer (a process clearly explained in the manual). However, I was unable to do this as my notebook would refuse to recognise the network that the printer was supposed to create. hmm.
also, for those mac users using an Apple with an intel processer, you may encounter some software bugs. I found that the printer setup utility runs very slow, and crashes every time I open it. I am assuming that because my MacBook must run the conversion software because this program is not written for intel macs. However, I expect that this will be patched in the future.
Even though I ran into a few problems, I'm sure I made the right choice.
User Rating: 9/10
Nice speedy little printer with lots of capability at an awesome price.
Pros: wireless, wired, quiet, faster than some laserjets.
Cons: none that I can see
