HP Envy 100 e-All-in-One

Pros: + Great printer, scanner, and copier
+ It is compact, easy to use
+ Ability of the iPad to print to the device either wirelessly (Air Print) or via e-Print
+ Built-in wired Ethernet capability

Cons: - Printing with Air Print needs to be rethought

Summary: One of the major complaints about the iPad when it was first introduced was that one could not print from it. Apple heard us and with the release of IOS (iPhone Operating System) 4.2 the company included Apple Air Print a technology that allows, or is supposed to allow the iPad, iPhone, or iPod Touch to print wirelessly from the device to an ever-increasing number of Hewlett Packard printers like the HP Envy 100 e-All-in-One D410a Inkjet Printer.

Hewlett Packard upped the ante with this All-n-One (AIO) unit by including wireless and giving the "HP Envy 100 e-All-in-One D410a Inkjet Printer" an e-mail address from one can print from your iPad via a technology called "e-Print." One is also supposed to be able to print wirelessly via Apple Air Print.

The Product

The "HP Envy 100 e-All-in-One D410a Inkjet Printer" is a small footprint multifunction printing device (compatible with PC as well as Macintosh) that allows you to print, scan, copy all from one unit. The HP Envy 100 has the added capability of printing photos directly from the unit and will accept input from all manner of removable and or portable memory devices including SD Media, or USB port for connecting directly to a digital camera. All of these connections are situated on the front of the unit.

Wired networking is built into the HP Envy 100 e-AIO; the machine has built-in 10/100 Ethernet port. Once set up, computers speak directly to the printer abrogating the need for a dedicated print server, or sharing via Windows. Note: the HP Envy 100 e-AIO can also be connected directly to a PC via a USB cable (not included), in which case its printer functionality can be shared via Windows.

Unlike other AIO printers the HP Envy 100 e-AIO is a smaller than usual unit without an automatic document feeder. Gone as well are (4) cartridges, replaced by (2). The HP Envy 100 e-AIO also features a flatbed scanner, copy collating, two-sided printing, print up to legal size; and a slide-in 25-sheet input paper capacity. The HP Envy 100 e-AIO offers print and copy speeds up to 27 pages per minute (ppm) black, and up to 22 ppm color, with up to 4,800-optimized dpi color and laser-quality text.

Un-Packing

As I stated above, the HP Envy 100 e-AIO is a small unit, and as such it ships in many different parts and had to be put together before use. It took me a little less than 15 minutes to completely assemble the printer. Since the printer is so compact there are few moving parts, even the duplexer is built-in.

Network Setup

Before connecting the HP Envy 100 e-AIO to a computer (USB), or network (Ethernet), the decision must be made to utilize one or the other communications medium, but not both. But, of course there is one other option: wireless, so I installed the HP Envy 100 e-AIO utilizing wireless and USB and I can print either way. Wireless set-up was effortless using DHCP.

Wireless Printing & e-Print

One of the selling points of the HP Envy 100 e-AIO is of course the ability of the iPad to print to the device either wirelessly (Air Print) or via e-Print. For me the first doesn't work, while the second mostly works; let me explain.

IOS version 4.2 shipped with Air Print, which allow the iPad to wirelessly "talk" to Air Print enabled printers like the HP Envy 100 e-AIO. While I could see the printer on the iPad from Air Print enabled applications like Safari, select the printer and the app stated that it was rendering a print job, yet nothing came out of the printer, ever!

I Google'd the issue and it turns out I am not the only one with the issue; it appears to be a wide-spread and caused by a combination of wireless access point (WAP)/ Router, printer, and iPad compatibility. I tried all of the steps outlined in numerous BLOG's on the issue and I have yet to resolve it; (heavy sigh!).

On the other hand, e-Print works like a charm, most of the time. With e-Print the HP Envy 100 e-AIO is assigned an e-mail address to which one can forward e-mail's to be printed from iPad, iMac, iPod, or PC as long as the printer is connected to the Internet. This feature works reasonably well; it is supposed to be able to print attachments, but this is a hit or miss proposition; i.e. sometimes it works, sometime not, sometimes it print half a page. Overall, I am pleased with e-print, and of course since I cannot print to the HP Envy 100 e-AIO via Air Print, it is the only way I can print from the iPad.

Software Installation

To get the most of the HP Envy 100 e-AIO you will have to install the software suite on a PC or iMac, and for this you will need to connect the AIO via a USB cable. The software will allow one to control features on the printer, as well as download HP Apps, yes I said Apps from the Internet in order to use directly on the printer. Via HP Apps like Disney you can print out ready to color pictures from the movie Tron; just bring them up from the color screen on the HP Envy 100 e-AIO and hit print. Seriously cool!

With the software is installed the workstation will be able to print, scan, and copy from the HP Envy 100 e-AIO.

Printing

Pretty straight forward; the software installation process installed a full set of print drivers on each workstation, which in turn give you complete control over the printing process, including two-sided printing. The HP Envy 100 e-AIO can also print from inserted USB flash drives and or SD Media cards.

Scanning

The HP Envy 100 e-AIO offers up only a flatbed scanner for use, gone is the ADF. Initialing the scanning process can be accomplished from the included software or the HP Envy 100 e-AIO control panel. Once an item is placed on the flatbed scanner on the scanner glass surface, you can push the Scan button on the front panel, at which time you choose where to scan to: Computer, USB Flash Drive, or Memory Card. Once a destination is chosen, you can then chose to scan to file, e-mail, or photo.

Copy Process

This process, like printing is pretty straight forward; both color and black & white copies can be made, up to 99 at a time. Because there is a duplexer installed two-sided copies can be made in a number of different configurations, including 1-side original/ 1-side copy; 1-side original/ 2-side copy; 2-side original/ 1-side copy; 2-side original/ 2-side copy. Copies can also be enlarged up to 144%, or reduced down to 25% of original.

Working with Photos

As stated above, the HP Envy 100 e-AIO will accept input from a number of commercially available portable memory storage devices, slots for which are located on the right hand side of the printer underneath a sliding panel. Simply insert the memory card and the photos it contains are displayed on the small 2.4" 256 color display in the middle of the OJ L7680 AIO's control panel.

Using the square control button that sits to the right of the display, pictures can be scrolled through and then printed on borderless or regular paper. Pictures can also be shared between users as long as the HP Instant Sharing utility is set up.

Conclusion

Overall I like the HP Envy 100 e-AIO, it is compact, easy to use, and has an aura of coolness that is hard to resist. Of course its inability to utilize Air Print and print wirelessly from the iPad is a big impediment considering it is what I bought the AIO for. However, since the e-print is working relatively well, I can excuse the minor, well okay, major bump in the road to iPad nirvana!

The built-in wired Ethernet capability, coupled with USB and wireless make the HP Envy 100 e-AIO a versatile, flexible unit that is ideal for a small home office setting and well as workgroup setting; however, with its multitude of family-centric HP Apps, the AIO seems to be geared towards the home user. If you or your small workgroup need a scanner/ copier/ printer, and need to print from your iPad is some form or fashion the HP Envy 100 e-AIO should be given serious consideration, just be aware of the wireless constraints!

Updated on Aug 25, 2011

*** P.S. If you will buy this printer I suggest you have compare prices before you decide at: www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B0043D2O7C?ie=UTF8&ref_=dp_olp_new_map&condition=new#?ie=UTF8&tag=***************&********=ur2&camp=1789&creative=390957

Updated on Oct 8, 2011

Edit Broken Link

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