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CNET editors' rating:
stars
Very good
Detailed editors' rating - Average user rating: 1.5 stars out of 19 reviews
- See all user reviews
Product summary
The good: Fast print speeds; decent output quality; easy to use; lots of useful software; automatic document feeder.
The bad: Mediocre scan quality; short warranty.
The bottom line: For a SOHO or corner-office corporate user, the LaserJet 3330mfp provides all the office equipment you need in one efficient desktop box. But considering its market, it should come with a longer warranty.
Specifications: Office Machine Functions: Fax , Copier , Printer , Scanner ; Printing Technology: Laser ; Scanner Optical Resolution: 600 x 600 dpi ; See full specs
Price range: $119.00 - $359.99 check prices
CNET editors' review
- Reviewed on: 05/02/2002
Functional design
The $700 LaserJet 3330mfp stacks a legal-sized, 24-bit, 600dpi scanner atop a boxy, laser-printer base. The scanner comes with a 50-page automatic document feeder, while the printer has a 250-sheet paper tray and a 10-sheet bypass for envelopes and letterhead. A control panel on the scanner's front groups buttons by function, making it easy to find the one you want.
Setting up the LaserJet 3330mfp was easy. Two brief booklets cover setup and faxing, and a CD-ROM-based manual covers the machine in depth. The printer connects via a USB or parallel connection (cables not included) and works with Windows 95 and above, as well as Mac OS 9.1 and OS X. The installation loads 150MB to 200MB of software and includes Readiris Pro 7.5 OCR for editing scanned text, plus a suite of HP utilities that let you enhance scans, send and archive PC faxes, create fax cover pages, and more. A floating onscreen palette provides instant access to each utility.
Ready, set, fax
The LaserJet 3330mfp can handle most complex copy or fax jobs with ease. It makes up to 99 copies of the same document, reduces/enlarges images, and adjusts contrast. The fax holds up to 275 speed-dial and group codes and can daisy-chain speed dials to enter long sequences of numbers. The LaserJet 3330mfp can also schedule outgoing faxes to wait for late-night bargain rates and forward received faxes to another number. It lacks remote retrieval--that is, you can't call in and change the machine's fax-forward number to tonight's hotel phone..
Printing is its strong point
Printing is the LaserJet 3330mfp's forte. In CNET Labs' tests, the laser printer produced text at a zippy 11.9ppm (pages per minute). Text quality was good overall; it was a little dirty at very small sizes but otherwise clean and dark.
Unfortunately, scans were both subpar and slow: 56.9 seconds for a color photo and 34.5 seconds for a grayscale image. Color scans looked washed out and foggy, while grayscale scans were pixelated and muted.
At least HP prices its toner reasonably. According to the company, it will cost you 2.6 cents per page of text or 2.3 cents if you buy an oversized cartridge. Printing in EconoMode also saves toner. And you can send your cartridges for free back to HP so that the company can reuse them--good for the environment and economical for HP.
Surprisingly short warranty
The company's support policies for the LaserJet 3330mfp seem more appropriate for a cheap home scanner than for a piece of mission-critical office equipment. The mere one-year warranty includes free (but not toll-free) tech support that's available Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. MT. After a year, tech calls run $25 per shot. For $120, you can upgrade to HP's three-year, next-day-exchange warranty.
The LaserJet 3330mfp is easy to use and comes with a good set of copy/fax and software utilities. It also delivers decent text output at a fast clip. If you can live with its mediocre scanning and abbreviated support policies, the LaserJet 3330mfp provides a convenient package for SOHO and corporate users.
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Multifunction laser-printer speed Pages per minute (longer bars indicate better performance)
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Multifunction laser-printer quality
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| The LaserJet 3330mfp turned in fast printing speeds compared to dedicated small-office lasers, and its text output looked good as well. Scans, unfortunately, suffered from washed-out colors and muted contrasts. |
User reviews
- Average user rating: 1.5 stars out of 19 reviews
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Where to buy
HP LaserJet 3330mfp:
$119.00 - $359.99
| store | price | in stock? | rating |
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$299.99 | No |
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Neximaging
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$359.99 | Yes |
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Cheap HP Printers
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$299.00 | No |
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LA Computer Center
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$179.00 | Yes |
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