Hewlett-Packard C8180 Christmas Deals!
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Hewlett-Packard C8180 Christmas Deals!.
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I've been a cheerful user of my HP 7280 all-in-one unit for a number of months. After I reluctantly returned the C7280 review unit, I keep my money where my review mouth was, bought one, and have had no regrets.
HP asked me to review the C8180, and here's what I found after using on it for quite a while.
First off, the 8180 is not simply a 7280 with HP's revisions du jour; it has a higher resolution scanner and printer. According to HP, the additional sensors that invent up the 96 bit scanner sensor get better color accuracy as well as reduced noise and grain from negatives. It is more certain when scanning definite colors, like saturated reds and greens, and scanning definite types of originals, like offset press or inkjet prints. As we'll stare, actually producing a 96 bit scan is awkward.
However, the 8180 has no fax capability at all. It has the same abilities to read from various types of camera memory cards, and it also can print via USB, Ethernet, or 802.11b/g wireless. It has no 802.11n capability. It also has the same print engine that uses six separate ink cartridges.
One essential unique addition is a CD/DVD burner with LightScribe capability. LightScribe allows you to print custom images or text on the face of LightScribe-compatible blanks. In addition to being controlled by the 8180 itself, the burner can be shared with your computer, and any application can print to the LightScribe print driver.
The 8180 comes with a sheet feeder superior of handling various paper sizes and quantities, although my review unit did not have one.
Given the flawless performance of the feeder on my 7280, I predict that the 8180's will function impartial as well.
The 8180's appearance has been updated. Whereas the vast and beefy 7280 had a control panel that was festooned with buttons, and a keypad, the 8180 is low-slung and streamlined. With no built-in fax, there's slight need for a keypad, as its bigger LCD camouflage is ragged for controlling almost all functions. The 8180 is wider, due to the CD/DVD burner on the fair side.
Software install is generally easy, although HP presents an excessive number of reminders to register the unit, and label up for various emails that'll drive you crazy. It's not possible to complete the installation process without having the installer gain the last word in by launching your web browser and teleporting you to the HP registration page, even though you've already screamed "NOOO" as loud as you can.
Once installed, you'll acquire the usual complement of HP applications allowing you to scan to OCR, scan pictures, or invent copies. A standard installation includes HP Photosmart Studio, which is a jack-of-all-trades (yet master of none) program to manage your scans and photos. iPhoto or Adobe Photoshop Elements will far better benefit Macintosh users. HP includes ReadIRIS 11 for optical character reading. ReadIRIS is a agreeable program that deserves its gain review.
During the setup, you bewitch your connection contrivance. I tested USB, and network (Ethernet) connections. I did not try the Bluetooth capability. HP advertises that Bluetooth will allow printing from a cellphone. I had no pickle connecting the 8180 to my 801.11g wireless network. With the printer located only a few feet from the nasty spot, network throughput was not an grunt. However, a USB connection is always faster than a network connection, and that's most noticeable when scanning.
After the installation is complete, the 8180 goes through a time-consuming and somewhat noisy setup and calibration process. If the 8180 does not secure regular exercise, the unit will occasionally spring to life, as it checks for estimable calibration. If you even so mighty as launch the lid to eye inside, the printer goes through its 45 second or so "Printer preparation in progress...do not interrupt" routine.
HP's scanning software is reasonably easy to spend. Scanning is controlled via the HP Arrangement Manager, a exiguous application that allows access to the various 8180 functions. You can scan to Preview, or effect an image file to disk for editing with any image editor of your choice. If you don't have a well-behaved editor (there's no excuse not to), the scanning software allows for choosing the desired resolution, color adjustment, scratch and dust removal, and restoring venerable colors. I found the color restoration feature worked well. I could do better in Photoshop Elements, but HP did a creditable job nonetheless.
To my non-programmer's study, the scanning software appears the same as for the 7280. The 8180 scanner specifications say it's a 96 bit scanner, while 7280's scanner is 48 bit. One would reflect the 8180 scanner would do a greater range of tones and colors, but I was not able to gawk any considerable differences. Upon further investigation (lots of point and clicking to gape hidden options) the resolution options setting of the scanner driver for the 8180 maxed out at 48 bits/millions of colors. I was unable to obtain any setting to allow me to scan at greater than 48 bits. What's the point of having a better scanner if the software won't pick advantage of it?
If all else fails, read the manual. Unfortunately, the manual was unavailing. At wit's raze, I emailed HP, and got the following acknowledge describing how to enable 96 bit scans. I include it so anyone who ends up purchasing an 8180 does not expend the time looking for this needle in the HP documentation haystack; it's not there (and it should be) .
"Initiate the HP Solutions Center application. Under Scan Settings / Scan Preferences is a "Quality vs. Rush" tab. On that dialog there are two selections that must be made, (a) scan at maximum bit depth, and (b) 6-color scan. For the 8180 both are distinguished to enable 96-bit scanning. That's it. Subsequent scans will be 96-bit."
Bit depth notwithstanding, the scan quality was top-notch.
Print quality was very impressive. This is truly a photo-quality printer. If you employ HP note papers, the 8180 will sense the paper type, and location the printer to recall best advantage of the paper type. The 8180 uses five separate inks plus dark, each in its contain cartridge. In the faded days, HP aged bigger three color carts, with yellow, magenta, and cyan all in one. If you emptied one color, you had to replace the whole shebang, even if there was plenty of one or more of the other colors remaining. Now, you need only replace the needed color.
The 8180 will print borderless prints up to 8.5" x 11" and it also has a convenient second tray to fit 4" x 5" photo paper.
Front panel controls are a feature of the 8180. At 3.5", the LCD is bigger than on the 7280. While most users will generally control the 8180 from their computer, you can do quite a bit from the front panel itself. You can print from camera image storage cards, print from photos on CDs or DVDs, and invent copies.
I made a obliging number of copies of both paper documents and photos, and the the quality was uniformly marvelous. I also tried making a contact sheet of images from my image storage card, and it worked as advertised with no troubles.
One interesting feature that you access only through the front panel is the 8180's ability to place images from a camera storage card and establish them to a USB flash drive plugged into the 8180's front USB port. This allows you to serve up the card without having to expend your computer. This worked perfectly.
You can also read from the camera card and burn them to a CD/DVD using the built-in burner. Unfortunately, I could not rep the 8180's built-in burner to study a blank CD, even though I tried three different types of CD blank. Oddly, I had no wretchedness using the LightScribe feature of the drive (more on that later) .
The front panel allows for basic editing of photos prior to printing. You can fix red-eye, slit, add a border, and do "automatic fixing." These features worked as advertised. I do all my editing on the Mac, but others may not. Front panel editing may be unprejudiced the feature you're looking for.
LightScribe is a HP-developed technology that allows CD/DVD burners to spend inkjet technology to print images on the front of special CD/DVD media. You can burn a DVD of your current images, and exercise the LightScribe-capable burner in the 8180 to "print" your celebrated image on the front of the disc. LightScribe does not print a full-color image; it resembles a sepia toned dusky and white photo.
HP included a sample LightScribe DVD blank. I had no wretchedness installing the LightScribe printer driver, and then choosing, editing, and printing the image to the front of the blank disc. I was petrified that I'd slay my one blank disc, but the process was easy and trouble-free. Given that LightScribe blanks cost more than wearisome blanks (prices may vary widely), this is a nice blueprint to customize your photo CD/DVD media.
HP 8180 Specifications
Conclusion
The HP PhotoSmart 8180 is very honorable, but not broad, multi-function printer/scanner/copier. The software is typical HP, which is to say it's merely adequate. The tremendous front panel LCD is nice, and the built-in editing features are available to those who who don't want to have to utilize their computer for a speedily edit and print. The 8180 can read almost any type of camera memory card.
I was not able to burn CDs/DVDs, although LightScribe worked properly.
If you need fax capability, this is not the unit for you.
The genuine reason to grasp the 8180 is for its handsome print and scan quality. Whether you do 48 bit scans, or delve into hard-to-find settings to enable 96 bit scans, the scanner's output is very favorable. HP paper sensing is a huge feature, and the HP ink technology is outstanding.
MyMac.com rating: 3 out of 5. It's a delicate printer and scanner, but you pay a premium for some features you may never exhaust.
I Cherish THIS PRINTER! I have been using HP printers since 1994 have had almost no problems with any of them. In fact, I am aloof using the one I bought in 1994 but it isn't a multi-function printer. I wanted to come by a unique printer that had copy, scan and photo capabilities. I bought a Canon MP970 because it had such high ratings. I hated it so I returned it and got the HP C8180 instead.
I don't understand what the negative reviewers are talking about since I have not encountered any of the problems they metion. In fact, my experiece with this printer has been the opposite of what they say.
Set up was fairly easy. I have it area up to work on my wireless network and encountered no problems during set-up. I installed the software on all the computers on my home network (three desktops and one laptop) and again had no problems. The whole set-up from initiate to achieve took less than 1 hour (that's for the printer and all computers) .
Apparently, some peple ecountered a quandary with their printer uninstalling itself. HP has a driver update that fixes this recount. When installing the printer it gives you the option to check the web for updated drivers. I downloaded the update and I haven't had any problems.
A couple of the reviewers mentioned that the CD/DVD option only works in USB mode. This objective isn't factual. As I said, I have my printer connected via a wireless router (WiFi) and have been able to acquire represent DVDs. It's stout to be able to pop in my camera's memory card and then honest fabricate a DVD.
If you want to burn a imprint onto a DVD, you must exercise LightScribe compatible DVDs (if you impartial want to save/backup your photos you can utilize any DVD) . If your printer is not connected through a USB, then you can only note the DVD by using the printer's touch veil (this is straight forward to do) . I've been told that this is due to a restriction in the Roxio software that the printer uses to write the LightScribe ticket. In my understanding, this is lovely remarkable a non-problem. It doesn't halt you from creating photo DVDs. It fair means that instead of using your computer's keyboard to type the ticket you have to exhaust the printer's touch mask. I judge the two reviewers who complained about not being able to invent DVDs without a USD connection must have tried to burn a tag from their computer and then got confused into thinking that the CD/DVD feature doesn't work.
To sum up, this is a tall printer. The print quality is excellet, there are lots of vast features, it is easy to state up and easy to exercise. I would highly recommend the HP Photosmart C8180 to anyone.
June 24, 2008 - I have had this printer for 4 months now and I composed esteem it. I bought a unique computer (with Windows Vista) and had no installation problems. I have printed photos, documents, cards and labels without any paper jams. I have an Epson photo scanner for high resolution photo scans but consume my HP printer to scan to OCR. Again, I have encountered no problems.
If you pick this item you are asking for pain. MANY of the features that are mentioned in pre-sale information do NOT exist on this printer or do not work as advertised.
First, is the DVD burning. Not until you unpack the printer and read the installation manual does it mention that you can't burn a DVD through a network connection. It is USB or nothing.
Second, and worse yet, is that the scanner, from the specs, appears to be a top of the line with 4800 dpi optical resolution. Obliging luck using it at this resolution.
Scanning at ANYTHING higher than the default resolutions usually won't work. The defaults are 200 dpi for film and 300 dpi for prints. For negatives 200 dpi is useless if you opinion to blow it up past the size of a postage note.
Using Twain to transfer to Photoshop only works 10% of the time even at the default settings. Most times it will either represent the file is too gargantuan (32 MB, who knew? ) or objective sit there and do nothing. The other scanning methods do not give enough control of scaling to be of any spend.
I objective primitive the non-twain scan option to bring in a 4x4 print at 1200 dpi and it took 5 minutes. My 10 year frail Microtek scanner would do this in 60 seconds or less.
No where in the pre-sale specs does it mention these limits.
HP tells me that this is due to "unpleasant hardware" the scanner was built on. Pardon me?
I am stuck with a portion of junk. I will never touch another HP product again.
Print quality? Can't disclose you. Can't scan my existing negatives or prints well enough to secure a decent print.
It also re-installed itself after being turned on. It made a duplicate of itself in the control panel. I had to uninstall everyting and install again to bag rid of the extra pieces. Removing the "second" printer didn't work.
Stay away. I'm not novel to installing and using printers/scanner, but this thing takes the cake.
Edited 8Feb08:
After Noteworthy hassle the scanning now works beyond the defaults to a obvious extent. I have been able to scan negatives at 2400 ppi and prints at 600 however the output starts becoming washed out on the edges for the negatives. Print scans appear blooming at 600 ppi. It also takes roughly 3-4 minutes before the way will actually launch the scan once dwelling outside the default. Once it starts the scan itself is fairly rapid. If the delay before starting gets to be too long it appears that no amount of waiting is enough and it impartial will not scan. If I am able to gain a better reponse from it and fetch it to finish re-installing itself each time it is turned on I will rate it higher.
Edited 19Feb08:
Finally had a expeditiously reponse from HP regarding the whole business of the driver trying to re-install each time the printer was turned on. The instructions worked and that jam has gone away. Fair need to remember said instructions for the future if things change and I do not like those kind of "fixes". I am going to read up on this supposed update to the software and inspect what that is all about. I do occupy I am running the latest version of the drivers already based on the updates and number of times I had tried to rep the scanner working properly. It is worthwhile to double check honest in case.
Edited 23Mar08:
There have been no driver updates since I first installed this printer - I have the latest so things that are tranquil sub-par include: no network relieve for using LightScribe (which may be Roxio's jam - a sunless itsy-bitsy program which I have since uninstalled, but serene something that could have been addressed at the time this printer was planned) and tiresome, Plain scan rates at anything above the default resolution. I am giving it higher marks now for print quality - it would regain a total of 2 stars if I could change that. Very satisfactory to first-rate printing on photo paper and acceptable, quickly printing on regular paper.
Fixing the drivers to improve scanning times and to better execute utilize of the, on spec, obliging scanner capabilities could easily disappear this printer up to 4 stars. As it stands now, the negatives out-weigh the positives for any higher rating.
Edited 3May08:
Just when I was beginning to assume the thing was stable I discovered that the cause of my Word 2007 crashing on exit is the result of the printer. Unless the prnter is turned on all the time Word will rupture on exit. The "Fix" people have found on Google is to site another printer as the default and impartial remember to grasp the 8180 when required. HP's solution is the usual route of requesting the drivers be uninstalled and reinstalled which is their solution for everything and I have yet to have that solution actually fix anything. I've had the priner for almost 6 months and there have been no recent drivers or fixes released which is rather funny based on the number of bugs people have ran into and the awful functionality to top it off.
