HP Deskjet 1050A All-in-One Printer

I was a bit worried about purchasing this item, given some of the negative feedback. However, my previous HP printer lasted me through 5 years of heavy use, and this was the only printer within my budget range, so I decided to risk it. I am glad I purchased this item, because setting up and running it has been completely hassle-free. My Mac (running OS Snow Leopard) immediately recognized it and automatically downloaded the software. I just used the power lead and usb connection of my previous HP printer (the printer comes with a power lead, but no USB).The printer and scanner work absolutely fine. The only difference from my previous printer is lack of a little window that used to tell me if the printer was in scan or copy mode, but this does not bother me too much. It is lighter than my previous printer, but the paper input tray seems a little flimsy (nearly broke it while taking it out of the box). The paper outlet tray is shallower than my previous HP, and I was worried that printouts would fall out of the collection tray - however the tray is clever designed with a concave angle, so the paper stays put after printing.Re. cartridge cost, which others have commented on, I have used XL cartridges with my previous printer, they have proven good value for money (I usually print on a fast draft setting/50 pages a day), and will continue to do the same with current printer.All-in-all an excellent printer for everyday printing and scanning function. Great value for money.

This product was delivered quickly, brilliant service. I was a bit shocked that the usb cable from the printer to the computer was not included, however it wasn't expensive to buy on top of the product. It wasn't made clear that this cable wasn't included, I only found out by reading reviews of the product. I also didn't know if the initial ink cartridges were included with the printer as i couldn't find any information to tell me! However I maybe didn't know what to look for. Clearer labels would be useful for beginners like me!! The setting up instructions for the printer were really easy to follow, which was great. I was set up within 5 minutes of opening the box!For the price of this printer, the quality is brilliant. Just what a student needs, a quick, fast, reliable printer!I would definitely recommend the product, just remember to buy the extra cable (HP USB CABLE A-B 2 METRE C6518A is available from amazon for 75p!) and YES the printer comes with one black and one colour cartridge to get you started!

I purchased this printer as a replacement for a 10 year old Lexmark which was costing a fortune in replacement ink cartridges.I read a few negative reports on this one before deciding to buy, and am pleased that I ignored them!It's a great printer for the price, and does the job for me perfectly. Much faster at printing than my Lexmark ever was, and the ink cartriges are far cheaper. In fact the price of the HP 1050a was cheaper than replacing two new ink cartridges for my old printer.So in reality, I could buy a new HP 1050a every time I need to refill the ink rather than buy new cartriges for my old Lexmark!It was so easy to install, took a matter of minutes.For the price that I paid I am more than happy with my purchase and would recommend this printer.I am not a heavy user, and don't need to print large amounts, but so far this piece of kit is working well for me.

Firstly I would like to mention I wouldn't have bought this item if I didn't already have the same printer and I was right to do this - although the printer is in really good condition (a return or pre-used and reconditioned item) the cables provided were not in working order. We used our existing cables to diagnose the fault and found the plug had no fuse. Also the software provided was only a copy and our computer wouldn't read it. We installed the printer onto a second computer using the disc we already had. It was awful to receive an item that was not fully tested in all aspects. Also had we not have had the original disc the printer would have been rendered useless and I would have had to return it. We took a risk and spent a couple of hours getting the item to work. It is OK now so probably worth the money. Don't accept the copy disk - it is not recommended.

I bought this as a replacement for a defunct Epson D68, having only ever had Epsons (because of their individual inks). Comparing the two, I'd say that the HP is a bit slower and I worry about how long the inks will last, given that the colour inks all come in one cartridge. However, I'm not a big user and this printer offers scanning/copying as well, so I really can't fault it for the price. There is a 3050 model also available - my brother owns one - and the only difference I can see is that the 3050 has a little LCD screen that shows basic messages - maybe the 3050 has bluetooth compatibility? I don't know. I advise to read the specifications. They seem to perform the same, anyway.A warning if you are going to buy one of these - HP don't supply a cable to link the printer to your computer, but if you've already got a cable from an old printer then it's not a problem. My Epson cable is OK for it. You can buy printer cables quite cheaply if necessary. You can use these in 'wireless' mode (maybe why HP don't supply cables?), but I preferred to avoid the set-up hassle and use a cable instead.