HP DeskJet 980cxi

What the 980cxi really has in its favour are the intelligent features that made the 990Cxi exceptional. It may not have infrared, but the automatic paper detection and cartridge alignment systems are still intact, as is the rear-mounted duplex unit for double-sided printing. These are all useful and innovative features, and it's great to see them in a sub-£200 printer. However, it's only a very minor alteration, and with a saving of just £17 over the 990Cxi, it makes you wonder quite what the point is.

This is the problem with the DeskJet 980cxi. In terms of both features and value for money, the difference from the 990Cxi is almost completely negligible. Even the photo quality results are identical to the 990Cxi's, despite it being a little slower. This makes you wonder who the 980cxi is really aimed at. Anyone thinking of spending £200 on a printer is likely to spend an extra £17 to get the superior model, and the 980cxi isn't sufficiently different from the 990Cxi to really be worthwhile. However, if you don't like forking out extra money for features you don't really need, then the 980cxi is still a good all-round inkjet in its own right.

Author: Ben Hardwidge