Product Reviews

The specifications of this recently launched multifunction device from Hewlett-Packard are biased towards creative users. It doesn't skimp on business functions, though, so corporate buyers should keep reading.

It's usual for scanners on cheaper multifunction devices to be basic, but the 2610's will scan at up to 4,800dpi in 48-bit colour. The front panel has slots for 11 memory card formats, and a Pictbridge USB port. Direct printing makes use of the 2610's hinged 6.4cm colour LCD, but we found it more difficult to use than on other Photosmarts, such as the 8150 printer which we tested in Labs, Shopper December 2004.

The 2610 has a standard Ethernet port, so it can be connected to a network. It will also send and receive faxes, although there's no standard sheet-feeder; you can print electronic documents directly to the fax modem, but paper originals must be scanned one page at a time.

The quality

On Normal setting it delivered 50 copies of our mono letter at nearly 6ppm - good for an ink-jet. It delivered just over 2ppm on our mixed-colour test which compares to high-end consumer inkjets.

We used an optional photo cartridge (£16 from http://uk.insight.com) for six-ink photo testing. The quality was typical for this generation of HP printers, with accurate colour reproduction and no significant grain. We still prefer the image quality from Epson Photo printers such as the Stylus R200, but this comes at the cost of plain-paper performance.

The HP's highly specified and quiet scanner captured sharp images with accurate colours. It took one minute and 44 seconds to scan a 6x4" photograph at 1,200dpi, but its lack of a transparency adaptor means film photographers should probably look elsewhere.

At Normal quality, colour A4 copies took 46 seconds each and, in mono, 22 seconds. Generational tests emphasised the high quality of the scanner and printer, as even after five copies there was no distortion and black text was still clear. Only the Best quality setting preserved graphics and coloured text, however.

At £278 the Photosmart 2610 is a significant investment, but it's a quality device that could potentially replace four others.