HP Deskjet F4280 All-in-One Printer, Scanner, Copier (CB656A)

Mac users know to be careful when purchasing other than Mac hardware/software. I chose this printer as Apple's HP Driver Update 1.1 included a new driver for this printer. All I had to do was install the HP software from the enclosed CD (OS X 10.5 included), select Software Update from the Apple Menu, let the HP Driver Update 1.1 install, and then repair permissions. As this printer was replacing a 5 year old HP printer, the printing speed improvement was dramatic. This printer does not work with the OS X Image Capture program, but the included HP software Pro Scan works just fine. Save the output to the desktop; then import into iPhoto.You should know iPhoto not only does great with your pictures, it does a good job on scanned documents. I ordered this printer from Amazon, and being an Amazon Prime customer, next day shipping was just $4. One of the best shopping decisions I have made is getting into Amazon Prime. Recommend this printer for Mac users and Amazon Prime to all Amazon shoppers.Jan 2010 update:Snow Leopard (OSX 10.6) has drivers for this printer that let you print and scan without the enclosed HP software. Plug it in and turn it on. Your Snow Leopard mac will do the rest.

I had a nice little HP C4100-series printer for about 2 or 3 years that I decided to pass on to another family member when I got a new computer. I miss it a lot! But I am getting used to this one. Maybe it is just my computer and its programs, but it can take a full two-to-three minutes for a 20-page word processing document to go to the printer and begin printing, which makes you think it died. But once there, I have to say it is quite fast. A choice of three print qualities helps, too, and fast draft is perfectly adequate for many uses, and prints at about two seconds per page! May seem a little ink-hungrier than old machine, but standard for this kind of home-use product. I've discovered the large-capacity versions of the cartridges (I think they are called "x") which are supposed to hold three times more, but only cost twice as much, and they seem to be making a difference.By the way, HP has really made printing in grayscale (black and white) much more complicated that it needs to be, and more complicated than it was on old models. It IS possible to print in grayscale, but it is hard to find the right path and HP tech support seems often clueless. (Especially if you are on a Mac.) What you have to do is fix the setting on the Print Drop Down page if you search right and then leave it on Last Used Settings if you want to continue to print in grayscale.Try the Paper Handling menu. It is simply insane that they do not make it clearer how to go from grayscale to color, and how to switch levels of print quality/speed, but it IS there if you hunt around long enough for it.Overall, I find it to be simply adequate, but the more I struggle with its little idiosyncracies, the more I can accept it as OK, especially for the price. Others have noted the scanning process is long and laborious, and this is true -- up to about almost two minutes per page to get it done, accepted, named, and filed. But the features are good with HP Studio and other applications that come with it to fix up and alter the scan. (However, my Scan button on the machine itself is no longer responsive and I have to initiate all scans now through the HP program on the computer. A minor inconvenience.)To be fair, in terms of functions and programs, it is a good multi-function (but no FAX!) deal for under $65 (this price goes up and down on this all the time), but a very similar HP model can be had on sale at other big stores for under $50 if you are lucky.UPDATE Jan 2009: I originally gave this just three stars, but have upped it to four as I get used to it, and use its functions better, but it WAS a bit frustrating at first.

Printer gives great quality photos. Can't tell the difference from buying them. Color is so vibrant and true. The scanner is fast and easy to use. Copying is something I really have not much need for, so it is sufficient for my needs. Printing is extremely fast for a deskjet. The only downside is that it's just a bit noisy when scanning, but who cares. The paper/envelope feeder is a little confusing and seems a little cheap on the plastic side feeder when you slide it - and it's noisy to move. You have to guess which way to put the 4 x 6's or 5 x 7's since there are no directions, but if you do the print preview on your computer options, you can move it around.All in all, it is so far a great value for the money!

My title says it all. It's a great copier for a small price!Setup was fast and easy. Copies are clearer than clear even on Fast/Economical setting. Easy to change out ink cartridges. Scanner works great. My old one did not. And the software and HP followup is great!! I had the older version of this copier first and this one is way better. Buy it! You won't be sorry!!

This purchase was a nightmare. When I went to install the software I was prompted to do the Easy Install (recommended) or Advanced. As an IT professional I usually choose the latter because a lot of installation packages will put on a lot of unnecessary junk. But I thought to myself, "this is a printer/scanner, what could it possibly install besides drivers?" BIG MISTAKE. I think it was like 500MB of junk. But besides that, after the install my Picasa program was rendered useless. And as you can imagine, not being able to access personal photos of my family and friends was nerve-wracking to say the least.I uninstalled both packages and tried the Advanced install, with the plan of installing the drivers only. The minimum install was 250MB! That's ridiculous!!! Anyway, it resulted in the same issue, and a lot more time wasted time uninstalling and reinstalling my software.My final effort was to Google this issue and sure enough I saw others describing the same imcompatibility. Such a shame, but I'm sorry, Picasa is the best photo management program out there and I'm not sacrificing that for a printer/scanner.UPDATEI returned the item and got the equivalent scanner/printer from Canon. The Canon Pixma MP470 Photo All-In-One Inkjet Printer. It's been excellent and exactly what I hoped for in a printer/scanner. No conflicts with my other software and the install was easy.If you use Picasa, don't buy this HP printer. And if you don't use Picasa, don't buy it anyway.