Customer Reviews

HP Business Inkjet 2800 Wide Format Printer (C8174A#A2L)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

Ink hog

Paper jammer

First Tray 2 (optional)I received was defective (slider broken)

Second Tray 2 I received(I use for 11x17) won't feed

On warranty, HP sent a reconditioned printer - wouldn't even start

I'm on printer #3 (new this time), and am getting ready to send it back

Have never seen a worse computer-related product from a reputable manufacturer.

This printer has been trouble since day one. It invariably spits out an extra page with each printing, and no setting can be found to fix this. Perhaps it's trying to be annoying. Perhaps it merely loves the feel of paper running throught it's rollers. I don't know. It also has the habit of going into conniptic fits when you suggest it print anything larger than 8.5 x 11, and will jam as much paper as possible to show its displeasure. Several times. It will then refuse to acknowledge that the jam has been cleared. Confusion? Or mere obstinance? You be the judge. As if this weren't enough, it's an inkaholic. I can't quite figure where all the ink is going, as we don't print the quantities that the frequency of new cartridges would seem to suggest. One theory is that the printer is hoarding it in anticipation of an ink shortage. Another is that HP deliberately made the cartridges tiny. It wouldn't surprise me. In any case, if you buy this printer, look into bulk discounts on cartridges. Because believe me, you'll qualify.

So. If you're looking for a high maintenance printer which must be continually babysat as it prints, this is the one for you. If you're looking for something a bit more independent and perhaps less moody, I suggest finding something else.

Based on most of the other reviews I guess I won the lottery. Mine works fine, never had a jammed page (and I print 13 x 19 often) and I'm not seeing the ink hogging habits others have reported. I print from an XP machine and a MacBook Pro. Initially, the Mac did not print properly, then the Mac Intel drivers came out and now the Mac prints fine.

The only mystery to me is memory. I added a bunch to increase max page size/complexity, but I can't say that I've seen any improvement.

I read the reviews after I purchased this item and was very nervous. However, I think this printer is great. I have had no trouble at all doing various projects from photo to banner. I love how smoothly it prints and the quality of the photo's is top notch. Of course I recommend purchasing refilled ink as the ink is very expensive for this printer. (that's how they all get ya!)

Well, HP decided "limited functionality" was fine for an expensive, business-class printer. Do not buy this thinking it will work with Win 7 - it only prints 8.5 x 11, since they will not update the driver. My main workaround is keeping an older computer just to transfer files to so I can print. No more HP printers!!!

On the plus side this printer can handle A3 paper, large ink reservoirs and has a duplex printing option.

On the negative side it very frequently jams when feeding from the optional second tray, is very slow when printing duplex and now the paper feed from the main tray has totally failed. In addition the drivers are poor and of the 3 supplied only one seems at all reliable; except under Vista where it repeatedly forgets the options fitted and your personal settings. Its worth noting that HP have never updated the drivers since release so I suppose even they have given up on this printer.

Avoid at all costs. If you spec it for your office it will cause you embarrassment for years as all your colleagues curse whilst removing a succession of jams.

under no circumstances buy this product, it takes hours to print, half priced printers can 4 times better job. HP knows it's a lemon, they admitted that the driver is bad but they will not replace it or improve the driver, I am about to trow it out and get a half priced unit.

This printer thinks it is jammed non-stop, even when there is no paper jam. I spent hours on tech support and they sent me a refurb replacement, which wouldn't even power on. So they sent me another refurbished printer, and it is having the same jamming problem. So they sent me another duplexer and still the same problem. I just got off the phone with tech support again and they want to send me yet ANOTHER replacement (this is all in the past 2 months, of course JUST after the 30-day warranty expired!). I have been taking my projects home to print on my $200 home-office EPSON 3-in-1 inkjet. This HP is supposed to be a BUSINESS grade printer but does not even work as reliably as my much less expensive home-office printer. I am so disgusted in this printer and I'm stuck with it! All they will do is continue to send refurbished replacements, over and over again all of which do not work. Man I wish I bought an EPSON. I expected HP to be a better quality! Note, the tech support at HP is helpful, and courteous, all of them that I have talked to, but they just can't fix the unfixable...

It's good, but NOISY!!! Clak, clak, clak. It can't compare to the HP Color Inkjet Printer CP1700.

I have had my HP 2800 for about 8 months now and I have never had a problem. I print very high volumes for my home business and it has never failed. It handles a huge range of paper sizes, I mostly print 13 X 19, 11 X 17 and it work great. The software that comes with it tells me my ink usage perfectly, and if I let the ink run out, it will stop the print, let me replace the cartridge, and continue printing the image, that is a great asset.
The best benefit is the very low cost per page, you can print color newsletters, brochures etc., in volume without spending a fortune. A huge benefit over the very expensive color lasers. See HP web site for a cost comparison of printing costs, a great help in deciding what printer to buy. I run 5 printers for my home business all are HP printers, very reliable.

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