Customer Reviews

HP PSC 1209 Multifunction Printer, Scanner and Copier

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

 

 

Mac OS X purchasers should check the HP support website before trying to install for information on how to keep the installation program from hanging. They also should search the web for advice on how to remove the intrusive icon from the dock, and keep it from returning. There are more that 10,000 items that are installed and no custom install option to avoid the unnecessary stuff. Using the scanner requires that the psc be turned off, the computer restarted, and then the psc turned back on--EACH TIME. (2/23/05 review)

HP has updated the software since my initial review. The software is still bloated and there is no custom install, but at least it works now and Director no longer keeps reinstalling itself on the dock.

I am sooo happy with this printer combination! It doesn't take up much space for all of the functions it performs. The software is easy to install, the ink is not as expensive as Lexmark and the results are fantastic.

I've had this printer at home for a few months now, and I have had no trouble with it. I have only two minor complaints, and they're not really about the printer itself. See below for details. As for the printer, it was simple to install. It has managed out-of-paper conditions gracefully. Scans and copies come out very nice - I especially love being able to finally scan in those old family photos! My two minor complaints are with the software for the printer. The first piece is the HP software that gets installed by default when you install the printer. This software monitors the USB line for a scan job. When the PC and the printer are both on, you can scan a document and this software will detect it. Well, the software works, but it SLOWS DOWN THE COMPUTER ALL THE TIME. I ended up disabling it and only running it when I'm scanning something. The second complaint I have is with some of the Avery photo printing software. We bought some of the Avery punch-out 4x6 photo sheets. We installed the Avery software, but the pictures we print don't end up in the right position on the page. We get much better results printing diretcly to the desired size paper instead of using the Avery sheets.

I have had my printer since 2004, and I've generally been satisfied with it. The "Scan" button hasn't worked for years; and three computers later, I have long since lost the software discs. This is probably why it doesn't work anymore. I don't really care that much, since I've started using Paint.NET.
- The color scan quality is next to worthless. Primary colors tend to scan well, and it scans okay in black and white or in color. I use my scanner for artwork, and I find that marker and colored pencil tend to come out horribly.
- The printer is slow. Normal and high quality print settings take an eternity to print. Fast Draft is better, but terrible for printing intensive graphics or fine print.
- It prints black and white documents best on a low print setting, and it prints color decently on normal in small amounts. Too much color per graphic, and it won't pick up very well on gradients or bright colors (and sometimes won't print darks). High quality printing is an oxymoron with this printer. Much of my work has come out too dark and in poor quality - and not only that, but this setting devours incredible amounts of ink. Much ink has been wasted on this setting, and ink (HP 56/57) is nearly 40.00-50.00/cartridge.
- To its credit, my dog shoved it off the desk six months ago and it still works just as it always has. I am starting to consider a new printer. Perhaps the Epson Artisan 725 All-in-One, which seems to scan and print in remarkably high dpi for a consumer-level product, if only it was wide-format.

This printer does not scan when you press the scan button. HP also does not make it easy to troubleshoot this.

Don't bother buying it.

I got this printer coming to college and it had a few bugs with the scanning at first, but I updated the drivers and tweaked the options. It works perfectly now and does everything I need it to do without complaint.

Most of the negative posts seem like they are coming from those who expect to plug the printer into their machine and suddenly, without any customizing, have a Kinko's in their living room. These are people who don't want to learn how to actually operate a computer; and yes, I'm looking at you, mac users.

If you are willing to play around with the settings, you can get this thing to work like a dream. If you aren't, you should take your printing jobs to someone who can do it for you.

Bought this multi-function printer two years ago (to replace an Epson piece of junk) and it has since exceeded my expectations. I use Mac OS X and HP now provides software that supports more of the advanced features including scanning and printer sharing. It's not going to beat a two thousand dollar laser system, but for light use as a printer/scanner/copier, it gets the job done. The inks are expensive but last a while.

Well, I guess I've had this guy for about 2 years now? I bought it on sale. And what a bargain it's turned out to be.

It scans: and I've been scanning a ton of my old photos from days gone by. It might be a little slower than I like, and the bed could be a little larger, and it's a bit noisy, but at least I don't have a separate scanner anymore.

It copies: Oh the convenience of having a small copier around when you need one. It even has the option of copying in either color or b/w. Of course, since it uses the scanner bed, all of the scanner comments apply.

It prints: Yes, it prints, and far better than my old printer - but then it really was old. The print quality is quite good. It has 3 quality options from Fast to Normal to High. And if you're using the right paper, the High is very good indeed.

Downside: The paper will on occasion not feed, occasionally enough to mention it here.

Upside: It comes with all kinds of photo processing software (most of which I don't use). It has a separate b/w and Color print head. That is convenient because if the color runs out it can run in b/w mode only (or visa versa).

Other things: It will tell you when your running low on ink, and even open a web page so you can order directly from HP.

Other than that, this is a perfect little Printer/Scanner/Copier for the home.

UPDATE: Three years and counting!

The FUNCTIONS of this printer/copier/scanner are AWESOME, but the QUALITY is absolute GARBAGE. For about the first 6 months, this printer would handle envelope printing reasonably well, but after that printing envelopes is essentially impossible. The printer usually destroys 3-4 envelopes before it gets one that is marginally acceptable. Additionally frustrating is that - like many HP printers - there is no reasonable way to extract paper jams. Also, the software that comes with the printer is NOT user-friendly. Finally, after recently re-installing Windows XP, the HP driver software (unnecessarily) re-installs the printer drivers EVERY time the computer boots up; sometimes it re-installs the printer drivers at random times. This is VERY FRUSTRATING.

My mother-in-law and I both have one of these. It's absolute JUNK, and HP won't back it up. Try calling HP Customer Service for help...they CHARGE you for the call.

And this little contraption has been nothing but a nightmare.

Scanning function doesn't work without using the hideously-oversized HP software. I have never ONCE been able to use the actual scan button to scan something. I am forced to use the HP Director program (which is just terrible)...and now that I've tried to install it on my new pc, which runs on XP, it can't be recognized as a scanner at ALL. I have had nothing but frustration with this product.

I will never, EVER purchase an HP item again. The impertinence of a company that charges for access to a call-in customer service line to deal with a machine that does not now and has never worked properly just baffles me.