The HP PSC 1610 is a capable all-in-one printer that can also scan and copy documents in a snap. This highly functional machine is available for a very reasonable price, making it an attractive proposition for budget-conscious consumers. However, it has its own faults and limitations like any other product. Read on to see whether this machine is suited for your needs.

Build and External Attributes

With its small frame at 17.2 x 14.3 x 8.1 inches, the HP PSC 1610 is ideal for homes and small offices. It comes in a shiny silver body with all the right curves to give it a sleek futuristic look. At 12 lbs, it can be considered a featherweight among AIOs. Paper comes in and goes out through the same front-loading tray. The top has a lid that covers the flat-bed scanner and this can be easily removed to accommodate thick materials such as books and similar items. On the right side of the lid are the control buttons and a monochrome text display. A PictBridge port and a memory card slot are available for direct printing.

Features and Limitations

The HP PSC 1610 is marketed as an inkjet printer capable of producing good quality pictures. As such, it has holders for the standard color and black cartridges like most printers, but here a photo-color cartridge can be substituted for the latter for better photos. This machine can also be used as a stand-alone device, meaning you don’t have to hook it up to a computer before using it. However, the small text display is all you get for an interface so no document preview is possible in this mode. Although the HP PSC 1610 can’t fax by itself, you can scan a document and send the resulting file through a fax modem, if you happen to have one. All told, this is a capable machine with minor inconveniences like the lack of an automatic document feeder and a slow USB 1.1 connection.

Performance

Tests reveal that the HP PSC 1610 can produce fine text and graphics though not enough to be considered excellent. Issues such as fuzziness in delicate lines and narrow-banding tend to hound some prints. Speed tests show that it is slower than the average with 4.9 ppm vs. 6.2 ppm though at this price range, this speed is actually pretty decent.

Conclusion

The HP PSC 1610 should be a welcome addition to any home and will prove itself adequate for the needs of a small office. It’s a not perfect printer but with a great price and a fantastic software bundle, the value of this package is enough to win the day.