HP DeskJet 990cse

It's our Editor's Choice in letter-size printers. Here's why.

In the box

The HP DeskJet 960cse includes Quick Setup posters for both Windows and Macintosh users and a brief manual in French and English. Also included is a Windows Network Guide, detailing how to configure the printer on a network, using peer-to-peer connection (requiring an HP JetDirect external print server), local sharing or a client/server network connection.

There is also the obligatory CD of drivers for Windows 95, 98, NT 4.0, 2000 and Me, and Macintosh (System 7.6.1+ via AppleTalk or Mac OS 8.6+ for USB connections) and a power cord that connects with out the need for an external AC adapter.

The package includes "Economy Black" (labeled "for occasional printing") and tri-color cartridges, plus a slim pack (a mere 6 sheets) of premium-quality paper and, if you buy the consumer-oriented "cse" model, an "Idea Kit" of software including Mindscape PrintMaster Gold 4.0, Hanes T-ShirtMaker and Adobe PhotoDeluxe and a booklet of creative printing tips on how to produce business cards, banners, stationary and so on. Neither parallel nor USB cables are provided.

Common Inks

When the unit is powered on and the lid lifted, the print mechanism slides back and forth a few times and status lights on the outside of the printer flash as it determines the status of the ink supplies. The 960cse (and 960cxi sold in different markets) uses the same colour ink cartridges as several other models of HP printers, including the DeskJet 930, 932, 935, 950, 952, 970, 990 and 1220 printers, as well as PhotoSmart printers p1000, p1100, p1215, p1218 and colour copier models 180, 190, 280 and 290 and OfficeJet "all in one" devices g55 g85, g95, k60 and k80.

The black ink is the same as supplied for an even larger collection of HP models, including the DeskJet 710, 712, 720, 722, 820, 830, 832, 850, 855, 870, 880, 882, 890, 895, 970, 1000, 1120, and 1600; OfficeJets R40, R60, R80, T45 and T66; Color Copier 160, 170, 260 and 270, and Photosmart P1000 and P1100 printers.

Plug and Play

We tested the 990 and 960cse models on the same computers and the 990 excelled in every category that gave use cause for (minor) complaint about its sibling. The driver installed completely automatically, as it should (a reboot was required, as is usual with HP printers); the print quality was better and the USB connection that the 960 couldn't auto-detect worked the way it should here.

Print Quality

Interestingly, the output of our 990cse test unit was even better than that of the DeskJet 960cse we also evaluated. The 960 wasn't bad, but the 990 was even better. Even on plain paper, the quality of text and photos alike is nothing short of breathtaking. We really can't see inkjet print quality ever getting better than this.

As with the 960, blocks of solid color printed with no visible banding (our "worst case scenario" page, consisting of a solid black background exhibited only minor tonal inconsistencies) and the print quality, at maximum resolution (2400 x 1200 dpi) on glossy paper was nothing short of excellent, although seemingly favoring the red side of the spectrum a little, and with a little too much colour saturation. This appears to be a concession to the average user's propensity to print on plain paper, where skin tones seemed more natural and colour rendering was more subdued..

Standard Features

The 990cse includes an infrared port, allowing you to send documents to the printer from your notebook PC or PDA with no physical connection whatsoever. Drivers are provided for notebook PCs, Pocket PC and Palm handhelds. The notebook driver, based on the PrintConnect Suite from Calibre-inc.com, automatically detects the printer and configures your notebook for easy printing. To print, you simply press the print command. It restores your original printer configuration when you move out of infrared range. In use, it's all a bit like magic.

The Palm driver is called IrPrint. With it,. you can print e-mails, addresses, contacts, datebook schedules, notes and to-do lists. To use it, you simply point your Palm at the printer and issue a print command.

The PocketPC driver is based on HP's own JetSend technology. It works with all Windows CE devices and Pocket PC models running Windows CE 2.11 or greater. This protocol is also supported by some HP digital camera models and IR-equipped cell phones.

Software Features

The printer driver software for the 990 is essentially identical to that of the 960, so we won't duplicate that report here, except to note that the driver is practically foolproof. If you remove the duplexing unit that ships standard with the printer, but accidentally (or intentionally, as the Devil made us do) select the "print both sides" option anyway, it doesn't seem to mind. It just prints the pages as it would normally.

Tech Support & Warranty

HP provides technical support via phone or email. The phone line is a 905 area number; the email support promises help in two business days. The printer carries a one-year warranty.

* claimed.

Conclusion

The driver software is very slick -- superior, in fact, to any other inkjet printer we've ever tested, and we're big fans of double-sided printing. These attributes earn the 990cse our Editor's Choice designation in letter-size inkjet printers. Recommended.

For Further Reading:

• HP inkjet printer report 2001
• Refilling Inks - a reader report on how to refill ink cartridges.
• HP recalls hazardous printer cords - Hewlett-Packard is replacing power cords for several models in the 900 series inkjet printers because of concerns that the cords could present a shock hazard.