HP Officejet Pro 8500

I purchased this all-in-one printer from dabs.com about three weeks ago and I am delighted with it. My only real complaint is that the glossy black finish on the casing seems to attract the dust.

After removing all of the packaging and protective film, I connected it to the mains and switched on, wireless connection to my router was quite straightforward and it downloaded the latest printer software automatically. Subsequent the initial set-up and alignment took a surprisingly long time about twenty - thirty minutes. The touch-screen display is very clear but require quite a distinctive touch to navigate through the options.

Adding the printer to my networked computers was also very easy, the drivers appeared to be downloaded from the printer. I didn't think that I would ever use the ePrint facility, but after setting this up on my mobile phone I have subsequently emailed several items to the printer for printing.

Double sided printing is an absolute doddle and I am pleased with the print quality. According to the ink-levels I seem to be using ink at an alarming rate, I hope that this is only because ink was used to prime the print heads and that the capacity of the introductory cartridges is low - all of the indicators for this printer suggested low running costs.

Scanning is also straightforward with the ability to scan to a Network Shared Folder. Scanning multi-page double sided is very simple.

Copying documents is also very easy, including multi-page double sided to double sided copying.

I haven't used the fax facilities yet or printing from memory cards plugged directly into the card slots.

I have not had problems with paper jams reported elsewhere. But, on two occasions it has reported out of paper (it wasn't) and after pressing OK the document continued printing.

A great all-in-one device, I have ordered an extra printer tray for it. The £60 cash-back has been processed by HP making this device excellent value for money.

I purchased the HP 8500 printer because it promised so much and I chose it over the equivalent Epson because there was £60 cash back offered. I opened the printer and to my dismay found the instructions in every language except English. There was a multi-cabled power adapter with evry European cable imaginable, but nothing that would fit a UK socket. The supplier was very helpful but it cost me an 80 mile round trip to get the correct adapter. I also had to get the supplier to download and print me a manual in English.

I eventually managed to install the printer. It was anything but straightforward to connect it to my network but I eventually managed it. THe Ink cartriges on my old HP used to last me ages but this new printer is designed to waste as much ink as possible. If I turn it on, even just to scan a document or load some pictures from the inbuilt card reader, it whirrs and clunks for three to five minutes "cleaning the print-head" If I turn it on to scan a document it "cleans the Print-head" I have taken to buying lottery tickets in the hope that I will win enough to keep up with this prodigious ink waster. I have never - despite threats of court action been able to get my £60 from HP despite three trips back to the suppliier.

I would strongly urge anyone contemplating a printer purchaser to avoid this manufacturer if only to avoid the shower of spam that will follow your regitering it. Oh yes they love sending spam, how sad that they are not as keen to supply customer support.

Very cheap to run. Print for print it's cheaper than my Samsung mono laser. Text quality is passable, but compared to laser is weak. Some text appears slightly elongated vertically. Photos print well on highest quality as long as good paper is used. Worst thing by far is the paper feeding mechanism. I can't leave the machine printing unattended because the paper feeder usually fails at some stage. I've tried different brands and grades of paper but with no success on this front.

So, in summary I can't give this otherwise good printer more than 3 stars.