HP 428 Ink
Photosmart 428 Ink Cartridges

The HP Photosmart 428 is a package designed for those who want everything they need for digital photography in one box. It includes a 5.2 megapixel camera and a color inkjet printer that is very compact and portable. All of this is available at a very affordable price, but high printer ink costs make it less economical than other solutions due to the high price of HP 428 ink.

At first glance, the combination of the two devices seems like a very convenient package, and this is mostly true. The camera plugs into the dock on top of the printer and its 2 inch LCD display becomes the interface for previewing, editing and printing photos. This is a great way to save manufacturing costs, and it helps keep the price of the package low. The dock also charges the camera's batteries. The 428xi model adds additional options like a battery for the printer.

The main problem comes from the fact that the printer does not really work without the camera, which may not be an issue for beginners, but those who may plan to upgrade at a later time will find they can't continue to use the camera very easily. The printer itself is impressive, and output quality is excellent. The fact that it can only do 4x6 prints is a limitation but will probably be enough for its target buyers.

HP 428 ink cartridges are fairly expensive, making printer ink costs very high. The small capacity of Photosmart 428 ink cartridges results in a high cost per page that keeps operating costs above those of the average model. Even using less expensive compatible Photosmart 428 ink doesn't make it as economical as a full-fledged inkjet unit.

For portability and ease of use, it is hard to beat the Photosmart 428 package for those new to digital photography. More advanced users might opt for a more economical printer without the high cost of HP 428 ink.