HP 3030 Toner
LaserJet 3030 Toner Cartridges

HP 3030 Printer Review

The HP LaserJet 3030 is a monochrome multifunction printer designed for the personal user or small office. It features well-implemented multifunction features in an affordable, compact printer, but low capacities and lack of expansion options may limit its appeal. Some users may prefer units featuring Brother TN460 toner.

The design of the HP 3030 is fairly compact, especially for a multifunction device. It measures 14 inches by 19 inches by 14 inches (HWD), taking up only a little more space than a dedicated laser printer, and significantly less space than the multiple machines it is designed to replace.

Speaking of replacing, unless the user does not have much printing needs, the HP LaserJet 3030 toner cartridges will need to be replaced fairly often. Fortunately, installation for the HP 3030 toner cartridge is simple. Each standard HP LaserJet 3030 toner cartridge has a capacity of 2,000 pages. The high capacity HP 3030 toner has a more reasonable page yield of 3,000 pages, but it is still less than other models like the HP CE505X toner.

Setup is a breeze. Simply connect the printer and install the software from the included CD. The printer works with both Windows and Mac computers. It also comes with OCR (optical character recognition) software included, for converting scanned documents into searchable and editable text. This is a great method for converting documents for a digital archive.

The unit can print, scan, copy, or fax, and each feature is generally well-implemented. Scanning and copying can be done either with the 50-sheet automatic document feeder or the flatbed scanning surface. Nearly all features can be accessed from dedicated buttons on the unit's control panel. There is a section for fax buttons with a numeric keypad, a section for copy functions, and a few scanning buttons. Although this makes all the features very easy to access, it could be a bit overwhelming for some users, as the sheer number of buttons can be a bit intimidating.

Faxing is supported either on the unit itself or from a connected computer. Most features can be accessed from a computer as well, though scanning and faxing can be done in standalone mode. Routing faxes to another number is supported, but must be set locally, which could be a problem for frequent travelers.

Overall, the HP LaserJet 3030 has a lot to offer for a small business or personal user. For higher volume users, an HP 92274A toner printer might be a better choice. The 3030's features are well-implemented and easily accessible. An overwhelming number of buttons and lack of future expandability are the only minor drawbacks.