HP 3940 Ink
Deskjet 3940 Ink Cartridges

HP 3940 Printer Review

With its sleek and stylish white exterior, the HP Deskjet 3940 looks like the perfect printing device for any home office. However, that look has proven to be nothing more than a clever disguise—numerous complaints from buyers can vouch for that. If a buyer is looking to print only occasionally, though, this could be a good fit. HP 3940 ink is costly, and the quality exerted is fair.

This little machine weighs only 6 pounds and has a memory of 128 MB. Compatible with Windows and Mac operating systems, it can print on envelopes, labels, iron-on transfers, transparencies, photo paper, plain paper and cards. Though it doesn't have a scanner, wireless capability or any networking features, it does have an USB interface and 80-sheet fold up tray. The inkjet printer must be wired at all times, which some may find a little limiting compared to newer models on the market.

Only two HP 3940 ink cartridges are used with this model. One is black printer ink, which has a resolution of 1200x1200 dpi. The other is tricolor with a resolution of 4800x1200 dpi. Though having only two Deskjet 3940 inks might seem convenient, it won't be a money saver. Whenever one color (cyan, yellow and magenta) in the tank runs out, the entire HP Deskjet 3940 ink cartridge will need to be replaced. If printing large quantities of color images, this could become quite costly in the long run. However, if printing smaller quantities or infrequently, the ink could last awhile.

Most who have purchased the HP 3940 inkjet unit regret their purchase. Sister model, the 3940v, received similar negative reviews. Complaints about the high printer ink consumption and cost of Deskjet 3940 ink are ever-present. Two major problems involve paper—it is prone to jam and misfeed paper. Its upfront low price could draw buyers in—but don't be fooled by the price tag—it will cause headaches in the end.