HP 580 Ink
OfficeJet 580 Ink Cartridges

HP 580 Printer Review

Looking for a low budget multifunction inkjet printer? The HP OfficeJet 580 meets those criteria. It is rated as average, containing nothing that really sets it apart from the competition. It is reliable, though, and for some consumers that is the most important feature. With the ability to fax, scan, copy and print photos, this unit may even have too many functions for home users, but it doesn't have enough efficiency for small businesses.

The fax machine has a transmission speed of 6 seconds per page and a 45-page memory. It can store 80 speed dial numbers and can reach a resolution of 300x300 dpi. The scanner has 256 levels of grayscale and can obtain a maximum of 600 dpi. Using black HP 580 ink, the copier and printer can bang out 5 pages per minute. Using color printer ink, 2 pages per minute can be copied or printed.

There is only one connective option—parallel port. More current models have USB connections which provide faster image transfers. There is an input tray that holds 150 sheets of plain paper. This unit can print on various kinds of paper, such as envelopes, transparencies, index cards, greeting cards and labels. The OfficeJet 580 ink looks its best when applied to photo or special paper.

There are only 2 HP 580 ink cartridges—one black and one tricolor. The tricolor consists of magenta, yellow and cyan printer ink. This color OfficeJet 580 ink cartridge can reach a resolution of 300x300 dpi while the black can reach a maximum of 600x600 dpi. These resolutions are unimpressive when compared to more current inkjet units but will suffice for standard use.

Replacement HP 580 ink can be found online from the manufacturer or for half the price remanufactured and compatible tanks are available from third party vendors.