HP 848c Ink
Deskjet 848c Ink Cartridges

HP 848c Printer Review

The HP Deskjet 848c is a basic home inkjet printer that can provide solid text documents and sharp color photos alike. Print speeds are quite slow, at only 8 pages per minute for black and 5 pages per minute for color, but those who have the patience will get a great model for a low price. OEM prices for HP 848c printer ink are high, but alternatives are available.

The 848c has the simple front-facing designs home users have grown accustomed to, with a front-loading paper tray below the output tray. The input paper capacity is only 100 sheets, but most low-volume users will find this adequate. The footprint of 17.6x7.3 inches doesn't require much space, though the height of 14 inches requires a bit of headroom, and users should account for the extra space needed to open the top when replacing Deskjet 848c printer ink.

Though the quoted speed ratings are already a bit disappointing, higher-quality settings will be less than one page per minute. For example, setting the machine to Photo Best will max out at 0.5 pages per minute. The maximum resolution for black-and-white output is 600x600 dpi, but color prints output at a resolution of 600x1200 dpi for more clarity.

The HP 848c ink cartridges include a single black and a combined tricolor supply. While this provides for easier replacement, users will need to replace the tricolor Deskjet 848c ink cartridge when one of the colors run dry, which could lead to extra waste. To combat high OEM prices, users should consider remanufactured HP 848c ink, which is available at a fraction of the cost.

The Deskjet 848c is a very capable desktop inkjet printer for buyers who don't do a lot of printing but want enough versatility for both photos and documents. Its slow speeds are the main drawback, but its compact design and easy setup are appealing.