HP D1550 Ink
Deskjet D1550 Ink Cartridges

HP D1550 Printer Review

The compact design is probably the most appealing aspect of the HP Deskjet D1550 color inkjet printer, but it still manages to provide solid speeds of up to 18 pages per minute for black text and up to 12.5 pages per minute when incorporating color. Printing at higher quality settings will decrease the speed and use more HP D1550 printer ink, but its output quality is very good.

If buyers need an indication that the D1550 is designed for very low-volume printing in a home environment beyond its very compact size, it has a monthly duty cycle of only 750 pages per month. The unit itself measures just 5.5x16.6x12.4 inches, and weighs only 4.29 pounds without the Deskjet D1550 ink cartridges installed. The front tray folds up when there is no paper loaded for easier storage.

Setup is simple enough. Users can install the drivers and software from the CD, insert the cartridge, connect the power cable, and connect it to the computer via USB. Unfortunately, it does not include a USB cable, which is likely a cost-saving measure, but also an annoyance to buyers. Both Windows and Mac computers are supported by the included drivers, and updated versions are available from the HP website.

As with many budget inkjet models, the machine comes with only the tricolor HP D1550 ink cartridge included, so users will have to purchase the separate black supply for best results. The cost of Deskjet D1550 printer ink is fairly affordable, and users can opt to use compatible HP D1550 ink instead of the more pricey OEM versions, which will reduce the cost per page.

The HP D1550 certainly isn't designed for high-volume use, and its speeds are a bit limited, but home users who want a very basic photo printer that won't take up a lot of space should find it appealing. The lack of a USB cable and the inclusion of only one cartridge in the box is a bit of a disappointment.