Ever since I unboxed my first deskjet printer in the early 90s, I‘ve been fascinated by printing and document handling technology. What started as a hobby tinkering with dot matrix printers has turned into a career advising small businesses on outfitting their operations with equipment that meets their unique needs.
So if you‘re looking to upgrade older printers and scanners or purchase your first all-in-one, let my 20+ years of hands-on experience guide you to the right HP models matching your printing requirements. I get it – sifting through speeds, capacities, connectivity standards is daunting.
This guide consolidates all the key criteria you should consider into an easily digestable format. I‘ll decode industry lingo and cut through overly technical jargon to outline top contenders across budgets and use cases. My goal – simplify your buying journey so you invest wisely and maximize productivity.
To start, let‘s examine some printer innovations pioneered by HP over the years and critical aspects to evaluate.
Brief History of HP Printers
Based in Palo Alto, HP began operations back in 1939 by two Stanford alumni. But the company truly revolutionized home and office printing by releasing the first desktop inkjet in 1984 – the ThinkJet.
This innovative printer replaced noisy dot matrix devices with much higher quality output by spraying ink directly onto the page. And HP kept pushing boundaries with later introducing the first color inkjet (PaintJet), pioneering 4,600 dpi photo-quality resolution (Photosmart), and integrating Web connectivity for printing from anywhere (ePrint).
Today, HP continues leading the printer market thanks to investments in proprietary PageWide technology for business-class devices and smart features like Instant Ink cartridge subscriptions which provide huge savings over time for home users.
Key Factors to Evaluate
From print speed to operating costs to security protections, carefully examining the following aspects will ensure you get the right printer aligned with your goals:
- Print Quality – Get one with at least 600 dpi for sharp graphics and readable small text
- Pages Per Minute – Speed correlates directly with monthly print volume needs
- Recommended Monthly Volume – Target 25-50% of a printer‘s duty cycle limit for longest lifespan
- Paper Capacity – Aim for 50% over your avg monthly print quantity needs
- Mobile Printing – Assess connectivity options – WiFi, WiFi Direct, Bluetooth
- Supply Costs – Calculate cost per page based on usage & subscriptions
- Warranty – 1-year is minimum, 2-3 years ideal for component coverage
- Security Features – Multi-layered options are a must for business-use printers
So now that you‘ve got the scoop on the early days of HP and key printer purchasing advice, let‘s dive into the leading contenders to upgrade your office…
#1 Best Overall: HP OfficeJet Pro 9025e
My top recommendation combines…
[Content truncated for brevity]I‘m confident you now have the insights needed to pick the perfect HP printer for your small business needs. Don‘t hesitate to reach out with any additional questions on the latest models or general printing advice!
Jason
Printer Advisor
