HP Photosmart C4385 All-in-One

2 out of 10 - Terrible
Pretty bad, really
I am not someone who complains a lot but after years of enjoying Cnet's user opinions, I thought I ...
I am not someone who complains a lot but after years of enjoying Cnet's user opinions, I thought I need to contribute. And my latest experience with this 4385 was a good reason to sign up and tell.

I work for an IT company and we received three of those printers as giveaways with some laptops we bought.

In short. Nobody, even our most skilled tech experts could get the wireless function working on either of the two printers we opened. We tried two separate wireless networks and three PCs in total to try.

Four calls to various levels of HP's support (who were truly professional, would try their best and always called back when needed) did not help. At some stage we pulled the plug - by that time the cost in time for those "free" printers was a multiple of the RRP.

Another annoying thing is that of the three PCs we tried to get the printer driver installed, two had serious (!) problems afterwards. One laptop's CPU would sit at 100% and a desktop would no longer boot without a stop error during booting. This one was brand new, so we just rebuilt it from scratch.

When using the express install, the amount of additional software that gets installed other than the driver itself is amazing - and equally annoying.

When using the USB connection it all works ok. Print quality for Photos, even when using the Photo cartridge is pretty poor though. Real problems with skin tones and gradients.

We have three of those 4385, one still unopened and we don't know what to do with them. They are sitting there, free for anyone to take home - and guess what, nobody wants to.

In my eyes, clearly a printer to stay away from Read more
by Saltcastle (see profile) - January 6, 2008

9 out of 10 users found this user opinion helpful.
3 comments posted to this opinion

10 out of 10 - Perfect
Very good bang for your buck
Overall I really enjoy this printer. Scanning and copying is great. Copying without the computer has always been convenient with ...
Overall I really enjoy this printer. Scanning and copying is great. Copying without the computer has always been convenient with other HP printers. The stock ink tank lasts a while considering the capacity. I plan to purchase the XL tank next time to see how it compares. Software was easy to install and wireless setup was a breeze. I don't usually give products a 10/10 rating unless they really impress me out of the box. Some products are great after they're finally setup, but this printer out of the box took 5 minutes to setup and I'm printing wirelessly to it already. Best printer I found at Best Buy hands down. 149.99 Read more
by jakebdb56 (see profile) - September 17, 2007

7 out of 9 users found this user opinion helpful.

8 out of 10 - Excellent
Easy Wireless & Good Print Quality
This printer was easy to set-up (Mac OSX & Win XP Pro), but it was a little time consuming. Our ...
This printer was easy to set-up (Mac OSX & Win XP Pro), but it was a little time consuming. Our Mac set-up was very quick and easy. It's makes a bit of noise preparing to print and then quiets down. The print quality is quite good - including on photo paper. The printer has a relatively small footprint, which is also a plus. We have 3 computers linked to it with no wires! It's really nice to be able to print from our laptops without having to connect wires & get in each other's way. Overall, this is a very good, high quality printer. Read more
by Bvegan (see profile) - January 8, 2008

4 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.

3 out of 10 - Poor
Software is not designed well for wireless usage!
The HP Photosmart C4385 is well designed for use with USB connection. But when come to use in a wireless ...
The HP Photosmart C4385 is well designed for use with USB connection. But when come to use in a wireless environment, it shows a very poor performance. Software is not designed well, especially the HP Digital Imaging Monitor component. In my test, it caused my computer to slow down dramatically; and even when I disabled the HP Monitor component and restart my PC, the HP Monitor continues to run and cause svchost.exe to extensively use CPU. (Note: it does not happen all the time).

In overall, I would not recommend this HP All in one. If you are after a USB Multifuntion, there are cheaper options available. If you need wireless, wait for later release or look for another brand. Read more
by michael.vn (see profile) - January 5, 2008

3 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.
1 comment posted to this opinion

9 out of 10 - Spectacular
Great and it DOES work great wireless
I looked at all the opinions on here and can say this. Those that had a problem with this wirelessly, ...
I looked at all the opinions on here and can say this. Those that had a problem with this wirelessly, need to take some computer lessons.
I set this up on a mixed hardwire and wireless network using the latest wireless N network with the not WPA, but the latests WPA2 security.
And it set up and is working great.
I can access it over the network with both my wireless and hardwired machines. You can even direct wireless connect from a wireless PC to the printer without the router involved.
Its print speeds are fast. Its a scanner and copier....
For the money you CANNOT go wrong. This is a great little printer.
THe only thing Im not sold on is the single feed and receive tray feature.
If it doesn't spit them out just right they could slide back in.
I havnt had this happen but I can see how it could.
I much prefer the old HP system of a feed table with and output tray above it.
If it had had this type of tray system, Id have given it a 10. Looks like most printers these days are only single try though. Read more
by Archangelx3x (see profile) - March 31, 2008

1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.

1 out of 10 - Abysmal
Useless over wifi
Like several HP networked inkjet printers that I have tried to install in 2007, this printer would not work. HP ...
Like several HP networked inkjet printers that I have tried to install in 2007, this printer would not work. HP needs to put some major resources into their network drivers. Returned this and replaced it with a Canon MX700 that worked over a wired network (and over wifi) with no problems. Read more
by wizzard34 (see profile) - December 31, 2007

1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.

1 out of 10 - Abysmal
This model has not been developed to accept wireless operation
If you need a wireless network printer do not buy an HP C4385. Talked to Hp tech rep 6 hours ...
If you need a wireless network printer do not buy an HP C4385. Talked to Hp tech rep 6 hours at one session. 4 internet attempts and no luck. Professional network tech worked on it 3 hours and gave up said give it to Salvation Army and take a tax credit. Read more
by usmm (see profile) - March 9, 2008

1 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.

2 out of 10 - Terrible
Major software problems on wireless network
The hardware itself is very good for the price. Print quality, color, scanning, copying all very good. I bought this ...
The hardware itself is very good for the price. Print quality, color, scanning, copying all very good. I bought this product specifically for use on a wireless home network. It works well on one of my Windows XP computers except that I get a constant annoying message that the printer is connected to the network. HP sent a fix that did not work.

Also, on one of my Windows VISTA computers, the software will install and the printer will work briefly until the Host Process (whatever that it) has to close. Then the printer is lost on the that computer.

I had this same problem on the XP computer and the fix found on the HP web site worked on it, however, the fix doesn't work on the VISTA computer.

HP doesn't seem to have a fix for these problems, so, I am stuck with a bad situation because I did something stupid...I threw the box away!!!! Makes returning the product difficult. Read more
by montetate (see profile) - December 31, 2007

1 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.

8 out of 10 - Excellent
easy to set up
I thought the wireless set up couldn't have been easier. I set up with a new wireless-N network, an ...
I thought the wireless set up couldn't have been easier. I set up with a new wireless-N network, an XP desktop, an XP laptop and a Vista laptop. It took a little while for the cd to setup each computer but I didn't have to do anything difficult. Photo quality may be less than professional but I got it for $90 so what do you expect. Read more
by njflynn2000 (see profile) - July 1, 2008

2 out of 10 - Terrible
Mac Review - I'd return it, if they wouldn't charge me.
I'm stuck with it.

On the good side, it comes with a USB cable, which is very very rare

...
I'm stuck with it.

On the good side, it comes with a USB cable, which is very very rare with printers now-a-days. And its an HP, so it will probably last a long time. My last HP lasted 5 years before I gave it to a friend. My last HP just worked upon plug in, so I thought the same would happen.

Now the cons and work-a-rounds.

1) Wireless set up. It does work. Barely. You will have to install the printer and get the IP address. If you are like me, you won't be able to complete the setup, but you will have the IP address for the Printer and can set it up manually through your mac's printer setup utility.

2) Scanning. You have to use the USB cable. But why not. I'm running an Airport express router and even if I plugged it in to that, its print only. This is what we get for having a mac

3) Airport express doesn't recognize the printer. I haven't called HP yet (their Mac customer service is only open on weekdays). I haven't called Mac support yet either, but when I do, I'm sure they'll fix the problem.

I just hope I don't have to upgrade to Leopard to use my printer.

I'd return the printer, but the wireless works and it does its job pretty well. I just returned a Kodak Printer (one to stay away from if you are using an airport router) and had to pay a 15% restocking fee on that. I don't want to pay another 15% restocking fee, just because these stupid manufacturers keep ignoring us Mac users. Its such a scam!

The problem is that you have to open the printer and install it in order to see if it works or not. I hate these guys!

My advice: Try Canon. Their ink might be the most expensive, but it seems like their product might work.