Check out the Dell Store on CNETHP Business Inkjet 2800
Manufacturer: HP Part number: C8174A#ABA
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Product series
- Accessories
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- A good option for offices that need medium-format printing, but for high-volume letter-size color documents, a color laser is a better deal.
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Where to buy
| store | customer rating | inventory | tax & shipping | price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |  | In stock | Enter zip code to get total price: Price +Tax +Shipping =Total price | as of 12/02/2009 |
CNET editors' review
HP Business Inkjet 2800 price range: $520.00
- Reviewed by: Kristina Blachere
- Edited by: Elsa Wenzel
- Reviewed on: 05/10/2005
- Released on: 05/10/2005
The good: Delivers good text and graphics print quality; prints documents as large as 13 by 19 inches.
The bad: Expensive; useful extras jack up the price up even further; mediocre-looking photos print oh-so-slowly.
The bottom line: A good option for offices that need medium-format printing, but for high-volume letter-size color documents, a color laser is a better deal.
The medium-format HP Business Inkjet 2800 measures 24.9 inches deep by 26.6 wide, and it's 7.8 inches high, with its trays extended. This machine weighs a hefty 29.7 pounds, double that of the average consumer inkjet, and unfortunately it lacks carrying handles. The 150-sheet input tray protrudes in front, with its lid serving as a 100-sheet output tray. This printer separates its four ink cartridges (C, M, Y, K) from the printheads for easy, one-by-one replacement, and two conveniently positioned manual paper-feed slots in the front and the back prevent unusually heavy or thin pages from bending.
On the top of this printer, a backlit LCD indicates the ink levels. A cluster of buttons next to the LCD lets you specify the number of copies you want and which tray the printer should draw paper from. In the case of the 2800dtn, the LCD also displays network configuration information and lets you print diagnostic pages. If you need to network the HP 2800, we recommend the souped-up 2800dtn model; even though it costs a bundle, the total is less than separately adding an extra paper tray, a duplexer, and an Ethernet server.
The software and the stripped-down drivers of the HP 2800 are decidedly business oriented; you can adjust the quality and the paper type, add a watermark, and set the ink volume and dry time. But you don't get any color or photo optimization features, such as red-eye correction or slider bars to set individual cyan, magenta, and yellow levels.
The HP Toolbox software helps you track ink status and printhead health, and it provides you with troubleshooting screens that instruct you on how to replace inks, show you how to clear jams, and give you options for printing on special paper. The Toolbox also links to MyPrintMileage, a Web-based service that follows your ink and media usage so that you can plan replacements. If you choose to install HP Web JetAdmin for the 2800dtn, MyPrintMileage also helps you manage your network printers.
The HP Business Inkjet 2800 was quick at text printing but painfully slow with photos. Both this model and the HP Business Inkjet 1200d turned in the exact same time on CNET Labs' text speed tests, a lickety-split 6.5 pages per minute (ppm)--faster than most inkjets but less than half the pace of an average laser printer. The HP 2800 wasted a thumb-twiddling 12 minutes to print our test photo, which the 1200d accomplished in 7.5 minutes--both are abysmally slow speeds, especially against a midrange photo printer such as the Canon iP5000, which printed the same photo in about a minute. We printed our test photo on HP Premium Plus Photo glossy paper using the 2800's default settings, which you can tweak to alter the results.
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Photo speed | |
Text speed |
The HP 2800's text on plain copy paper was acceptably sharp for an inkjet and considerably darker and crisper on HP Premium Inkjet Paper. However, text on premium paper at the Best setting contained tiny cyan and magenta droplets due to a driver glitch. This machine produced very good graphics with fine details, smooth and evenly stepped shading and gradients, and very good color matching. However, the black curves suffered from the same composite-black-halo problem as the text.
Our test images looked grainy, with visible dots, and thanks to a magenta-heavy driver algorithm, flesh tones were overly red. Our quality tests painted the HP 2800 as a decent text and low-priority graphics printer, but if you're planning to print a slew of photos, we recommend a machine dedicated to such a task, such as the Epson Stylus Photo R800.
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Photo | |
Graphics on inkjet paper | |
Text on inkjet paper |
Click here to learn more about how CNET Labs tests printers.
Speed analysis written by Jeffrey Fuchs.
Replacement ink cartridges cost $33.99 each. HP estimates that at 5 percent page coverage, its color tanks will print 1,750 pages and black tanks will last 1,650 pages, which works out to a impressively low 2 cents per page for both color and black. New printheads costs $33.99 each and are estimated to last 16,000 pages for black and 24,000 pages for color.
HP backs the Business Inkjet 2800 with a one-year warranty. Toll-free tech support is available 24/7, as is live support chat via HP's Web site. You can also send e-mail to HP support, visit user forums, and troll through volumes of technical information on the company's Web site. HP offers a multitude of service and support upgrades for its business printers under its HP Care Pack Services.
User reviews
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Great Work Horse
by 2pur400 on February 10, 2006
Pros: Very good quality prints.
Cons: It's big, but what did you expect for a medium format printer.
Summary: I use the printer for creating custom PR brochures. At times I will keep the printer going for 3 days non-stop printing 11x17 two sided books. It is a workhorse. ...
Summary: I use the printer for creating custom PR brochures. At times I will keep the printer going for 3 days non-stop printing 11x17 two sided books. It is a workhorse. Eazy to use and much cheaper than a midimum format lazer printer. Both supplies and purchase price are reasonable. Individual ink and replaceable print heads let me keep the printer going and going and going. There are cheaper and better letter size printers. But if you need 11x17 or larger, upto 13x19, then you can not beat this machine.
2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Large format printer at a reasonable price
by herbstadmin on October 12, 2005
Pros: Prints 11x17 graphics crisply, and quickly. Set up easy to use, and on-line customer support chat was actually quick and helpful.
Cons: I don't use it for photo printing, but high dpi prints take forever to print.
Summary: I work for an engineering firm that needs to print multipule copies of color graphics on 11x17 paper for our reports. This printer is as advertised for that purpose and ...
Summary: I work for an engineering firm that needs to print multipule copies of color graphics on 11x17 paper for our reports. This printer is as advertised for that purpose and at much lower cost than a large format color laser. It printed appx. 75 pages in a little over an hour. Much faster than our old epson. Also, the color and print are very crisp and readable, even with small print. This printer also does fairly well on the ink. Another feature I like is that the printheads are disposable. Print head clogged, no problem, you can change them in about a minute. I would not recommend this for photo printing. I tried printing a high dpi document, and it was very slow. All in all it is an excellent printer for our companies needs.
2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Not for Mac Users
by Jim Canestrari on June 26, 2007
Pros: Heavy Duty, and not as slow as some may think
Cons: Little or no support for the Mac OS
Summary: This is a great office-type printer. Once I loaded it up with some additional memory (cheap, too) I got much better printing speeds. Unfortunately, it's next to worthless if ...
Summary: This is a great office-type printer. Once I loaded it up with some additional memory (cheap, too) I got much better printing speeds. Unfortunately, it's next to worthless if you're using it hooked directly USB from a Mac. The folks at HP have been nice enough about my questions, but in the end they've made no apologies for advertising that it's a printer for the Macs, even though their driver support is paper-thin. I'll keep it for the PCs in the household, and get an Epson for the Mac.
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Great! uses so little ink!
by hallmail on March 16, 2007
Pros: Low price, great durability, uses few ink cartidges,
Cons: none found yet!
Summary: My old printer used a black cartridge every 3-4 weeks, and a color cartridge every 4-6 weeks. I have had this printer in use for just over 1 year and ...
Summary: My old printer used a black cartridge every 3-4 weeks, and a color cartridge every 4-6 weeks. I have had this printer in use for just over 1 year and I have yet to replace a color ink cartridge!!! I have replaced 1 black one (took about 10 months). I figure what I've saved in ink cartridges has paid for the machine.
Old printer had numerous paper jams. It was unusual to get through a day without one. I have had 2, maybe 3 in the last year with this one, all easily remedied.
Print quality is good for what we do (small business office, print topography maps, etc). Our office gets VERY dirty, as we are an excavating business and we track in a lot of dirt. This printer handles the dirty conditions well also.
I am very pleased we made the jump and bought this printer. *two thumbs up*1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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DO NOT BUY THIS PRINTER!
by glwoods3947 on April 14, 2009
Pros: Haven't found any yet.
Cons: CONSTANT paper jams, haven't been able to get the duplexer to work, will NOT print on thick paper at all, this printer sits idle most of the time because I don't have the time to CONSTANTLY clear paper jams.
Summary: Will never buy another hp printer. This printer was very expensive and I've never been able to use it for production. I need to be able to print and ...
Summary: Will never buy another hp printer. This printer was very expensive and I've never been able to use it for production. I need to be able to print and walk away. This printer needs constant attention, clearing paper jams, etc.
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This printer is only good for the first two years.
by sfsailor96 on January 2, 2009
Pros: Good printing quality and easy to use. Works well with macs. Duplex and wide format.
Cons: Expensive ink. Quite shaky during printing. You need to put it in a rigid table. Paper particular wide size, always got misfed due to tray and tractor alignment.
Summary: This printer should be business (HP Business Inkjet) printer. But, i think this is not for business. It is only good for the first two years like all other printer ...
Summary: This printer should be business (HP Business Inkjet) printer. But, i think this is not for business. It is only good for the first two years like all other printer from HP. NO SUPPORT no parts. I only use it for wide printing, so it's rarely used. This almost brand new printer is now a piece of garbage. You don't get what you paid for. Paid is almost $800.00 include accessories and warranty. HP does not support it anymore. DO NOT BUY THIS PRINTER.
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Underwhelming printer driver
by s.paigen on June 20, 2008
Pros: 11" X 17" format, separate ink cartridges
Cons: Disappointing driver, flimsy mechanics
Summary: This printer is used as the primary printer for customer presentation layouts at a sign company, so it gets substantial but not constant use.
Driver: I get regular "failure to ...Summary: This printer is used as the primary printer for customer presentation layouts at a sign company, so it gets substantial but not constant use.
Driver: I get regular "failure to print" errors printing from Illustrator, as well as occasional strange printer artifacts in raster effects. The average size of the files I'm printing is around 1MB, so they shouldn't be overwhelming. The XP driver has not been updated since '05.
Mechanics: The mechanics are noisy and go through occasional spates of paper jams. The adjustable paper guides in the in tray don't slide well, and one of them stopped locking a few months after a few months of use.
Print quality: Just adequate.
Summary: An 11X17 format printer is almost certainly going to be used for graphic files, and needs a much better driver which can handle those files comfortably. Physically, the printer is not durable enough to justify the "business inkjet" classification. -
Not a workhorse
by RPhilippos on February 23, 2008
Pros: Hardly any
Cons: Has to compete with much better earlier models
Summary: We had a 1220 which was replaced by a 1700, which in turn was replaced by this. Unfortunately, we were expecting the same improvement we saw when we got the ...
Summary: We had a 1220 which was replaced by a 1700, which in turn was replaced by this. Unfortunately, we were expecting the same improvement we saw when we got the 1700.
What we got instead was a machine with poor paper handling, that skews pages, has inexplicable delays and it's rear feeding for thick media is a joke.
If you can still find a 1700 get one - it uses the same inks, but THAT'S what a workhorse should be like. This was the last wide HP for us. -
Not Recommended
by zakarch on April 24, 2007
Pros: LCD display, mutliple color ink cartridges
Cons: cheaply made, prints skewed
Summary: We purchased this to replace our Deskjet 1220. Both the orginial one we purchased and the replacement HP sent have the same problem. From the time we installed them, and ...
Summary: We purchased this to replace our Deskjet 1220. Both the orginial one we purchased and the replacement HP sent have the same problem. From the time we installed them, and with troubleshooting, they print skewed to varying degrees, always worse from the bottom tray. For the price it should print straight.
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Don't buy this printer if you use Windows XP 64-bit
by pwscottiv on September 14, 2007
Pros: It looks nice on your desk.
Cons: It's a $1000 brick that doesn't print.
Summary: I've now spent over 7 hours trying to get my new HP printer to operate properly... I paid over $1000 for HP's flagship business thermal inkjet (the 2800dtn[...
Summary: I've now spent over 7 hours trying to get my new HP printer to operate properly... I paid over $1000 for HP's flagship business thermal inkjet (the 2800dtn[url]http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/us/en/sm/WF06b/18972-18972-236251-24728-3328074-429041-429045-429046.html[/url]) which is rated on their website to work properly with Windows XP x64, but I can't even get the installation program to complete. I keep getting an error saying that it can't copy a file. I am not mad... I'm irate. Tech support had me try about 15 different drivers, but only one would install... Of course it's not even close to being the correct driver, because it prints junk out, it does not use the duplex attachment, and it can't print on oversize paper (which is one of the main reasons that I bought a frikin $1000 printer.) In addition, every time I restart my computer it stalls for a few minutes so it can try to install drivers for my printer (of course it fails every time), this is because HP had me install a driver that wasn't designed for it and my computer thinks there isn't a driver installed yet. Tech Support said to call back the next day, but they said they couldn't do anything and they couldn't escalate the problem to engineering. Now I have no way to print for my company. I've been having to go to Kinko's to print stuff. I'm so glad I have a $1000 brick taking up a huge amount of real estate on my desk. I will NEVER buy HP products again. I feel like I just got raped and they didn't even have the courtesy to use lube.
0 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: HP
- Part number: C8174A#ABA
- Description: Get the most for your money with this printing solution for small work teams that handles specialty paper at sizes up to 13 by 19 inches and lets you produce vibrant documents with speed and accuracy.
General
- Printer Type Workgroup printer - Ink-jet - Color
- Width 26.6 in
- Depth 19.6 in
- Height 7.8 in
- Weight 29.8 lbs
- Localization French / Canada, English / United States
Printer
- Print Speed up to 24 pages/min - Black draft, up to 21 pages/min - Color draft, up to 4 pages/min - Black best, up to 4 pages/min - Color best
- Built-in Devices Status LCD
- Connectivity Technology Wired
- Interface USB, Parallel
- Max Resolution ( B&W ) 4800 dpi x 1200 dpi
- Max Resolution ( Color ) 4800 dpi x 1200 dpi
- Image Enhancement Technology HP PhotoREt III
- PostScript Support Standard
- Language Simulation PCL 6, PCL 5C, PostScript 3
- Fonts Included 45 x TrueType, 35 x PostScript
- Printer Features Optional duplex
Processor
- Processor 256 MHz
RAM
- RAM Installed ( Max ) 96 MB / 544 MB (max)
- Technology SDRAM
Media Handling
- Media Type Cards, Envelopes, Bond paper, Photo paper, Plain paper, Recycled paper, Transparencies, Heavy-weight paper
- Max Media Size (Custom) 13 in x 19 in
- Media Sizes A3 (11.7 in x 16.5 in), A4 (8.25 in x 11.7 in), A5 (5.83 in x 8.25 in), A6 (4.13 in x 5.83 in), B5 (6.93 in x 9.83 in), Legal (8.5 in x 14 in), A3 plus (13 in x 16.65 in), JIS B5 (7.17 in x 10.12 in), Statement (5.5 in x 8.5 in), JIS B4 (10.12 in x 14.33 in), Executive (7.25 in x 10.5 in), Tabloid Extra (12 in x 18 in), Letter A Size (8.5 in x 11 in)
- Envelope Sizes US A2 (4.4 in x 5.75 in), US No 10 (4.1 in x 9.5 in), International C5 (6.38 in x 9 in), International C6 (4.5 in x 6.38 in), Japanese Chou No 3 (5 in x 9.25 in), International DL (4.33 in x 8.66 in), Japanese Chou No 4 (3.5 in x 8.1 in), Japanese Kaku No 2 (9.45 in x 13 in)
- Card / Label Sizes 4 in x 6 in, US 4 x 6 Card (4 in x 6 in), US 5 x 8 Card (5 in x 8 in), Hagaki Card (3.93 in x 5.83 in)
- Media Weight 60 g/m2 - 270 g/m2
- Total Media Capacity 150 sheets
- Media Feeder(s) 1 x Autoload - 150 sheets weight: 60 g/m2 - 200 g/m2, 1 x Manual load - 1 sheets weight: 60 g/m2 - 270 g/m2
- Max Media Capacity 400 sheets
Duty Cycle
- Monthly Duty Cycle 12000 pages
Telecom
- Modem None
Networking
- Networking None
Scanner
- Type None
Copier
- Copier Type None
Expansion / Connectivity
- Expansion Bays Total (Free) None
- Expansion Slots Total (Free) 2 Memory - DIMM 100-pin, 1 ( 1 ) x EIO
- Connections 1 x Parallel - IEEE 1284 (EPP/ECP) - 36 pin Centronics, 1 x USB - 4 pin USB Type B
- Compatible Slots None
Miscellaneous
- Microsoft Certifications Certified for Windows Vista
Power
- Power Device Power supply - Internal
- Voltage Required AC 120/230 V
- Power Consumption Operational 65 Watt
- Power Consumption Stand by / Sleep 45 Watt
Battery
- Type None
Software / System Requirements
- Software Included Drivers & Utilities
- OS Required Apple MacOS X 10.2, Apple MacOS X 10.1.5, Microsoft Windows 2000 / XP, Microsoft Windows Server 2003
Environmental Parameters
- Min Operating Temperature 41 °F
- Max Operating Temperature 104 °F
- Humidity Range Operating 20 - 80%
- Sound Emission (Operating) 54 dB
Product series
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Manufacturer: HP
Specs: Workgroup printer - Ink-jet - Color, Super B (13 in x 19 in), A3 plus (13 in x 16.65 in), Wired, 24 pages/min, 21 pages/min, 4 pages/min, PC, Mac, USB, Parallel
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Manufacturer: HP
Specs: Workgroup printer - Ink-jet - Color, Super B (13 in x 19 in), A3 plus (13 in x 16.65 in), Wired, 24 pages/min, 21 pages/min, 4 pages/min, 6.5 pages/min, 5 pages/min, 0.9 pages/min, PC, Mac, USB, Parallel, Ethernet 10/100Base-TX
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Manufacturer: HP
Specs: Workgroup printer - Ink-jet - Color, Super B (13 in x 19 in), A3 plus (13 in x 16.65 in), Wired, 24 pages/min, 21 pages/min, 4 pages/min, PC, Mac, USB, Parallel
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HP Business Inkjet 2800dtn (Government)
Manufacturer: HP
Specs: Workgroup printer - Ink-jet - Color, Super B (13 in x 19 in), A3 plus (13 in x 16.65 in), Wired, 24 pages/min, 21 pages/min, 4 pages/min, 13.5 pages/min, 3 pages/min, 12 pages/min, 2.5 pages/min, PC, Mac, USB, Parallel, Ethernet 10/100Base-TX
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HP Business Inkjet 2800 (government)
Manufacturer: HP
Specs: Workgroup printer - Ink-jet - Color, Super B (13 in x 19 in), A3 plus (13 in x 16.65 in), Wired, 24 pages/min, 21 pages/min, 4 pages/min, 13.5 pages/min, 3 pages/min, 12 pages/min, 2.5 pages/min, PC, Mac, USB, Parallel
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HP Business Inkjet 2800dt (Government)
Manufacturer: HP
Specs: Workgroup printer - Ink-jet - Color, Super B (13 in x 19 in), A3 plus (13 in x 16.65 in), Wired, 24 pages/min, 21 pages/min, 4 pages/min, 13.5 pages/min, 3 pages/min, 12 pages/min, 2.5 pages/min, PC, Mac, USB, Parallel
Accessories
- HP JetDirect 300X - print server (31767284)194.53 - 249.99
- HP JetDirect 500X - print server - 3 ports (30035993)42.00 - 129.00
- HP JetDirect 620n - print server (30845634)109.99 - 139.00
- HP JetDirect en1700 - print server (32785380)148.99 - 167.00
- HP JetDirect 175X - print server (30043871)104.00
Manufacturer info
- HP
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse HP products on Shopper.com
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- Website: http://www.hp.com
- Address:
3000 Hanover Street, Palo Alto, CA 94304-1185
