Ask a Tech Expert Now- JustAnswerHP Photosmart Premium TouchSmart Web
Manufacturer: HP Part number: CD734A#ABA
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Exp. date: 12/31/2010
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- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Accessories
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- Aside from the never-ending name, the HP Photosmart Premium TouchSmart Web All-in-One Printer looks good and prints high-quality photos at competitive speeds. We also appreciate the effort put into the downloadable applications for the interactive touch screen, but the innovation is offset by a hefty price tag. Unless Web connectivity and touch screens are a top priority, we recommend checking out HP's other multifunction printers, which still offer high performance but at a much lower cost.
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CNET editors' review
HP Photosmart Premium TouchSmart Web price range: $275.00 - $399.99
- Reviewed by: Justin Yu
- Edited by: Rich Brown
- Reviewed on: 09/28/2009
The good: Printer ships in recyclable bags; new design reflects modern aesthetic; comprehensive driver features; separate photo and paper trays automatically pick the right size for the job.
The bad: Onscreen apps take a long time to access and feel gimmicky; lacks autodocument feeder; slow response from touch screen; applications have a tendency to freeze up; small scanner bed.
The bottom line: Aside from the never-ending name, the HP Photosmart Premium TouchSmart Web All-in-One Printer looks good and prints high-quality photos at competitive speeds. We also appreciate the effort put into the downloadable applications for the interactive touch screen, but the innovation is offset by a hefty price tag. Unless Web connectivity and touch screens are a top priority, we recommend checking out HP's other multifunction printers, which still offer high performance but at a much lower cost.
Although HP and Lexmark both released touch-screen printers at the same time, we have to credit HP for being the first to bring one to the consumer space, with the Photosmart Premium TouchSmart Web. The printer connects directly to the Web through a wired or wireless connection without the need for a PC, and you can customize the LCD's home screen with shortcut apps designed for productivity, fun, and utility. Additionally, the printer itself continues HP's legacy of excellent-quality document and photo prints at snappy speeds. These all make for a superb multifunction printer, but the $399 price tag is just too much of a premium for a touch screen that actually takes away from the printer's usability. We might feel differently if HP had included additional hard buttons to complement the screen, but as it stands, you can get a better touch screen, similar performance scores, and a more forgiving price tag on the HP Officejet Pro 8500 Wireless.
Design and Features
There's no doubt that HP went to great lengths to improve on the design of its newest Photosmart. The Premium TouchSmart Web looks drastically different from the older models, with a streamlined flair and rounded edges all the way around the printer. The smooth lines, matte-black and silver finish, and lattice design on the top cover all complement the bright 4.33-inch touch-screen control panel, and the main body is compact (18 inches wide by 19.3 inches long by 7.7 inches deep) to easily fit into any work space. The rear sticks out a bit, because of the removable autoduplexer, which lets you save money and help out the environment by printing on both sides of a single sheet of paper. The printer is also short compared with other multifunction devices since it lacks an autodocument feeder (ADF), meaning you have to manually load each individual document into the scanner by hand. We're not sure why HP decided to omit this standard all-in-one feature, especially since all the other multifunction printers in its Photosmart line have one built in.
The front of the printer is bare except for a silver cutout in the center console that houses the 4.33-inch touch screen. The lone power button sits by itself on the right side and to the left you'll find two small LEDs that indicate the status of your wireless and Bluetooth connections. There's also a small media card reader and Pictbridge USB port protected by a clear plastic sliding cover directly underneath the swivel display. The back of the printer features the autoduplexer, power port, Ethernet port, a USB port, and two phone jacks for the fax machine (the functionality of which also takes a hit at the hands of the disappearing ADF).
We've been begging HP to reinstate the dual paper input tray we first saw featured on last year's Photosmart C8180, and HP finally delivered on the Photosmart Premium TouchSmart Web. The input feeder has two separate trays: one for up to 20 sheets of 4-inch-by-6-inch photo paper and another underneath for 100 sheets of standard 8.5-inch-by-11-inch letter-size paper. A small plastic arm also extends out from the tray to corral outbound prints. The printer handles the paper well, and we didn't experience any jams, but we do take issue with the clear plastic photo tray cover that inevitably hits the bottom of the display every time you replenish the stack. On top of that, the flimsy piece that holds the cover open is too weak to support the weight, forcing you to use two hands just to refill paper. It's a minor annoyance, but a mechanical error on HP's part nonetheless.
The printer uses five standard HP model No. 564 ink cartridges for black, photo black, cyan, magenta, and yellow, each with its own dedicated slot under the hood. The standard cartridges cost $10, but we'll use the XL high-capacity option for our cost-per-page calculation to measure the best deal you can get from HP. The XL colored inks cost $18 apiece and, according to HP, they'll yield 750 color pages, while the XL black replacement cartridge costs $35 for 800 yields. By our calculations, a page of color will cost you 2.4 cents, and a page of black strangely costs double at 4.3 cents. Again, you can save more money on consumables with the HP Officejet Pro 8500 Wireless, which will cost you 1.6 cents per page for black-only ink and 1.9 cents per color.
The touch screen looks unsurprisingly similar to the face of an iPhone in a landscape orientation. The screen is roughly the same size (iPhone is 4.5 inches; this one is 4.3 inches), and you can also adjust the display up and down to find your best viewing angle. The home screen is the first thing you'll see when the printer is on. It consists of a set of scrollable icons for your favorite applications as well as four shortcut buttons at the bottom for photo printing, copy, scan, and fax. You can drag your finger across the list of apps, delete ones you don't use, or download any apps from the growing list in the HP App Studio. The screen itself works well, but it's just not as quick or responsive as the Apple iPhone. We noticed a significant lag in between the time we hit a button and when it actually registered and took action, which becomes an exercise in patience, especially when you have to comb through several submenus to get to the desired function.
All of the extra applications are free and broken down into categories within the App Store: entertainment, home, kids, news/blogs, photo, and tickets. Each one promises to streamline the printing experience by offering shortcuts to your favorite coupons, news articles, weather reports, recipes, etc. Another convenient feature is that you don't need to pair your printer up with a base computer to access these features; you can connect it to the Internet via a wired Ethernet connection or a wireless 802.11n and download all the apps you want directly from the display. All of the apps are free, and HP tells us that it plans to release a Software Development Kit (SDK) in the near future so that software engineers can design their own shortcut apps for the store. Again, we applaud HP for forging new ground, but we remain skeptical for now, considering the lack of enthusiasm for its desktop TouchSmart SDK efforts.
Using the onscreen Wireless Setup Wizard, we were able to connect the printer through our protected network and took off browsing in less than 10 minutes. The "Get More" button took us directly to the store, which also offers the ability to rate each app with 1-through-5 stars and even add comments for other potential users. Unfortunately, we found many of the existing applications to be gimmicky, especially all the children's printables and HP Games and Crafts. In addition, the apps that have the potential to serve a quick function are marred by long load times and too many submenu layers. For example, the Google Maps app is an intriguing idea that could save time, but the touch-screen delays and irritatingly small virtual keyboard kept us in hunt-and-peck purgatory for so long that we began longing for the convenience of a simple keyboard and mouse for navigation.
Another example is the Fandango Ticket function. We assumed that the process would be as simple as using the kiosks offered in actual theaters, but we grew impatient again; searching for movies and the corresponding show times in the proper theater is hard enough to do online without waiting for a tiny map and listing to show up on a 4.33-inch screen. It seems like this technology should have been posed as a proof of concept instead of a pragmatic addition to the home printer, which is sentiment we feel about some other touch-screen devices, too. To HP, we pose this question: why should we suffer through all the hunting and pecking on a 4.33-inch screen when we have a 20-inch monitor, a full keyboard, and a mouse taunting us immediately next to the printer itself?
To prove our point, we performed an anecdotal field test, pitting the Photosmart Premium TouchSmart Web against a standard desktop computer in a race to see which device could locate and print out a Google map faster. Not surprisingly, it took only 21.4 seconds to pull up a browser on our desktop, head over to Google maps, type in the address and click "print." On the other hand, getting the same map directly on the Photosmart printer took 1.27 minutes from the home screen to wait for the printer to connect to the Internet, type in the address using the virtual keyboard, hit print, choose between landscape, portrait, or square, and hit "print." On top of all that, the lag we mentioned earlier resulted in duplicate letters and mistakes that required correction and subsequently, more time.
The applications are further marred by missing features. For example, the Google Maps app can't show driving directions, location history, or autocomplete words--all of which would cut down on access times. Our final complaint is that the applications have a tendency to freeze up mid-function, similar to what happens with the iPhone. As a result, the only way to get the printer running again is to restart the printer, which usually takes a few minutes to connect to the Internet and reload the homepage, depending on how many favorite applications you added to the screen.
Performance
The Photosmart Premium TouchSmart Web excels in printing speed, beating out the other four competitors in our text speed test at an impressive 8.19 pages per minute. The printer did equally well in the other tests (graphics, photo, and presentation), but not quite at the top of its class. The Officejet Pro 8500 we keep raving about actually prints faster than the TouchSmart Web in three out of the four tests, with the exception of the photo speed benchmark that ends up about the same.
(Longer bars indicate better performance)
 |
Presentation Speed | |
Photo Speed (1 Sheet) | |
Color Graphics Speed | |
Text Speed |
The TouchSmart Web's print quality is pleasing overall. Black text appears sharp and richly formed, which is to be expected of a $400 printer. Color photo prints are decent as well--not the best we've seen but the colors look pretty good; they aren't a bit on the dull side, with very subtle graininess in the color blocks. Regardless, we're well satisfied with the intricate details and the way the color popped in our graphics test. Fine lines in our photo snapshots are slightly more defined than with the Officejet 8500 Pro, but that's certainly not enough to justify spending the extra $120 by itself; anyone other than hardcore photo hobbyist will have difficulty recognizing the differences.
Service and Support
The Photosmart Premium TouchSmart Web printer is backed by HP's exclusive enhanced support services that offer a dedicated toll-free number, TouchSmart Web expert help, and a one-year warranty that guarantees repairs with "Next Day Business Turn Around," offering brand-new replacement units for the first 30 days after purchase. In addition, HP offers an added Accidental Damage Protection and a Pick-Up-and-Return program that sends an authorized courier to pick up your failed equipment and deliver it directly to an HP-designated repair facility. You can find more warranty information by visiting the HP Support Web site, which also features online classes, FAQs, driver downloads, troubleshooting tips, as well as a new shopping buddy that puts you in a chat room with an HP sales rep to answer your questions before you buy.
Find out more about how we test printers.
User reviews
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The world?s coolest printer- The web with no computer
by mpowerd1 on November 2, 2009
Pros: The ability to access the internet without a computer is the best feature.
The applications are awesome. They save me a lot of time and keep my family entertained.
The huge touch screed LCD display is easy to use
Fast print speedCons: This printer is flawless
Summary: This printer is for the person or family that is always on the go and wants instant gratification on basic computing applications. Being able to print Google maps, download kid?...
Summary: This printer is for the person or family that is always on the go and wants instant gratification on basic computing applications. Being able to print Google maps, download kid?s activities, print coupons, and do so much more without a computer on a touch screen display is awesome. HP has really done a fantastic job with this printer.
2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Easy wireless setup, great photo prints and fast prints
by GripR on November 2, 2009
Pros: Connecting to wireless network was as easy as 1-2-3. Fast regular and photo prints. LCD will display Caller ID when fax or call comes in. Print from mobile devices via bluetooth or wifi. Touch features & Application on unit are actually beneficial.
Cons: The $400 price tag kind of makes you think twice or more before buying it. I'm a technology freak, so I have to have the latest (if I can afford it). Touch scroll can sometime lag because all apps have to be connected to the internet.
Summary: Since companies like HP are usually the trend starters and innavators. It's the way of the future! lol. There will be some people that will complain about lag touch ...
Summary: Since companies like HP are usually the trend starters and innavators. It's the way of the future! lol. There will be some people that will complain about lag touch feature, but how was the touch feature on their previous web printer? OH wait there wasn't one lol. My touch web works fine, but there is always room for improvement. I hope HP releases a firm update for the printer.
Since the printer has wireless capabilities you can place it wherever you like. I actually keep this printer down stairs. I.E. Since it can connect to the web I don't have to run upstairs to check movie times, I can do it on the printer. I don't use fandango to print my movie tickets, but it's a nice feature to have. The editor that reviewed this printer does make a good point that you can check on your computer must faster, but I turn off my computers. I would have to turn it on and wait for everything to load or I can be downstairs searching on the printer while getting things ready like putting on shoes or stuffing my girlfriends purse with water and candy (I refuse to pay $5 for a small bag of candy or water at the theater).
I usually do not like the additional software that the manufacture gives you, but the new HP toolbox is actually not cluttered with useless stuff like in the past. It has options to scan docs, photos transfer images and fax. Very simple.
I also like the fact that the customer support for this unit is based in the US! I have nothing against CSR's from other countries, but it's nice to hear a voice from here. Also, I did not know this until today, but I guess this unit has the "White Glove Treatment" from HP. I guess it's part of the one year warranty. Supposedly if anything happens to the machine besides accidental breakage, HP will send a new unit NEXT DAY. For $400 they better...
I've only had the printer for a couple of days and it has been fantastic so far. I say give this printer a chance if you can.2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Fast quality printing with easy setup and cool features
by mtkelly on October 29, 2009
Pros: Very easy installation, fast b/w printing, great photo print quality, separate photo trays for different size paper, double sided prints, cool applications and touch screen
Cons: Some features I might not use that drive the price (but you can definitely get the printer for closer to $300, not $400)
Summary: This is a quality printer - easy setup, fast b/w printing and good quality photo printing - which were the most important features for me. The rest is cool ...
Summary: This is a quality printer - easy setup, fast b/w printing and good quality photo printing - which were the most important features for me. The rest is cool to have and makes things more fun and gives the printer some versatility!
2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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A very capable and attractive printer but pricey
by randalllewis on October 21, 2009
Pros: Attractive design and compact for a printer with all of the capabilities it has. Very easy set-up. Outstanding text and color photo production.
Cons: It should be less expensive.
Summary: Rather than make snarky comments about the name of the printer like Cnet and other reviewers seem to do, let me discuss how it works. The touchscreen is very bright ...
Summary: Rather than make snarky comments about the name of the printer like Cnet and other reviewers seem to do, let me discuss how it works. The touchscreen is very bright and adjustable the user interface is easy to navigate. You can easily remvove icons for websites you won't use and this makes the UI more responsive. The printer, combined with a modern router, connected to my home network with the simple typing of a password. Bluetooth connection was also a breeze. I appreciate the lack of a document feeder because I rarely need one and they take up lots of space and make a printer look like it belongs at work instead of my home.
The print quality is outstanding. I went from an HP printer with a 6 ink system to this 5 ink model and was concerned about the removal of the light cyan and magenta colors. There was no need to be concerned. A photo printed with my old printer and the new cannot be distinguised from one another. The black ink for text printing is a pigment ink, which means photos don't use that ink cartridge. The cartridge installation system is easy. I am pleased to finally have a printer that does two sided printing out of the box without an overpriced accessory.
There is a lot to like about this printer. Try it out and see for yourself. I took off half a star because I think the printer is a bit too expensive. I got mine for $349, which is more reasonable.2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Uses Ink Cartridges Way, Way Too Fast
by VelaFella on December 8, 2009
Pros: Looks great. Touch screen is nice.
Cons: The original in-box black ink cartridge was consumed after printing only 62 pages. I replaced it with a high capacity cartridge that supposedly would last for 800 pages. It lasted for about 120 pages. That's $35 per cartridge plus tax.
Summary: Ink consumption is a big issue. I am in touch with HP's tech support, and they recommended that I change the "print quality" settings in Microsoft XP from "automatic" ...
Summary: Ink consumption is a big issue. I am in touch with HP's tech support, and they recommended that I change the "print quality" settings in Microsoft XP from "automatic" to "normal." I've done that but it is too soon to tell whether that change will effect a cure. In the meantime, my low rating stays where it is, and deservedly so. I fault HP for not suggesting this type of change in the product literature and software when I installed the printer. But who knows, maybe they think they will thrive on ink cartridge sales. I don't though.
I am now willing to revise my rating from 2 stars to 4 stars. By resetting the print quality control in Windows XP Control Panel (Printers) from "automatic" to "normal," my ink consumption appears to be in line with HP's representations, rather than the extreme amounts consumed on the automatic setting in Windows XP. I also like the touch screen feature--more like my iPhone.
Updated on Dec 24, 20091 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Best Printer Ever!!!
by JEFF789 on January 11, 2010
Pros: Great fax, scanning, printing, worth money, exceptional printer, great apps, and a awesome choice.
Cons: There are no cons.
Summary: Buy this Now!!! Great choice for everyone and everything
Summary: Buy this Now!!! Great choice for everyone and everything
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Good Luck!
by ericRjohnson on November 23, 2009
Pros: Looks nice.
Cons: Purchased HP Photosmart Premium TouchSmart Web All-in-One Printer on 11/5, arrived 11/12 not working. 11/23... still waiting for replacement parts from HP.
Summary: Purchased HP Photosmart Premium TouchSmart Web All-in-One Printer on 11/5, arrived 11/12 not working. After numerous attempts problem solving the error displayed through the online and telephone support, ...
Summary: Purchased HP Photosmart Premium TouchSmart Web All-in-One Printer on 11/5, arrived 11/12 not working. After numerous attempts problem solving the error displayed through the online and telephone support, I was told that the print heads and ink would need to be replaced. These products would be shipped by ground service, this is what the warrenty on my BRAND NEW printer covered. Six days later, HP is finally sending the parts. 11/23... no parts, still waiting. My rating is based on the support I received and the time I have lost, as I am still unable to rate how this machine works d/t it's broken state. Good luck.
1 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
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HP updates contained trojan viruses
by trybble on September 29, 2009
Pros: none none none
Cons: none none none
Summary: Last week my antivirus scanner found 6 trojan horses on my computer, all compliments of HP's software update service. Has anyone else come across this? It happened on both ...
Summary: Last week my antivirus scanner found 6 trojan horses on my computer, all compliments of HP's software update service. Has anyone else come across this? It happened on both my HP computers, desktop and laptop.
1 out of 5 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Hardly an Office Value!
by stanny1 on October 12, 2009
Pros: Great Photo printing quality. But that's about it.
Cons: $400 with no Auto Document Feeder? C'mon! At this price, it should also be Color Laser, not Inkjet. When you buy HP, you have to buy a patented cartridge with not only an ink reservior but a printhead. I like my Epson Workhorse 600 for $99.
Summary: No ADF, ridiculous price for unit and cartridges. What is there to like?
Summary: No ADF, ridiculous price for unit and cartridges. What is there to like?
0 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.
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HP - ALL-in-ONE
by dlovep on September 29, 2009
Pros: innovative
Cons: too smart to embed everything
Summary: If the market think there is a good point for this kind of printer to have everything in a printer, years ago some Freezer maker try to let us browse ...
Summary: If the market think there is a good point for this kind of printer to have everything in a printer, years ago some Freezer maker try to let us browse the internet when we're cooking and then what happen ? do we really use our freezer to browse the internet ? If that's the case why not really all-in-one then ? put the whole computer integrated with the printer ? that's easier for them to sell in one piece.
The brand name will be more longer like "HP Pavillion Core2Duo Q9550 8GB 500GB DVD Photosmart Premium TouchSmart Web Energy Saving Cost Effective Environment Friendly User Friendly Printer Comptuer All-In-One"
Cant wait to see one.... Really Smart(not to buy one)0 out of 5 users found this user opinion helpful.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: HP
- Part number: CD734A#ABA
- Bottom Line: Aside from the never-ending name, the HP Photosmart Premium TouchSmart Web All-in-One Printer looks good and prints high-quality photos at competitive speeds. We also appreciate the effort put into the downloadable applications for the interactive touch screen, but the innovation is offset by a hefty price tag. Unless Web connectivity and touch screens are a top priority, we recommend checking out HP's other multifunction printers, which still offer high performance but at a much lower cost.
General
- Printer Type Thermal inkjet
- Form Factor Desktop
- Width 18.28 in
- Depth 19.64 in
- Height 7.88 in
- Weight 16.5 lbs
- Enclosure Color Black
- Localization English / United States
Printer
- Inkjet Technology HP Thermal Inkjet
- Ink Palette (Colors) 5-ink
- Built-in Devices Touch screen
- Connectivity Technology Wireless, Wired
- Direct Printing Specifications PictBridge
Environmental Standards
- ENERGY STAR Qualified Yes
Manufacturer Warranty
- Service & Support 1 year warranty
- Service & Support Details Limited warranty - 1 year
Environmental Parameters
- Min Operating Temperature 41 °F
- Max Operating Temperature 104 °F
- Humidity Range Operating 15 - 85%
Accessories
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
