HP Deskjet 3050A e-All-in-One Printer (Print, Scan, Copy, AirPrint, Wireless, e-Print)

I received my printer in 2 working days (despite only using the free Super Saver delivery) and it was packaged brilliantly as expected. Unpacking the printer was easy with everything easily accessible and sadly I got excited as the printer came inside a nice handy bag(!) within the box which will come in handy for shopping! Also, amazingly it comes with FREE INK to get you started which is such a bonus. It also comes with lots of manuals, CD ROM and a USB cable (I think - well I'm sure mine did) but I haven't used that as it was so easy to set up the wireless connectivity.

The set-up couldn't have been easier and even though I am 21, I do sometimes have difficulty with electrical items if the instructions are naff. However, there was a fold out instruction page with clear diagrams and step by step instructions which meant my printer was ready to use after about 15 minutes. I've read people had difficult setting up the wireless so I was expecting difficulties but it really was super easy, you just follow the on-screen instructions and it does it all for you!

The printer itself is a good size, I hate clumpy ones that take up all your space but this sits neatly and is rather compact on my desk. I've printed off lots of essays and a few pictures and the print quality is actually very good for the price and also surprisingly speedy. The printer is also relatively quiet which is obviously handy.

For £39 (which is what I paid), I think it is absolutely excellent value and a really great, speedy and compact printer with good print quality. I will update the review in a few weeks on how long the ink lasts. Ink I understand is of average price and you can buy the 'XL' versions of the ink which are HP's extra value (more expensive - but last much longer) so I am likely to invest in those.

********UPDATE ON INK!!!!! - The ink that comes free ran out pretty quickly (as expected). After reading around a bit, I found that generally the standard 301 HP ink cartridges are a bit naff and do run out quickly. BUT! I have just bought the 301XL ink which has much more ink and already I am noticing a huge difference - it is SO much better value for money so I would recommend buying the 301XL black and colour ink cartridges (from Amazon.co.uk or an Amazon merchant as it's miles cheaper than in the shops) with the printer if you can afford it. ***********

Overall, a great product for me (a university student) with average printing needs - essays, Powerpoint documents and some photos. Very chuffed with this! **UPDATE - still using it all the time, and still absolutely thrilled**

First, let me explain, I am not a technically minded person, in fact my eyes glaze over any time someone starts talking about the specifications of a product. So when I started looking for a printer well, I relied heavily on what others had to say about it.

Right I wanted an all round printer/scanner to replace an old Lexmark printer that worked perfectly but was not compatable with windows 7 seems to lexmark, that it's too much trouble for them to update their software.

I saw this printer HP Deskjet 3050A on Amazon and after reading the reviews thought, well £35.00 seems cheap, but I will give it a go. The printer arrived on Saturday last week, but as I was in work all week and as I stated earlier that I am not technically minded, I thought I'd better leave it until my rest days when I would have plenty of time to "shout and scream and pull my hair out."

So at 3pm today I took the printer out of the box. With nerves twitching I began to take out all the paperwork and set it aside, and removed all the packaging. Then I opened the nice glossy leaflet that gave instructions how to install the device and set it up. The sweat had begun to bead on my brow as with anxiety I looked at the numbered drawings. Steps 1 - 3 described how to remove the blue sticky tape from the printer that kept all moveable parts in place during transit. That done, I connected the power cord, then I held my breath as I turned the machine on and then followed the printers on screen display to select English.....I had to press one button to do this. Then I installed the printer inks by......just pushing them into place. Then I placed paper into the hopper and it started printing a test page,and then it aligned itself.....of its own accord. Then came the part that really caused my heart to beat....I had to insert the disc into my computer.

The on screen instructions we easier to follow than the rules of noughts & crosses. At 3:10 pm I printed out my first test page. At 3:15pm I printed out my first test photograph from my own library.

In less than 15 minutes, I had unpacked, wired up and installed this printer and had it working. I could not believe it. I thought, I must have done something wrong, so printed other things off as well......all of this wirelessly. I burst out laughing as I do not understand how or even why wireless works and I imagined my photograph being converted into radio waves and then being converted back into a photograph as it printed out across the other side of the room without wires.

TOTALLY AMAZING

I printed out text on low quality to conserve ink and thought, that is better than my other printer used to print on high quality.
I printed a family picture out full A4 size taken outside in the garden with lots of light and shadow.....the picture is good enough to frame and that was ordinary A4 paper not even on photo paper.

In short, if you do not know what you are doing, then this is the printer for you. The print quality is superb, the time it takes to set up and get working and printing out your work is excellent and the ease of use.....well it is easy.

Yes I have read other reviews that mention that the machines materials feel flimsy and cheap, and yes they are a bit..... but then I do not intend playing football with it, or getting another one to use as juggling props. I have it on a shelf, where it will stay for the remainder of it's life. So I couldn't care if it was built of paper, it works and does the job. So do not be put off by the build quality.

I cannot rave enough about this printer. It is without doubt, the best buy for £35.00 that I have ever spent.

If you are looking for a great printer, then look no further.

I hope this was useful to you. Enjoy your printing.

This is simply a little gem of a printer. For sub-£40 it has transformed our household's, consisting of two 'fixed' PC's and three further laptop's, printing needs. Replacement cartridges are dirt cheap and extra capacity versions are available at roughly double the price and I recently bought both from Amazon for less than £30. Print is crisp and clear and is churned out at a reasonable rate. Even the networking is simple to install using the set-up CD on each computer in-turn. More than meets our everyday needs. Even photo's are pretty good on glossy paper and our more expensive multi-cartridge 'photo' printer stands idle most of the time now. So if you need a cheap replacement printer for the family's everyday requirements and have WiFi at home I would seriously give this a shot!