Hewlett-Packard has a lot of printers out there. And you like HP products. So, how do you choose the right one for you? Just follow these steps.

*note* updated 4/12/08 for pricing and model updates
*note* This guide is for home-use only. Guide for office-use coming soon.
*note* This guide uses printers most commonly found at office supply stores (Office Depot, Staples, etc.) and large electronics stores (Best Buy, Circuit City). These models listed are the most popular models on the market.

I. Home printing
Ok, don't worry about laser printers. You're going inkjet here. Now, options. If you need one with a scanbed (also called "all-in-ones"), go to section A. If you do not, section B.

A. All-in-one printers
Alright, here's where it gets fun. So far, you have a home-use printer with a scanner. Just a couple more questions.
Do you need a fax?
Do you need networking/wireless capabilities?
If you said no to both questions, go to section 1. If you said yes to fax, section 2. If you said yes to networking/wireless, section 3. If you said yes to both, section 4.

1. Print/scan/copy all-in-ones
~ DeskJet F4180 - simple, cheap, easy to use, and has optional high-output cartridges. Around $80
~ Photosmart C4280 - higher quality than the F4180, memory card slots, faster print speeds. Around $100
~ Photosmart C5280 - CD/DVD printable function, memory card slots, PictBridge, 2'' screen to view, edit, and print 4''x6'' photos. Around $150

2. Print/scan/copy/fax all-in-ones
~ Officejet 5610 - inexpensive, optional high-output black cartridge, scan/copy/fax up to legal (8.5'' x 14'') thru top-feeder. Around $110
~ Officejet 5780 - faster print/copy speeds than 5610, more display buttons, optional high-output color and black cartridges. Around $150

3. Networking/wireless all-in-ones
~ Photosmart C4385 - memory card slots, optional photo cartridge, built-in wireless printing. Around $150
~ Photosmart C6280 - 6-ink system (produces more vivid and better colors, saves on ink costs, best for photo printing), photo editing without the pc, memory card slots, network ready (to connect to wireless router; printer is NOT wireless), auto-duplexing (automatic two-sided printing). Around $200

4. Print/scan/copy/fax AND networking/wireless all-in-ones
~ Officejet 6310 - fast, network ready (to connect to wireless router; NOT wireless), memory card slots, PictBridge. Around $160
~Officejet 6480 - fast, network and wireless ready, copy/scan/fax up to legal size thru top-feeder, memory card slots, auto-duplexing (auto two-sided printing), around $230
~ Photosmart C7280 - 6-ink system, copy/scan/fax up to legal size thru top-feeder, memory card slots, PictBridge, photo editing without pc, wireless AND network ready, auto-duplexing (automatic two-sided printing). Around $300
~ Photosmart C8180 - 6-ink system, CD/DVD/LightScribe drive built-in to printer, scan/copy up to letter size, convert slides and negatives to pictures, built-in wireless and bluetooth, network ready, memory card slots, PictBridge, photo editing without pc, touchscreen. Around $400

B. Deskjet printers
~ DJ1341 and DJ1455 - inexpensive, economical, simple document printing and optional photo printing. Around $70
~ DJ4260 - faster than 1341 and 1455, simple document printing and optional photo printing. Around $70
~ Photosmart D5360 - fast document printer, photo printing, CD/DVD printable function. Around $90
~ DJ 6940 - fast document printer, optional photo printing, network ready (NOT wireless). Around $110
~ DJ 6988 - fast document printer, optional photo printing, wireless and network ready. Around $130
~ Photosmart D7260 - 6-ink system, touch-screen photo editing, memory card slots, PictBridge, network ready (NOT wireless). Around $150
~ Photosmart D7460 - 6-ink system, touch-screen photo editing, memory card slots, PictBridge, wireless and network ready. Around $180

My top picks would be the Photosmart C6280 and C7280 for photo printing and all-in-one usefullness. These have the most options for the best value.

Prices shown are the average street price for printers.

Please message me through eBay if you have any questions!