| If what you need from an all-in-one (AIO) color | | | | the main body is the automatic document feed |
| laser printer is a near-perfect machine that sets | | | | (ADF) input tray which snaps into place, where |
| up, connects and prints fast - and is just as good | | | | indicated. After plugging in the power cord and |
| and ready to fax, scan and copy - then you | | | | cable, you simply run the automated set-up. |
| might find a good match in the HP Color LaserJet | | | | The CM1312nfi, the high-end model of the Hewlett |
| CM1312nfi. | | | | Packard's CM1312 series, comes with a full set of |
| Especially so if the jobs you'll be giving it to handle | | | | drivers and related software for Windows XP, |
| are mostly multi-page documents in legal size | | | | Windows 2000, Server 2003, and Mac OS 10.3, |
| format and photos you want to print straight | | | | 10.4, 10.5 and later versions. |
| from a memory card - what I would consider the | | | | For the tasks it's able to accomplish, the |
| basics required to keep today's small office or | | | | CM1312nfi is relatively small and not too |
| home-office running and humming. | | | | space-consuming, measuring only 19.1 by 19.6 by |
| Like earlier models in its class, the HP Color | | | | 19.3 inches (hwd). At 54.5 pounds, this printer's |
| LaserJet CM1312nfi can both fax to a PC and | | | | not really a lightweight, but you won't really need |
| scan to a PC, so that's no great shakes. But what | | | | to call a team to move it into place. |
| I consider time-saving, though, is its agility in the | | | | While its set-up is fast, the CM1312nfi won't win |
| scan-and-email department, which enables you, by | | | | any races against other laser printers, with its |
| launching your PC's email program, to open a new | | | | rate of 12 pages per minute (ppm) for black or |
| message with the scanned document already | | | | monochrome and 8 ppm for color. But it's surely |
| attached. I also appreciate the versatility of a | | | | faster than most inkjets. |
| scanner that can take in legal-size documents, | | | | If you put a higher premium on quality than on |
| something you can't do with a flatbed 8x12 | | | | speed, however, then this model won't disappoint |
| scanner, and the convenience of a 50-page | | | | you. The CM1312nfi handles texts legibly and gives |
| automatic document feeder (ADF). | | | | consistent output of text fonts even at 4 points. |
| There are memory card slots on the front side | | | | Graphics are sharp and crisp and look just as |
| of the CM1312nfi, which enable you to print | | | | great as conventional volume printing for |
| directly from a memory card. And you can | | | | brochures, flyers and mailers. |
| likewise scan and save the document directly to | | | | Photo print quality remains exceptional, even by |
| the memory cards in JPG format, and take the | | | | HP standards. With its print resolution fixed at |
| memory card to your PC. For some users, | | | | 600x600 dots per inch (dpi), photographs come |
| however, this feature is not as useful as being | | | | out great even up to 8" x 10". Color quality is |
| able to scan to a USB key, as that seems to be | | | | best at 4"x6" though. |
| more universal than having a card reader in a PC. | | | | All in all, it's a good enough AOI color photo printer |
| First time set-up, which is usually a major hurdle | | | | for your home or a document or market tool |
| for multi-function printer buyers, is relatively easy | | | | printer for your office with more features and |
| with the CM1312nfi. The only other attachment to | | | | functions to the dollar. |