HP PhotoSmart 8050 June 18th, 2006 | by Vince Veneziani

Setup and Use

Setting up HP printers is very easy. HP includes easy to use software for both Mac and PC. Just install it, plug the printer into both power and USB, and you'll be set up in no time. Installing ink doesn't take a lot of time either, and HP will print out some tests to make sure everything is installed and aligned correctly. A USB cable must be purchased seperately and can add an extra $30 or more to the overall purchase. This is typical of almost all printers out there unfortunately.

The Photosmart 8050 does a great job of printing documents quickly and efficiently. A 10-page document was done in less than 30 seconds, which was very impressive and included multiple pie charts. HP claims it will print at 30 pages per minute in black and 24 pages in color. Not too bad for a printer that retails with an MSRP of around $150. If you need something in a hurry, you'll be able to fully rely on this printer. It feels solid, it prints solid, and the quality is what you'd expect from HP.

As for those looking to print photos, you'll be very pleased with what HP has done with the Photosmart 8050. Using the built-in memory card reader, USB port for PictBridge, or your computer, you can preview a photo before printing it on the LCD screen. The quality is respectable, but a bigger display would have been nice to see here. An LCD is a nice touch, but for some people it may be considered too gimicky. For most people it won't be an issue, but someone with bad vision may have trouble. HP is touting their RealLife technology as the next generation of photo correction, but it's nothing you haven't seen before. You can touch up photos and make them look better using only the printer, which can be nice if you don't want to deal with a program like Photoshop.

Definition of HP's Real Life Technologies:

"Special HP features that help you produce better photos, including in-camera or in-printer red-eye removal, panorama previewing, adaptive lighting technology, image enhancement features, and photo advice."

Prints that come out of the Photosmart 8050 are generally sharp. Many people will not find flaws and if you print from your computer at the best resolution, you'll be able to save yourself a trip to the local photo store. A big problem with this printer though, is that you can't print maximum resolution photos from a memory card or a camera. Though, if you took a nice looking photo outdoors in a fair setting, then you shouldn't worry. A quick print to give to a friend or loved one will come out nicely with no noticeable errors. Colors look vibrant, and the 8050 can print a full color 4x6 out in a little over a minute!

For the price of the HP Photosmart 8050, you'll be hard pressed to find a printer on its level that can handle both documents and photos as well. This is a true hybrid-printer that does two things very well, and gets the job done efficiently. If you're printing a lot of documents or essays, get a laser printer which can now be found for under $100. If you're a photo enthusiast who is looking to print tons of pictures, go with something like the HP Photosmart 475 or a similar printer. The 8050 printer is designed mostly for family use and for printing out pictures of the occasional trip to the beach or hike in the woods.

A lot of other printers won't stand up to the Photosmart 8050 when you factor in price. HP's 8250 is about the same but is geared a little more towards photo printing rather than being a hybrid. It is also going to cost you a few more bucks. Lexmark has yet to come out with a budget printer that can match this one, and we don't think Canon has either. The 8050 matches quality and price.