Customer Reviews 

Beautiful prints when you can coax it into doing something
2010-03-22We have this on a Windows 7 computer. It is a multifunction with lots of features, many of which actually work the way they are supposed to.
When it can be coaxed into printing on something other than on plain paper, it's gorgeous. However, it is picky about which HP paper it will take in the list of recommended papers (Advanced Photo seems to work fairly well) and it will not even admit under Windows 7 that it can print to printable CDs. Driver updates do nothing to fix it.
WARNING - HP DOES NOT REALLY SUPPORT WINDOWS 7 AND THIS PRINTER. But it has a very pretty installation program! (just pray that everything works, because HPs version of fixing is install, uninstall, install, uninstall....) They do have you download patches for problems, which refuse to run, just exit instead saying there are no supported drivers to be patched.
Furthermore, it is an absurd ink hog in it's interminably long warm-ups when it gets a print job. It's the noisiest desktop printer I have ever heard since the days of dot matrix. If the letter sized paper catcher tray isn't extended, it wrinkles the paper against it.
It's really a shame, because it can do a great job. Using Sure Thing CD Labeler program, it prints gorgeous CDs. (But you have to leave HP Photosmart open in order for it to print, even though HP PhotoSmart says it is not recognized as being able to print to CDs.) The HP forum for this problem is full of tales of horrible HP support, and not one person says HP was able to get it printing without a 3rd party program to print from.
Faxing? First it connects, then it scans the fax job. Who ever heard of that bass-ackwards way of doing it? Seems to work though.
Scanning works well. Finding the pictures can be an adventure. HP software stinks - it pretends file is somewhere, when actually it might be in a temporary file directory with some wierd alphanumeric name. Again, garbage software!
So, overall, neat design concept. But very poorly executed. I would not get one again. My Epson Photo Stylus printer is bigger, but much easier to use from Windows, and simply WORKS, even if no fax or scanner. Pass this up and look for a quieter

photosmart all-in-one
2010-03-20Three months into receiving the hp309a all in one photosmart printer, I am experiencing a great deal of buyers remorse. The black cartridge dried up in one month, the copy command anticipates extra sheets and I get an error/paper jam message everytime....the fax copies reported by the recipients are not complete (the edge of the page is blank). I have been unable to recieve faxes. This has been the least user friendly equipment I've recieved from hp thusfar.

Don't purchase if plan on using wireless
2010-03-19THis is a really great printer (looks and features) but don't purcahse if you intend on using the wireless feature. It will lock up and you actually have to pull the power cord from the back. I had mine for 5 months then it just stopped working after sitting overnight. I called support and after about an hour they decided to send me a refurbished one. When I received it, it was scratched onthe top and within two hours expereinced the same issue of locking up. Called HP supprt again and after a few hours of trying to get a new one (not refurbished) and being redirected to a case manager, I finally gave in and agreed to accept antoher refurb but they agreed to FedEX next day. GUess what, within one day same issue. Called HP support again and after 1 hour and 31 mintes the support rep told me to call back when they weren't so busy and hung up on me. Called back and they said their wasn't much they could do other than tell the case manager to call. Guess I wait and see if I can get my money back.
If you don't plan on using wireless (if you leave this off the printer works great)and hopefully don't ever need to call support, this is a great printer. It prints pictures almost 'photo lab' quality and you can scan documents directly to searchable PDF's via the Automatic Documnet Feeder. Also can print directly on CD/DVD's and almost hard to tell from the original. Another nice feature is that the XL cartidges (actually full) are only about $15/piece on Amazon and only have to replace the color you need. The built in networking and bluetooth are also nice features if you plan on using them.

Was a Great Printer until Windows 7
2010-03-17When I first purchased this printer, using it with Windows Vista, it was a great printer with the exception it uses ink too fast. Since upgrading to Windows 7, I have not been able to get it to work on my network. It will work a couple days and then get lost or will go off line. In order to make it work each time I need it I've had to use the USB connection.
Print quality is excellent, again with the exception of ink usage. It seems that it has to recharge way too often. Just today I replaced two in cartridges (yellow and magenta) and I had what was indicated as over a half full cyan cartridge. I printed two documents and received a low ink warning on the cyan cartr4idge.
My grade for ease of setup is based on using it on a network under Windows 7. Under Windows Vista it was a 5 star rating. HP Support on this matter can only be described as "they suck!"

Good All Around
2010-03-15I purchased this All-in-One Printer after being laid-off 1.5 months ago. I was used to large, excellent quality office printers and was pleasantly surprised at the quality of this little machine. I'm not a computer geek, but I found it very easy to follow the instructions for set-up. The WIFI feature is a dream, allowing me to carry my computer anywhere in the house. I am thrilled with the ability to scan materials and save them to files or email - which has been amazing for printing, filling out, then emailing forms during my job search. I have even been able to share some of my designs for making puppets with friends in China! I have only printed a few photos and am well pleased. The FAX was fast. I also tracked down a company selling compatible ink cartridges that will give me additional savings. All in all, I am deeply appreciative of the design, features, user-friendliness, and quality of this unit. Thanks so much HP and Amazon Warehouse!