HP Photosmart A646 Compact Photo Printer Review
Pros
• Touchscreen convenience
• Prints 5-by-7 in addition to the common 4-by-6 format
• Highly portable and includes a hideaway handle and a soft carrying case
Cons
• Bluetooth connectivity leaves much to be desired
• Does not support the Windows 7 and Mac OS X 10.6 out of the box
• Unlike A636, A646 has no battery option
Hewlett-Packard (HP) has a brilliant record of accomplishment regarding its compact photo printers. This reputation leads many consumers to buy HP printers on it alone and that, in turn, is going to lead to a lot of disappointment concerning the HP Photosmart A646 compact printer. Further compounding the issue is that critics sang the praises of the A636 and it earned Editor's Choice awards and the like from some notable organizations. Moreover, there was a general, and even published, assumption that the A646 was just the A636 with Bluetooth capability. That is not the case. However, this is not to say that the A646 is a bad printer. It's not. However, it does have some usability issues that cause it to pale in comparison to its predecessor and many of HP's other compact printer offerings. For consumers seeking a comparable from another manufacture, examine Epson's PictureMate Charm 225.
Like the A636, the A646 is bigger than most small-format printers are. This may be a con for customers buying this printer for a cramped setup. However, we don't see the size being an issue for most. The added size allows the A646 to print 5-inch by 7-inch photos in addition to the more common 4-inch by 6-inch format. This will be one of the primary selling points for consumers who buy this printer. In addition, the added size does nothing to affect the unit's portability. At a size of 5.3 by 9.9 by 4.6 inches (HWD), the A646 weighs in at a slight 2.4 pounds. HP has also added some nice touches in the form of a built-in handle that pivots out of the way when not needed and a soft carrying case that protects it when you're on the go. One drawback of the A646 compared to the A636 is that this model does not include a battery option.
Setup of the A646 is relatively simple in most cases. You simply plug the printer in, turn it on, and then follow the instructions that appear on the screen to load the cartridge and paper. At this point, the A646 is configured to print pictures from PictBridge cameras, memory cards, USB memory keys, and Bluetooth connections. Adding a computer to the list of options can involve nothing more than connecting it to the computer via a USB cable. The driver and the installation software are stored on the printer itself and they will auto run as soon as the camera is plugged in. However, the caveat is drivers are not included for Windows Vista 64-bit, any version of Windows 7, and Mac OS X 10.6. Camera owners can download the drivers from HP's website so this is not going to be a big deal for most. However, these printers are popular for their simplicity and there is a wide range of consumers for whom the downloading and installation of drivers is a daunting affair.
The A646's touchscreen is one of its greatest features. It is just so much more intuitive than using separate buttons to manipulate onscreen displays. Better yet, in many cases, these touch screens are too small but here we have a full-color display with a 3.75-inch diagonal and a 4.75-inch width including the margins. It's a very smart display as well, only showing what is pertinent so that it takes great advantage of the real estate. One of the primary disadvantages with the unit is that the Bluetooth capabilities are very inconsistent and sometimes don't work at all. In many cases where the printer could not find the device, it could still print the available images. In other cases where the printer found the device, it could not see or print the photos. This is a real shame since Bluetooth will be one of the main selling points of this unit.
Consumers will be happy with the output from this printer. The photos it produces are true photo quality every time. Colors are punchy at times but no more so than most models at this price range. If you have used the A636, you know what to expect in terms of quality. However, if you have used the A636 you will be confounded by some of the old features that are newly automated in a buggy way, such as the often-incorrect auto-selection of format. It also has some very buggy issues when interfacing with a computer, such as instructing you to double-click icons that just do not exist. If you already have the A636, sit tight. If you're shopping for something new, compare this against the other options in this price range. They all have some shortcomings so it's a matter of determining which set of shortcomings will affect you least.
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Tags: hp printers, inkjet printers, photo printers, printer reviews
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