Targeted in general at domestic use, the HP Envy 5660 e-All-in-One ($149.ninety nine) is going a step past the basics, including capabilities that concentrate on cellular printing and the Web to the greater not unusualplace talents for an inkjet multifunction printer (MFP). The Envy 5660 ($299.ninety nine at Amazon)(Opens in a brand new window) can print via the cloud, join without delay to and print from smartphones and tablets, and print content material from diverse web sites without having a computer. It’s slow, and its output exceptional is a hint under par overall, however if the exceptional is right sufficient to your wishes, and also you need its Web-associated and cellular printing capabilities, it is really well worth considering.
Like nearly any MFP, the Envy 5660 also can serve for light-obligation, domestic-workplace use or withinside the twin function of domestic and domestic-workplace printer. However, it is now no longer as well-applicable for workplace responsibilities because the Brother MFC-J870DW ($499.00 at Amazon)(Opens in a brand new window) , that’s our Editors’ Choice fairly priced inkjet MFP aimed greater at a small or domestic workplace than at domestic use. In particular, the Envy 5660 lacks the Brother printer’s fax guide and its computerized report feeder (ADF) for scanning, vital capabilities for any workplace. It additionally lacks a few photocentric capabilities the Brother printer offers, maximum drastically the capacity to print from PictBridge cameras and USB reminiscence keys. However, it may print documents without delay from a reminiscence card, and you may preview the pics on its 2.65-inch LCD earlier than printing.
Basics
The Envy 5660’s simple MFP capabilities are restricted to printing, copying, and scanning. In addition, you may test to a reminiscence card, in addition to print from one, and if the printer is hooked up without delay to a community that is related to the Internet, you may name up HP’s print apps at the front-panel contact display to print content material from an collection of web sites. Among the maximum popular, consistent with HP, are crossword puzzles, Disney coloring ee-e book pages, and a 7-day menu planner.
The best connection alternatives for the printer are USB and Wi-Fi, which includes Wi-Fi Direct. If you connect with your community via way of means of Wi-Fi, and the community is hooked up to the Internet, you may print via the cloud. If you’ve got got a Wi-Fi get right of entry to factor at the community, you may additionally join via the get right of entry to factor to print from iOS, Android, Windows, Google Chrome, Kindle, and Blackberry smartphones and tablets. Connect to a unmarried PC through USB cable instead, and also you might not be capable of use the print apps or print via the cloud, however you may nonetheless print from cellular gadgets via way of means of connecting without delay to the printer the usage of Wi-Fi Direct.
Paper managing is a combined bag. The Envy 5660’s 125-sheet enter tray is one of the key elements that restriction it to light-obligation use even via way of means of domestic-workplace standards. However, the covered duplexer, for -sided printing, is a welcome extra, as is the separate picturegraph tray that could maintain 15 sheets of four-via way of means of-6-inch picturegraph paper, so that you do not need to switch out paper to exchange among printing files and printing photos. For scanning, paper managing is restricted to manually putting pages one after the other at the letter-length flatbed.
Setup and Speed
At 6.three via way of means of 17.nine via way of means of 16.1 inches (HWD) and 15 pounds, the Envy 5660 is straightforward for one individual to transport into place. For my tests, I related it via way of means of USB cable to a Windows Vista system. Setting it up is traditional for an inkjet MFP in maximum ways, with one obtrusive exception. Most driving force set up exercises provide you with the choice to have them test for an up to date model and mechanically down load it if needed. The Envy 5660 comes with a observe providing you with the URL in which you may down load an replace manually.
Aside from this being a further step that the set up ordinary have to cope with for you, HP would not provide you with any manner to inform whether or not the model on line is in reality more moderen than the only at the distribution disc. That manner you need to spend time downloading the web model whether or not you want it or now no longer.
Once you get the motive force and different software program installed, the Envy 5660 works as promised, however it is a bit sluggish. I timed it on our enterprise packages suite (the usage of QualityLogic’s(Opens in a brand new window) hardware and software program for timing) at best 2.2 pages consistent with minute (ppm). The correct information is that it’s miles a hint quicker than the HP Envy 5530 e-All-in-One , which controlled best 2ppm. However, it is notably slower than the Brother MFC-J870DW, which got here in at four.7ppm.
Photo pace is lots higher relative to the competition, averaging fifty one seconds for a four via way of means of 6, as compared with 1 minute 15 seconds for the HP 5530 and fifty nine seconds for the Brother MFC-J870DW.
Output Quality
Unfortunately, output exceptional isn’t a sturdy factor. Text exceptional falls withinside the center of a reasonably tight variety that consists of the widespread majority of inkjet MFPs. It’s correct sufficient to be appropriate for maximum purposes, so long as you do not have an uncommon want for small fonts. However, it is now no longer appropriate for output that wishes to appearance completely professional, like a resumé.
Graphics output is on the low quit of par for inkjet MFPs. It’s without difficulty correct sufficient for maximum inner enterprise use, for example. But relying on how plenty of a perfectionist you are, you would possibly or won’t don’t forget it correct sufficient for, say, PowerPoint handouts for enterprise or greeting playing cards for non-public use. Photo exceptional is on the low quit of what you’ll anticipate from an inkjet printer or drugstore prints.
If you are seeking out an inkjet MFP for a domestic workplace, or for each domestic and domestic workplace use, the Brother MFC-J870DW is in all likelihood to be your high-satisfactory preference, way to its fax functionality and its ADF. If your key challenge is picturegraph exceptional, make certain to check the HP 5530. If you do not want both workplace-centric capabilities or specially brilliant photos, however, and you may make correct use of the HP Envy 5660 e-All-in-One’s cellular printing guide and its Web-associated capabilities, its barely quicker pace as compared with the HP 5530, plus its barely better paper capacity, should make it the proper preference for you.