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