Top positive review
2,914 people found this helpful
Goodbye Canon...HP is Simple, intuitive, and frustration-free!
By Elis Law on Reviewed in the United States on February 22, 2016
Short version: If you want a reasonably priced, reliable printer that is simple to install and easy to use, this HP Officejet 3830 is a great choice. Set-up: The set up takes less than 15 minutes to complete, and it instantly works with all your devices on the same wifi network. There's no need to download a particular app (though it offers a good one if you like that sort of thing), nor does it require any special set up with your computer. Use: This printer is self-explanatory and intuitive. The touch screen isn't very large, but it's much more responsive than the one on my old HP Envy 100, so it's actually an improvement for me. If you can use a regular sized touchscreen smartphone, you can use this with no problem. Ink: After comparing the various manufacturers' ink cartridge options for ink jet printers, I've found them all to be comparably priced, but I prefer HP, because (1) it requires only two cartridges (black & color), whereas other printers often require one black and three or more color cartridges*; and (2) the HP Instant Ink program (which is optional) is cheaper and extremely convenient. *I know some people have complained about the single color cartridges, preferring to use individual colors to conserve ink. My response to that complaint is twofold. First, in my experience, when one color is out, the other colors are close behind, so the convenience of the combined cartridges is worth it. Second, any ink waste that results from the combined color cartridges is minimal compared to the "waste" generated from separate color cartridges. With combined color cartridges, there is one cartridge, one sealed package, one paper insert and one outer box. With individual color cartridges, there are three (or more) plastic cartridges, three sealed packages, three paper inserts and three outer boxes. That's a lot of unnecessary waste! Other issues: The only other concern that's been raised in the Amazon reviews is the paper feeder. Apparently a few people have complained that it grabs several pages at once, causing paper waste and jams. I've noticed that sometimes the paper doesn't fully load into the feeder, and when that happens, it can cause this problem. The paper feeder itself is a bit awkward. Still, as long as I make sure the paper is properly and fully loaded, I don't have this problem. All things considered, this is a fairly minor problem with an otherwise excellent printer. Long Version - HP v Canon: I literally gave away my brand new Canon MG7520 printer and replaced it with this HP Officejet 3830, and I couldn't be happier. After my trusty old HP Envy 100 took a spill off my desk and shattered, I researched printers online to select its replacement. I've always had HPs at home and work, but I wanted to find the best value regardless of brand. Although the expert and consumer reviews were generally all over the place, with printers receiving 4.8 stars on one website and 2.4 stars on another, I noticed that on most sites the Canon printers were rated the highest of all the major brands. Based on that research, I bought a Canon MG7520 on sale at Best Buy. Though I'm no computer expert, I have set up a number of similar printers for myself and my family members, and based on my experience, I knew it shouldn't take more than about 15 minutes to connect my new Canon printer. Over one month and countless wasted hours trying to get that thing to work, I finally packed it up and donated it to Goodwill (the Best Buy return period had long since expired, and I didn't want to waste any more of my time, even just trying to sell it on Craigslist). During that month of fruitless efforts to get the Canon printer to print something other than the Printer Connection Settings sheet, I tried everything to get it to work with any of my devices. I used the included installation disk; I downloaded the drives and software from the website; I manually installed the drivers; I followed the instructions in the box and the (different) instructions online; and I even talked to Canon customer support several times. Nothing worked. After waving the white flag, I bought this HP Officejet 3830 from Amazon. Two days later (thank you Prime!), it arrived. Ten minutes, 47 seconds later, it was printing from my desktop, laptop, phone and tablet. I never even had to look at the instructions. HP install: Plug in, enter wifi password, insert paper, print. Canon install: Plug in, choose LAN connection type, enter wifi password, download app, change LAN connection type to "offline" set up, register printer, change LAN again, select online options, try to connect, if connection fails even when connected, try to decipher cryptic installation instructions, start all over, etc etc. You get the idea. Does Canon print better photos? I wouldn't know, but I've heard it does. If you're buying a printer primarily for photo printing, perhaps Canon is the way to go. But if you need a printer for everyday, household/small business printing needs, I highly recommend HP, and in particular I recommend the HP Officejet 3830. It's easy and it works. Oh, and the photos look just fine.
Top critical review
12 people found this helpful
ABSOLUTELY USELESS! Fair warning
By Moxie on Reviewed in the United States on June 8, 2021
THE BIGGEST REGRET PURCHASE I HAVE EVER MADE! No joke. So many times, it was so frustrating I literally *almost* threw it across the room into the trash can. I wouldn’t even attempt selling it to a stranger on Craigslist. Bc of how wholly UNHELPFUL it is. I’ve had this thing for THREE YEARS. I’ve maybe had .... 4? functional moments of it actually halfway working!!! I’ve used several different Mac [desktop or laptop]. I’ve tried it with PC. You have to download an entire confusiiing program. Over n over again, even after following exact instructions, even making sure my device was listed as compatible, it wouldn’t give me a successful result. I mean HOURS wasted on this piece of JUNK. SO MANY TIMES! So many different friends tried figuring out for me too, with their various devices n computers. Yes, we had fresh new ink [which btw, ***it is hecka difficult to even find in stores** this exact version of this printer’s compatible ink cartridge. Even at Walmart, where you can find everything, had no clue when they’d get more of it. Low demand for it. We ended up finding black ink, no color. Even tho I never actually use color ink, just typed up Word docs, that I “save as pdf file” which makes for a better format when printing from anywhere; just a trick I learned in my computer class] Also, Yes we doubled checked if the ink was was properly placed. Yes, it was all plugged in & the ON light was lit, indicating it wasn’t a lack of power issue. Yes, we had paper loaded in the exactly correct slot. Oh, btw. It’ll hardly ever scan-in documents to save into your computer files either. Even tho I had less need for that than printing, it was still a feature I made sure I bought one that could do that for me. I was able to figure that out only a couple times a good result. And those times, I had to use that goofy complex program I had to download on my PC computer. Something that should’ve taken 2 mins max, I’d be sitting there fooling with it for like half an hour!!! FAIL attempts. Customer service call was useless—more Waste Of Time. More than an hour, then we were still stuck with a dysfunctional machine!! Even looked up tutorials online & such. Read the trouble shooting & FAQ on their official website. No luck. I’ve tried the HP Print App—which btw is $15/mo! No free option. Even if I do try sending a PDF via the app, it has an error every time I try to connect it into our WiFi [when everything else at our home is perfectly connected; meaning nothing wrong w the WiFi; I’ve also tried several different WiFi’s at different points in time. Same problem]. Our network usually isn’t even listed as an option to try to connect it, on its tiny little touchscreen menu. Which will send you in circles trying to figure out the correct settings for everything. I tried all of them, any n every combination. And it would only ever just print the sample “how to get started manual” which I followed to a T! Many times tried it. And the brief moments it did miraculously connect into our WiFi, the document would show up on my computer’s “printing queue” as if it were about to print any second now. Then it just stalls & won’t go any further. Never actually prints anything out. Not even the first page. And yes I would make double sure I selected the correct printer to send it to. ** I wish they would’ve included the USB cable option *** to be able to hook into your computer n just print it like that, without needing Internet. Nope. Common sense didn’t occur to them. There isn’t even an outlet or port where you could go buy your own cable to use it that way. And of the very RARE occasions, it would actually print something, half the words would be striked out, mostly illegible. And yes, this is with fully stocked new ink. Like the laser of it, goofed up? And the document would have some random jibberish junk printed on the other side that wasn’t showing or typed by yourself, anywhere in your document. I’ve also dusted it meticulously & used that “electronics specific aerosol spray can product” made no improvement. DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME OR MONEY. PLZ TAKE THIS REVIEW SERIOUSLY. I wish I could return it. But the window of time to do that, is long passed. I had just assumed for awhile, maybe I just need to learn how it works. Maybe I’m just dumb w printers. Maybe it’s this certain device it doesn’t like. I spent a good chunk of change on it, and wanted to get good use of it. Never found that happening for me. MOST USELESS THING I HAVE EVER BOUGHT
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