c_c6280

HP: They Finally Got One Right

By on February 4, 2010 in Hardware, News, Software

Sorry, this is not about an HP MSS or X510.  This is about one of those other segments of HP, their printer division.  Sometime ago, I broke my old HP AIO printer, model I-Do-Not-Remember.  Even though I do not remember which model it was, it was one that worked quite well and I was sad to see it go.  I went out to replace it and ended up purchasing an HP C6280 AIO.

c c6280 thumb HP: They Finally Got One Right

The one feature that I really wanted that this printer had was a Ethernet port.  No more USB cable into a computer that I would have to turn on so that other machines could print.  Plug the printer into an Ethernet port and any computer could print to it.  Right?  Well, maybe…

I never was happy with the software suite for Vista and XP.  More often than not, if the printer was turned on after the computer, I would have to restart the computer to scan.  Sometimes, I would have to do this just to print a document.  If I were lucky, I could open the Solution Center and force the printer to be “on-line” so that I could print.

If I wanted to update their Photosmart Essential software, forget it.  I could update the software, but the Solution Center would complain about it.  All the time.  The only way to make the software suite happy was to completely uninstall it and start from scratch.  And forget the update.

For those who have ever installed HP printer software, you know you only want to do it once!

Enter Windows 7.  HP has never been known to be consistent with updated printer software packages for older printers and new OS’s.  The software package I had did work, with the above same problems perhaps, but it did work.

62801 thumb HP: They Finally Got One Right

Sometime after Windows 7 was released, I finally did go to their website and check for updated software for the C6280 printer.  Lo and behold, there was some.  Windows 7 specific.  x64 and x86 versions to boot!  Of course, I downloaded it, uninstalled my old version, installed the new version.  12 hours, 17 minutes, 32 seconds later (well, not quite that long!), I had the new software up and running.

c62802 thumb HP: They Finally Got One Right

A pretty new interface, and it had the same features as before (of course); just updated.  Guess what?  They worked! They worked well.  If my printer was off, I simply turned it on and instant recognition by the HP software.  Did I need a scan?  No problem!

It just worked!

I have never been super impressed with HP drivers and software suites.  They worked, mostly.  Bloatware?  It seemed that way.  But the suite was convenient to have those AIO functions in one place.

Perhaps someone at HP recognized the fact that their software was just as important as their hardware?  Maybe Windows 7 *is* really much better than that “previous” OS?  Who knows.  All I know is that I now have an HP software suite for my HP C6280 printer that works.  Quite well, actually.

I finally had to let someone know…

Thank you, HP!


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About Jim Clark

Hello. I’m from the heartland of the U.S. Lots of corn and beans, although Iowa is a lot more than just farmland. It also has a few computer enthusiasts (no, not me!). I’ve been around PCs since I got my 1st PC XT aloooong time ago. WGS is one of the first sites I found centered around WHS. And the best. Every once in awhile, I do get away from the KB and enjoy time with and my wife and our 4 kids. And I do have a day job.
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  • http://homeservershow.com Dave

    Jim, it's a shame you had to draft a post about a product you paid good money for when it should have worked in the first place!

    I'm reminded of Office Space. "PC Load Letter, what the F* is PC Load Letter!"

    Dave
    homeservershow.com

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/Jim_Clark Jim_Clark

      Ah, Office Space. Regarding that small world, the pastor of our church is Ron Livingston's mother. My younger daughter used to go with Ron's younger brother.

  • http://twitter.com/clexman @clexman

    I love when anyone else can share my frustration with HP printer software. Love the printers, hate the software & ridiculous ink prices.

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/Jim_Clark Jim_Clark

      This is the first HP printer that I do not go into shock over when I go to purchase ink cartridges.

  • GreigH

    Amen, brothers!

    It took me months to get my C6180 to work properly on Vista. Most of the time it works OK, but nothing like *all* of the time. I spent so much time with HP tech support I thought I knew them well enough to invite them to our daughter's wedding. I downloaded and installed the 160MB package so often my Internet connection and hard drive were screaming for mercy.

    I'm going to check out the new version, but I think I'll make sure my WHS has me backed up properly in case I need to do a restore to get the printer functioning again.

    Thanks, Jim, for your post.

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/Jim_Clark Jim_Clark

      Good luck! Let us know how it goes.

  • John Shelton

    I wish I could report the same success with my Photosmart C7280. I have had this printer for a couple of years or so now and it has, ignoring frequent paper jams, lost wireless connection to network, and false ink supply warnings, worked quite well. That was until Windows 7 came along and I installed 7 on one of my network computers. I waited until there were Windows 7 drivers for this printer before I attempted to install it to the network printer. Downloaded Windows 7 driver and installed and the duplexer attachment would not work. I was instructed by on-screen instructions to turn pages around and manually re-insert them to print on both sides of the paper. (Why should I do that? I paid for a printer with an automatic duplexer! It worked and continues to work on my XP machines) After much frustration and agony and a couple of days of emailing HP customer (non-)support, they had me uninstall the windows 7 driver for my Photosmart C7280 and install what turned out to be the driver only for an Officejet C6500. After doing this, I had a printer that would print and would duplex properly, but nothing else worked. No photo management software, no scan function, nothing but print. By this point I was so frustrated that I just gave up. I am now printing to a competitive brand printer from my Windows 7 machine via USB and have no hope that HP will ever fix their junk software. (A very similar situation occurred when I moved a Photosmart P1100 printer from a Windows 98 machine to a Windows Millennium machine. Never did get that problem fixed either)

    John

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/Jim_Clark Jim_Clark

      Ouch! :(

  • EddyKilowatt

    Count me among the many that have wanted to tear their hair out over HP printer software — and wasted many hours trying to get it to work — and sworn that THIS printer will be their last HP printer. I still get email updates from a couple of support threads I've started on the HP Customer Care website/forum, from people still running into the same problem I did two or three years ago.

    So while I find your report hopeful, and welcome news… please excuse me if I also look a bit like Charlie Brown when Lucy promises not to snatch the football away again THIS time. I have been using HP software since the 16-bit minicomputer era and it has never come close to the quality of their hardware. But I'll monitor developments with interest… I hope my 6310 AIO has a year or two left in it yet, so there will be time to see if this is a flash in the pan or the turning of some kind of epic corner in software usability.

  • http://twitter.com/welchwerks @welchwerks

    i run 2 HP printers in a printer pool and a third HP AIO, wouldnt it be great if they all would show up in the one suite

  • Neil

    the expensive business models rule! HP business models just work and keep on working. no breaking down :)

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/FalconFour FalconFour

    Their terrible software is part of the reason I'm still happily using ~10-year-old HP laser printers ;) At least back then, HP didn't have room to load bloatware drivers and such.

    Good to hear HP is taking it in the right direction, though. Windows 7 seems to be setting a standard I'm very, VERY happy to see the PC industry headed in :)

  • zdv

    Does it have a Windows 2003 driver? That would allow your HomeServer to control the printer, with more advanced features for printer queues etc. The HomeServer would even distribute the printer drivers to the PCs that want to use the printer.

  • azj

    I have a Photosmart 3210 all in one and similar issues under XP. Basic functions worked OK but forget anything else. I replaced my computer with one running Win 7 64 bit and must say the new 64 bit software is, so far, much more stable. While I still don't like some of software's basic design at least it seems to work consistently now.

  • Keith

    If you are looking for a network based laser printer, I have, and love, the Lexmark e120n. No drivers are needed – they are built into Win7. Just plug the printer into your router / switch, turn it on, and do a "Add Printer" in Windows. That's it. I love it so much, my brother bought one and loves it. The only downside is the "starter" toner cartridge. Lexmark used to be the joke of the printer industry (remember the bundles from TigerDirect), but I really like their new stuff.

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/urmaster urmaster

    Recently swapped my hp AIO (forget the name) for an Epson AIO. The Epson setup is much easier when I remember how to do it (there is a quirk to get the scanner working). I will admit the hp drivers and updates kept rolling in. As far a ink goes I think they have all been pretty extortionate no matter which manufacturer, Epson being one of the worst -_-

    Nice write up, its a shame there are printer standards that could be used.. like say the HP universal driver maybe one day.

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/boggy4062 boggy4062

    I am sorry, but printers is NOT something that I would be buying from HP. Their complete lack of software support for newer operating systems is outrageous. My last purchase was HP laserjet 3015 multifunction unit. The ONLY support that HP provided was XP (32 bit version). When the Vista came along HP refused to provide both scan drivers and updated software (not even for 32 bit version). Now, Windows 7 is out, and the same story. HP competition (Brothers for example) during the same time has provide multiple upgrades to their printers.
    Anyway, HP is out for any of my SB and home purchases, and I am not convinced that they provide any more value for big businesses either.
    Even the feed dragging with EX47x servers software upgrades is soooo disappointing.

    One good thing for consumers (bad for HP and their shareholders) – competition is watching, learning, and … filling in the gabs. ;) Story of many complaisant companies that joint the "has-beens" of Silicon Valley list (can you say 3COM, QUANTUM or BORLAND?) never cease to amaze me.