What if you let your printer manage itself? This is essentially what HP offers you with its Instant Ink service. A turnkey subscription that allows you to receive your ink directly in your mailbox.
Whether you need an administrative document to create an important file, a photo to display in your home, or a shipping slip for your latest Vinted sale, a printer can help you in many ways. However, between empty or dry ink cartridges and drivers that you forgot to update, there are many obstacles that stand between you and your precious print.
HP, an experienced manufacturer in the world of printers, has decided to address these problems in recent years. His answer ? More connected and smarter printers, capable of anticipating everyone’s needs, and services designed to relieve tasks as menial as purchasing ink cartridges.
Choose a printer adapted to your uses
The first step is usually to choose a device that suits your printing needs. We don’t always think about it, but each technology (laser or inkjet, all-in-one or single function) has its advantages and disadvantages:
- You print a lot: Choose a laser printer like the HP LaserJet M110we. These machines are much faster than their inkjet counterparts, capable of outputting up to one page per second, with the tradeoff being a slightly higher purchase cost. They also offer a more durable impression (UV and water), and sharper.
- You print punctually: surprisingly, a laser printer is also likely to work for you. The reason ? The use of a toner rather than an ink cartridge. The latter, in the event of low use, can in fact become clogged and lead to numerous incidents, or have an impact on the quality of the printing. Given the price of ink cartridges compared to that of a toner, it would be a shame to have to replace your cartridges too often.
- You print photos: in this case, an inkjet printer like the HP Envy Inspire is for you. Inkjet technology offers superior photo printing quality, as well as better resolution. These machines are also more “flexible” in their use since you can also use them with special paper, or even CDs (if you are vintage).
- You have a limited budget: the right choice in this case definitely leans towards inkjet. Offered at less than 50 euros, a model like the HP DeskJet 2723e will meet your expectations. The icing on the cake, it even has a scanner to digitize your documents.
It goes without saying that older printers are also more likely to cause you inconvenience. A recent model, inkjet or laser, is less likely to fail you. Thanks to its hardware part already, which has advanced automatic print head cleaning functions, but also thanks to its software part. HP in particular has emphasized this last part with services like HP+ or HP Instant Ink.
HP+: a program designed to make your life easier
In order to improve the user experience of its printers, and minimize disappointments and other problems that are as untimely as they are time-consuming, HP has developed HP+. A very complete service which, after registration, offers many advantages to its users. One of the coolest features is connecting your machine to the HP cloud.
This not only allows it to update itself as soon as the need arises, but to benefit from an option allowing it to resolve connection problems on its own. No more searching for hours why that capricious printer no longer appears in the peripherals: it will do it for you in its corner.
Other benefits offered by HP+ include:
- a one-year printer warranty extension;
- the provision of advanced features in the HP Smart application;
- reinforced protection against malicious external access.
Latest benefit offered by HP+: a six-month subscription to HP Smart Ink. Behind this name hides an interesting, rather clever service, which will rid you of the last constraints linked to the use of your printer.
Ink cartridges that arrive straight to your door
Aside from connection issues, one of the biggest problems with printers is undoubtedly running out of fuel. Finding the right reseller, the right model of cartridge or toner, choosing between an official or unofficial product, and not leaving your PEL there is no easy task. With Instant Ink, HP relieves you of this problem. How ? Quite simply by letting your printer manage its ink needs on its own.
Instant Ink comes in the form of a monthly subscription that is based on the number of pages you estimate you will print each month. The printer counts the pages printed as well as its ink (or toner) levels, which allows it to anticipate its needs. When it determines that it will not be able to allow you to print the pages you need, it contacts Instant Ink to have a consumable delivered directly to your home, as if by magic.
To free you from all constraints, HP Instant Ink also takes care of recycling empty cartridges. The service will regularly send you prepaid envelopes so that you can return your consumables to a specialized company.
Instant Ink is compatible with a wide range of HP printers, and is available in ink and toner packages, each of which has several formulas. The ink package is available from 0.99 euros per month for 10 pages, while the toner package is available from 1.99 euros per month for 50 pages.
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