The HP OfficeJet 3830 All-In-One Printer ($79.99), an entry-level inkjet all-in-one (AIO), is a capable machine, but like many AIOs in this class, including the more-expensive Canon Pixma TR8520 Wireless Home Office All-In-One Printer, our Editors' Choice, it has many formidable competitors. Unlike the Canon TR8520, the OfficeJet 3830 does not support two-sided printing, Ethernet networking, flash memory devices, and a few other noteworthy features. What the OfficeJet 3830 does have going for it is that, not only does it cost less than the Canon model, it also costs less to use—as long as you opt for HP's Instant Ink subscription program, that is. The OfficeJet 3830 prints well, and it's a good alternative to the Canon TR8520 for low-volume printing and copying in a small or home-based office or student dormitory.
A Lot of Machine for the Money
When it comes to business-oriented AIO printers, the OfficeJet 3830 ($59.99 at HP) is certainly one of the least expensive. At 8.5 by 17.2 by 14.3 inches (HWD) and 12.4 pounds, though, it's close in size and girth to several other petite business-oriented inkjets. The Canon TR8520, for instance, is actually slightly smaller, but it weighs about five pounds more than the OfficeJet 3830. Brother's MFC-J985DW ($454.00 at Amazon) , another top pick, is an inch or two smaller in all directions, yet it weighs about six pounds more than the OfficeJet 3830. The Epson WorkForce ET-4750 EcoTank All-In-One Supertank Printer ($751.16 at Amazon Canada) , one of Epson's bulk-ink models that you fill with ink from bottles, is slightly longer and heavier than the OfficeJet 3830. That's due mostly to the ink reservoirs built into the right side of the Epson ET-4750's chassis. (Note that the Epson ET-4750, as well as all other EcoTank models, cost significantly more than the other entry-level inkjet AIOs discussed here, but that's due to bulk-ink AIOs' very low running costs. Otherwise, the Epson ET-4750 is close to these other machines in performance and features.) If small and light are your primary criteria, other than mobile printers designed for travel, the smallest AIO I know of is HP's own DeskJet 3755 All-in-One Printer ($59.99 at HP) (5.6 by 15.9 by 7 inches and 5.1 pounds), but you'll have to give up the automatic document feeder (ADF) and a little print speed. As for paper handling, the OfficeJet 3830's comes with one rear 60-sheet paper tray, and its output is a meager 25 sheets—a very small paper capacity, compared with several competitors. The Canon TR8520 ($219.90 at Amazon) , for instance, supports up to 200 sheets from two 100-sheet input sources.