HP Deskjet 5655 Color Inkjet Printer

Overview

The HP Deskjet 5655 is a color inkjet printer that was designed primarily for home and small office use. As part of HP’s renowned Deskjet series, this model is intended to offer a balance of quality and affordability, catering to users who need a reliable machine for everyday printing tasks.

Design and Build

The HP Deskjet 5655 boasts a fairly compact and robust design, typical of consumer inkjet printers. It features a sleek grey and silver finish, which helps it blend seamlessly into both home and office environments. Its dimensions make it easy to place on a desk or shelf without occupying too much space. The control panel on top is straightforward, with buttons that allow easy operation, making it user-friendly even for those who are not tech-savvy.

Performance and Print Quality

Performance-wise, the HP Deskjet 5655 offers reliable printing capabilities with a decent output speed for its category. It is capable of printing up to 21 pages per minute for black text documents and up to 15 pages per minute for color documents, which is relatively fast compared to other printers in its class from that era. The printer supports a maximum resolution of up to 4800 x 1200 optimized dpi when printing on HP premium photo papers and at a resolution of 1200 x 1200 input dpi. This allows the Deskjet 5655 to produce high-quality text and color images suitable for general use, though it may not meet the professional standards required for high-end photo printing.

Connectivity and Compatibility

The HP Deskjet 5655 provides standard connectivity options for its time, with a USB 2.0 port for a direct connection to a computer. The printer is compatible with both Windows and Mac operating systems, ensuring that it can be used with a wide range of computers. It’s important to note that this model does not support wireless printing or printing from mobile devices out of the box, as it predates these technologies becoming common.

Paper Handling and Capacity

The printer includes a main input tray that can hold up to 150 sheets of plain paper, which is sufficient for typical home or small office printing needs. It accommodates a variety of media types and sizes, including plain paper, photo paper, envelopes, and transparencies. There is also a smaller output tray that neatly collects printed documents. However, users seeking to print large volumes frequently may find themselves needing to replenish the paper supply regularly because of the modest capacity of the input tray.

Ink and Cost Efficiency

Ink cartridges for the HP Deskjet 5655 include separate black and tri-color cartridges. This allows for straightforward replacement, but as with many inkjet printers, ink costs can add up over time, especially for users who print frequently. Using HP’s recommended high-yield cartridges could help mitigate these costs and extend the time between replacements. The printer’s efficiency and cost-effectiveness largely depend on the user’s volume and type of printing.