HP PSCs are widely used in home offices, small businesses, and even larger corporate settings. That popularity works in your favor because of the wealth of support resources now available online. The Hewlett-Packard website was voted one of the Ten Best International Web Support sites, and it's easy to see why.

But you'll find even more resources than the official support site online, and you should be able to find just about anything you need. However, rather than slogging through the web yourself, follow the suggestions below to learn how to make the most out of your HP PSC device:

1. Consult online resources that guide you in making the most of HP Printer Scanner Copiers (PSC).
2. Download the latest software and drivers for your HP Printer Scanner Copier (PSC).
3. Find the best troubleshooting resources in case your HP PSC experiences problems.
   

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Learn how to get maximum use out of your HP PSC printer

The user manual that shipped with your Hewlett-Packard PSC isn't always the most effective way to learn how to use and maintain your device. It's a good starting place, but for more detailed advice, HP offers some great info on their company website.

I recommend: Hewlett-Packard has an entire web portal dedicated to printer tips and how tos. They have everything from "Meet Your Printer" pdf packets to guides on using your printer more effectively in your home office. Once you have a good feel for what you need to make the most of HP printers, get discounts on the supplies you need at Super Warehouse.

Know where to download the latest software and drivers for your HP PSC

One of the easiest ways to fix most printer problems is to simply uninstall and reinstall the software. It's also important to download updated drivers if you've upgraded to Windows Vista, and the only driver disk you have is for Windows XP. In addition, if you've moved office locations and somehow managed to lose the disk that came with your HP PSC, it's nice to know you can get your hands on the installation software on HP's website.

I recommend: Learn how, when and where to download the latest software suite and driver packages for your printer at the Hewlett Packard Printer Drivers page. Before a reinstall, you need to fully uninstall the software. Click on your HP PSC in the HP Product Finder for links to uninstallation instructions for your specific device.

Know where to get help for your HP PSCs

It's important to know where to go for help when your business HP PSC device suddenly begins misbehaving. If your printer is still under warranty, HP will replace it for free once you jump through a few hoops. Unfortunately, it almost seems as if printers are timed to self-destruct within days after the warranty expires, so knowing your options is important.

I recommend: You can chat live with an HP Support Specialist on the HP website. They can tell you if your PSC is under warranty, and what your options are through HP. If you're not comfortable chatting online, you can always call HP at 800-HP INVENT. Their lines are open 24x7. FixYa is a resource for HP All-in-One printer troubleshooting, problems and support. You can post a question for free, or chat live with an expert for a small fee. You can even browse questions others have posted about your model printer to see what you might be up against in the future, or to find out if your question has already been asked and answered before.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  A good rule of thumb for any printer, but for the HP All in One printer especially, is that you should always run the installation software BEFORE plugging in the device. Many people have the tendency to want to remove their printer from the box and plug it right in. Resist the urge. HP printers are notoriously touchy. If you are installing the printer as a USB printer, only plug it in when the installation process prompts you to do so.

A few years back, the Internet threatened to do away with paper, turning our work lives into a digital dreamworld. Funny thing happened, though: Paper demand skyrocketed. Seems we just can't do without that piece of paper in our fingers, and now nearly every computer has a little printer attached.

The trick with a printer, though, is getting the right one for your needs. Too much printer can be a waste of resources and money (as well as space!) and too little will give you unprofessional and unbecoming results.

Covered in this guide:

1. Selecting a home office HP printer
2. Multifunction HP printers
3. Inkjet vs. laser HP printer
4. Buying an HP printer for photography

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

For small business, an HP printer home office model is typically sufficient

You could break the bank on a computer printer, but why? Prices for all makes of basic HP printers -- even color HP printers -- have dropped in the recent years. If you're putting off a printer you need because of cash flow, you might be surprised.

I recommend: Get started shopping for HP printers and HP printer supplies at HP's Home and Home Office catalogue online. See more categories of HP printers at the Business.com vendor directory for HP printers.

If you need more than a printer, HP has got you covered

Short on desk space? You can get an HP printer, copier, scanner and fax machine in a single footprint device for under $100. Plug and play with your desktop and it's a complete office in single product.

I recommend: Of course, this is HP, so you could also spend north of $10,000 for an office-ready HP printer workhorse that nevertheless takes up a relatively small space by a cubicle or entryway. Take a look at the range at HP's gateway site for multifunction printers. See more multifunction HP printer choices at the Business.com directory on HP multifunction printers.

Selecting HP printer technology by your needs

Laser or inkjet? The technologies are quite different. (Short version: An inkjet sprays ink, while lasers bond the ink to the paper.) Laser printers are pricier upfront but better for heavy volume printing, while inkjet printers are economical yet still high quality.

I recommend: The difference in quality used to be noticeable. Not any more, so first figure out your real workload, then budget for the appropriate technology. Try the HP "help me choose a printer" engine if you are not sure. Take a look also at HP DeskJet printer vendors at Business.com.

Choosing an HP printer for photographic needs

The latest wrinkle in printers is the photo printer, meant to replace a photofinishing service by allowing consumers to print their digital camera snapshots direct to photo paper.

I recommend: HP printers has an entire subsite dedicated to photography -- including printing tips and advice on editing and managing digital images -- at its HP Digital Photography page. For Photosmart HP Printers, see the directory at Business.com on HP Photosmart printers.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Buy enough technology for your needs, even more than you need if you can swing it. If your printing volume suddenly rises, buying a completely new printer to accommodate will be a waste of money.
• •  Beware of unnecessary complexity. If you will use all or nearly all of the functions on a multifunction printer -- scan, fax, etc -- then great, go for it. If not, maintaining a complex machine for simple black and white prints will be a problem.
• •  Got a medium sized business? Consider leasing a printer from HP or a third-party. You can get the right technology and be productive without having to front the full price.

If your office happens to have an HP all in one printer, it is important that you learn how to use and repair it. An HP printer scanner might be helpful, but if it ever stops working, you should have some idea of how to fix it before your employees are inconvenienced. Keep up productivity in your office, even where your PSC printer is concerned, and get some HP printer scanner copiers (PSC) repair education and training.

Don't miss out on the convenience that a combination printer scanner copier brings to your office even for one day. There are numerous ways for you to learn to fix your printer. Consider the following options before you call a repairman:

1. Find manuals specifically for your HP PSC printer.
2. Read tutorials that provide step-by-step instructions.
3. Check out online forums before trying to fix your HP printer scanner copier.
   

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Seek out manuals online about your HP printer/scanner

Obtaining the original owner's guide from HP is the first step you should take. You can often troubleshoot easily with the official guide by consulting the manual's index to find answers to some of your simpler printer problems.

I recommend: The Hewlett-Packard website is the best place to find the official manual for your printer. You can also find a manual for your printer at Devicemanuals.com.

Find step-by-step tutorials online to help you fix your Hewlett-Packard PSC

If you do not find the answer you need from the user's guide, consider finding step-by-step guides that get into more specific problems. Find helpful answers to your printing questions in tutorials and FAQs pages.

I recommend: The Hewlett-Packard website provides troubleshooting FAQs for each PSC model they carry, so check these step-by-step instructions first. My Tech Guru provides step-by-step instructions in its video regarding HP printers.

Check online forums for information about Hewlett-Packard PSC

Online forums are the perfect solution for professionals who are on their computers most of the day anyway. Whether you simply browse the questions and answers on printer repair forums or ask your own specific questions, you can often find the answers you need to repair your HP printer & scanner.

I recommend: The Hewlett-Packard website offers forums to help you find answers to your questions about your particular printer model. FixYa offers a list of questions asked by users about their HP printer with scanner, along with their answers and other resources.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Some online companies offer repair kits for HP printers with scanner, allowing even the least experienced users to fix their own printers. The same companies usually offer tips and manuals to go along with the repair kits, so be sure to take advantage of such help when fixing your printer.

HP printer scanner copiers are both convenient and user friendly. The machines allow you to print, scan and copy documents (and photos) all with the same HP device. However, shopping for one may prove to be a somewhat difficult task. There are many options and features available on HP printer scanner copiers that may be confusing to shoppers. Learn the meaning of HP printer scanner copiers (PSC) key terms to assist you in finding the machine with the options your company needs.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

DPI

DPI is an acronym for dots per inch. DPI measures the output quality of a printer or copier by measuring how many dots the printer can put in a square inch. This means that the higher the DPI the higher the quality of the printer.

I recommend: Learn more about DPI at Ransen Software. EETimes also has more information about DPI. Read more details at Cheap56K.

Host-based printing

The process of a printer that uses a PC to create the printable pages, instead of creating the pages in the printer itself, is called host-based printing. With this technology the printer uses the processor of a computer, which enables it to print faster.

I recommend: Learn more about host-based printing at PC Mag. WebMediaBrands and Tech Web also have information about host-based printing.

Bit depth

Bit depth is the number of bits available to save an image. Each color in a pixel has an amount of bits that are required for that pixel to appear in print exactly as it does on the screen. This means that the higher the bit depth, the more true colors appear when printed.

I recommend: Discover more about bit depth at TechTarget. Visit the Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Cambridge for a breakdown of bit depths and colors.

TI DLP

TI DLP is Texas Instruments Digital Light Processing. This technology uses mirrors to view and project pictures with a high quality.

I recommend: Internet.com provides more information about TI DLP. Hewlett-Packard also has information about TI DLP.

Duplex printing

Duplex printing and double-sided printing are very similar. With duplex printing the machine prints both sides at once before the paper is ejected. This does not require any reinsertion of the paper.

I recommend: Learn more about duplex printing from Duke University. Washington and Lee University also has information about duplex printing.

Keystone correction

Keystone correction is also called horizontal and vertical keystone correction. Keystone correction is used when an image is scanned or projected. The device makes a trapezoidal image shape where the image should be and lines up the edges and corners to produce a straight picture.

I recommend: Read more about keystone correction at the Audio General website. Find more information regarding keystone correction from the Pentranic Group.