HP sent us an Officejet Pro 8500 all-in-one wireless printer to review. We tested it with small- and home-based businesses in mind.
The Officejet Pro Wireless includes a printer, fax machine, copier, scanner, business graphic software, and photo processor. You operate it through a wireless connection or via a full-color touch screen on the device. It comes with a 250-sheet input tray, touchscreen color display, and two-sided print/fax/scan/copying.
HP lists specs here.
Order an Officejet Pro 8500 here.
Overall, the printer performs well. HP advertises it as an eco-friendly, cost-saving device that produces business graphics comparable to a laser printer. It lives up to this claim, with a few caveats.
Pros:
Prints professional-looking documents
Wireless connectivity
Intuitive controls and interface
Double-sided printing
All-in-one device
Green paper- and power-saving features
Quality compares to a laser printer
Comes with helpful software
Cost- and energy-efficient
Powerful enough for a business
Full set of features
Cons:
Some software quirks
Noisy
Slower than a laser printer
Too slow for big print jobs
Installation
The printer is easy to put together. It comes with ink cartridges, print heads, an installation CD, manuals, and a phone cable. The power supply jutting out the back of the printer and the paper tray in front make the printer take up a fair bit of space. The printer needs to be placed on a solid surface, otherwise it shakes.
Installation needs to be done both on the printer’s touchscreen and on a desktop. The machine’s software package requires an impressive 420 mb of space. You can reduce this amount by uninstalling some of the default programs that you don’t need.
Installation and calibration took us about half an hour.
Software
One of the machine’s perks is the software that comes with it. The HP Solutions Center is the most useful program in the package. It displays a control panel for operating the printer, fax, copier, and scanner. The interface also displays cartridge ink levels and the printer’s status. It allows you to change settings and troubleshoot the device in one place. User can forward documents to network folders, a nice organizational shortcut. Shop for cartridges from here, see special offers and tips.
The In-House Marketing button takes you to HP’s online Creative Studio, a marketing resource. You’ll find customizable marketing material templates here (for business cards, startup packages, brochures, posters, blogs, websites, logos, and more). Some designs are free, and they look professional.
Combined with the Creative Studio, the printer enables small business owners to design, customize, and print marketing materials, which saves a trip to the professional printer. It’s a valuable resource.
The HP Document Manager is also handy. It allows you to edit and annotate documents, attach them to emails, convert them into editable text, organize faxes/scans/desktop documents, and more. It’s a time-saving way to manage all the documents you want to involve with your HP all-in-one.
HP Photosmart Essential allows you to edit, organize, share, manage, and print photos. You can drag and drop to print photos, which is nice, but otherwise, Photosmart is comparable to other free photo software on the market.
HP’s default installation also comes with a couple of useless programs, like Shop for HP Supplies (which links you to the product sales page on HP’s website) and the HP Customer Participation Program. These programs need to be uninstalled so that they don’t eat up memory.
Printer
Default (normal) resolution produces high-quality documents. Business cards, flyers, and standard business documents look professional at this setting. You can adjust a document’s properties through the Printing Shortcuts menu, a useful interface offering one-click brochure, two-sided, fast/economical, and other print settings.
The printer operates quickly on one-sided and black-and-white documents. Color printing is fast and good. But the machine prints double-sided color documents slowly. It prints one side, lets the ink dry, sucks paper back up, then prints the other side. The quality is excellent, but, due to slowness, may not be practical for large print jobs.
If you use photos in your posters and brochures, they may need tweaking before looking good in the printer. There’s no easy way to print a double-sided, full bleed brochure on the device. Once you print one brochure, you can duplicate it more quickly through the color copier than by printing.
HP designed the ink pigment to be water-resistant. It produces bold colors that work well for business graphic use. Most documents will look professional on this printer.
It is louder than a laser printer. The biggest paper size you can print is 8.5” x 11.” On the upside, the 250-sheet paper tray gives you plenty of time between paper replacements.
You can print photos directly from a USB stick or memory card (CF, MMC, SD, XD, MS/DUO).
Copier
The copier has a 50-sheet feeder on top. Copies come out quickly, with excellent quality. Two-sided color copies take longest to produce.
Fax
The fax machine has a couple of neat features. One, it lets you block junk fax phone numbers. Secondly, it allows you to send copies of faxes to a network folders instead of printing them on paper, which allows you to save paper. It also has a 125-page memory.
Scanner
Scans show up instantly on your computer screen. You can scan either through the flatbed or ADF (automatic document feeder). Scan quality is very good. It’s not optimal for high-resolution work, eg. with hi-res photos, but is good for everyday use. Like faxes, scans can be filed into network folders. The ADF makes multipage scans easy to execute.
Photos
Upload photos directly to the printer through built-in card readers that take all the standard memory cards and USB. There’s also a PictBridge slot through which you can connect your camera directly.
You can crop and adjust color/contrast using the touch screen. The Photosmart software gives you additional photo editing options.
The machine prints good quality photos. If you want excellent quality, try using the printer with HP paper and ink designed specifically for printing photos.
Additional Remarks
Its strong wireless system helps the printer communicate well from different rooms. It is easy to control jobs remotely. The printer takes about two minutes to check and clean itself whenever you power it on. Every time you activate it, the printer informs every computer on the network of its status, which is annoying for people not involved with the print job. It comes with a 1-year warranty.
Cost Savings
The HP 8500 saves money in several ways:
- It’s EnergyStar rated. One way it saves energy costs is by sleeping when not in use, then activating again when given a print job or by pressing the touch screen.
- It offers comparable quality to a laser printer, for a lower cost. Note that the quality is comparable, not identical, and that speed suffers in the 8500.
- Color cartridges can be replaced individually. HP also offers XL and combo ink packs that lower cost/page.
- It does small to medium-sized print jobs well, saving a potentially expensive trip to the professional printer.
- It saves you from using and maintaining three separate machines.
- A green perk: Send in cartridges for HP to recycle for free.
Final verdict: The HP Officejet Pro 8500 All-in-One Wireless is worth the price. Order one here.
HP has arranged a special offer for our readers to save 20% ($80) on the new HP Officejet Pro 8500 Wireless All-in-One. Go here for the coupon code and terms and conditions. Visit here for more product information.
Do you know how to scan a two-sided original from the ADF?
Hi Steven… I just ran into the same problem and could not quickly find a solution. If you come up with one, I hope you post it here. Anders
Hello,
I purchased an HP 7590 which the 8500 replaced. After having many problems with the doc feeder I decided to upgrade to the 8500. The 8500 is a little smaller and a little more quite. I never could get the “print to fax” working on the 7590 and now that I have the 8500 no luck either. I was on the phone with IT last night for over 3 hours and they still couldn’t figure it out (can’t they find someone that speaks clear english). My main issue with this combo is that there does’nt seem to be an option to fax 2 sided or 2 sided with cover faxes. I had that option on the 7590 and it came in handy. I was able to save a lot of paper that way. Not as much as the print to fax option but still. Am I missing something here?
Wes
Anders, I opened a case with tech support. They confirmed that this functionality is not available. However, I reached a satisfactory solution by using a feature in Adobe Acrobat. I choose Custom Scan and tell it to scan both sides. It scans all of the fronts, then I flip the papers over and it scans all the backs and puts them in the proper order. Not quite as convenient as having the scanner flip the page over itself, but it works. HTH.
I purchased the HP Officejet Pro 8500 in April. The software slowed my computer to a standstill. I ended up haveing to put in on the server and atleast my computer runs faster without it hooked up directly. The major problem is that the printer keeps losing connection with the server. Tey to get ahold of HP…impossible. I want to return this POS. Worst printer that I have EVER had. The customer service from HP is also non-existant!
Steven, thanks for finding out that the 8500 does not scan two-sided.
A comment on the Adobe Acrobat workaround: For people like me who do not have any intention of spending $1k on the Acrobat, there is a free alternative from pdfsam.org for splitting and merging PDF docs. I frequently use it to merge/reshuffle pages when the ADF has skipped a page (in about 50% of the scan jobs).
I am using the HP officejet 8500, and I’ve struggled with the document feeder when scanning. I find that I’m missing pages even though I see it take each page individually. With the older model I was able to scan multiple pages on from the glass, but with this model, you can’t. It’s been very disappointing so far.
Hi,
yesterday I have asked the question wrt 2 sided scan capabilities and I was told this is possible … Could it be that the 8500 Wireless is doing it while the standard 8500 (no WiFi, no touch screen) does not do it ?
Actually there are 3 different models of AIO 8500: normal, wireless, premium.
Thanks,
Michel.
Hi,
I have bought a 8500 Wireless (A909g) and it does support automatic duplex scan. The only caveat is that the PDF generated is not very well optimized so if you want to save disk space you have to process the PDF through a software like Adobe for example. You may gain a factor 5-10x depending on the nature of the page.
Michel.
We just got the HP Officejet PRO 8500 Wireless. It is noisy and does take up a lot of desk space. Everything works fine, except one very annoying problem. When you send a print job to the printer, almost everytime after a few pages print the machine will detect an “out of paper” condition (even though there is plenty of paper in the tray). Anyone else see this behavior, or have a workaround?
Hi Bob B.
No, I am not seeing this issue of “out of paper” with my machine. I am running windows XP with all the updates done regularly.
Regarding the noise it’s not that bad. When the printer is inactive, I cannot hear anynoise. It goes in standby mode automatically which is nice.
Michel.
I can’t seem to print black on a simple document. Everything loaded correctly when setting up the system. All the other colors print OK during the print test phase. But the Black just does not want to print. Help, its frustrating.
I loaded my new hp8500 on my hp pavilion xt9643. I can only get one page and a bunch of blank pages.to print from multi page docs. very frustrating. updated drivers xphome sp2. Not working
We have the same problem as Bob: We just got the HP Officejet PRO 8500 Wireless. Everything works fine, except one very annoying problem. When you send a print job to the printer, almost everytime after a few pages print the machine will detect an “out of paper” condition (even though there is plenty of paper in the tray).
I am very disappointed in the 8500 Premiere. First there is no fax cover page software, wow, can you believe this on the top of the line officejet? We had this software on the HP Officejet 7410. Second I can’t get the scanner to work on two of our four laptops. I am running XP Pro SP3 on all machines with all known updates. Spent hours with support uninstalled, reinstalled, repaired, rebooted, powered up, powered down, nothing worked. I keep asking for level 2 support but I can’t get past the first level. Two hour long chat sessions and it still does not work?
I am diappointed with Technical Support and this model of the officejet.
Hi,
can you print from these two machines that do not work for scan ?
I would check your firewall(s). I took me some time as my firewall was actualy making its job …
Let’s say your PC is at 168.192.0.2 and your office jet 168.192.0.10 then you should allow spoolsv.exe from all @ to run to 168.192.0.10 with no restriction.
Also you should allow all programs from 168.192.0.2 to 168.192.0.10
And the other way round, all programs from 168.192.0.10 to 168.192.0.2
The best is to allow these rules for the computers connected directly to your router. This is the way I have configured by firewall (bitDefender, windows firewall is not activated on my PC)
To help me I tracked the firewall activity by asking an extended report. This way I could figure out which rule was preventing my officeJet to work OK, as the refused connections were logged in this file, pointing at the rule blocking the transaction.
Good luck.
Michel.
I have the same “out of paper” error constantly!! Other than that, I am pleased with the machine. Any advise on the paper issue?
I think I got this “out of paper” once. Actually the machine could not grab a sheet. So I took the pile and I flexed it such a way that the sheets don’t stick to each other.
I hope you see what I mean.
This is probably the problem you are also having.
Michel.
Thanks Michel, but I have always fanned or “flexed” the paper – no difference. The only thing I can think of is to change the weight of the paper or return it as a defective machine.
I am on my 2nd machine. The 1st one was sent back because of the out of paper issue. The replacement is doing the same thing. I am very frustrated at this point and will probably return again for a different model or possibly make. The problem is it says out of paper when it is not out of paper. The roller arm does not lower to grab the paper. Since so many people are having this same problem it should be known by their techs but supposedly they know nothing about it. With the 1st machine I spent about 3 hours on the phone with a foreigner and I refuse to go through that again.
I have the “out of paper” problem with my new 8500. Very Frustrating!I’ve tried every step online support suggests. I want to avoid speaking w/ IT difficult-to-understand-foreigners. Anyone have a solution for this issue yet?
Yes Mark, my suggestion is return the machine and get something else. That is what I ended up doing. I bought a Canon and I am very happy with it. Do not waste your time with tech support…they are of no use. This is obviously a defect with this particular machine.
Hi Mark,
I had to return my 8500 to HP because the little window on the printer became distorted (I don’t think anyone else has mentioned that problem). In addition, I was also one of the people who complained about the “out of paper” issue. I also had that going on with my 8500. I returned the printer courtesy of HP and they gave me a replacement. So far, the window is fine, and I haven’t gotten the false message regarding “out of paper”. A completely different machine (or going to a different manufacturer) might be the only way to solve the problem you are having. Thanks/Bob
Thanks Bob and Sue, I was able to get a solution to the “out of paper issue” through online chat with IT. For now, it works. Unfortunately, I had not yet discovered, but did later that afternoon that pdf’s won’t print… Any solutions? Or, guess I’m back to IT and/or return it.
Mark
Mark, you say you were able to get a solution to the “out of paper issue” through a chat with IT. Would you care to share that solution with us. I am a couple of steps short of throwing this 8500 out of a second floor window!
Diane
Diane, here’s the instruction from IT chat session. I’m not sure it will work for everyone as it may change requisite to your set up? I run XP…..
Anony : Click on start > all programs > hp > hp solution center
Anony : Under hp solution center, Click on settings > printer settings >
Anony : Click on ‘printing shortcuts’ tab.
Anony : Under the ‘paper sizes’ select letter.
Anony : Under paper type select ‘automatic’. (NOTE: mine didn’t show automatic just select normal or HP brite)
Anony : Click on Ok.
Anony : Try printing a two page document from microsoft word. (NOTE: it worked)
Anony : Click on start > printers and faxes
Anony : Right click on the printer icon ‘officejet pro 8500 series’ > select properties.
Anony : Click on the tab ‘advanced’.
Anony : Select ‘print directly to the printer’ > click on apply > ok.
Anony : Select ‘print directly to the printer’ > click on apply > ok.
NOTE: my tests printed fine, still printing fine a day after.
Hope this helps, if not, your best bet may be to engage in a chat with tech. -Mark
I am considering the 8500. Is anyone familiar with the C336A. I understand that it has better photo abilities. Any omments on one over the other excluding the photo options.
I have a HP 8500 all in one wireless, my scan to preview function is missing and I am not refering to the PDF to preview. Anyone can help me restore the scan to preview. thank
Hi
Works well.
Impressed overall.
One problem I can’t solve is the ’scan direct to email’ It scans my document then says ‘ server failure’ try again later.
Otherwise wireless connectivity excellent, simple to set up.
Any help much appreciated.
Steve
I have no issue sending emails after scaning … Are you sure your setting is correct regarding the email address and the smtp server ? This can be configured through the web interface. Just type your 8500 IP adress in the address bar of your web browser.
Michel.
I got the HP Officejet Pro 8500 about two weeks ago and I keep getting this blue screen when I try to print. It says:
“Run the driver verifier against any new or (suspect) drivers. If that doesn’t reveil the corupting driver, try enabling special pool. Both of these features are intended to catch the corruption at an early point where the offending driver can be identified.”
I have to restart my computer each time this blue screen appears.
Any suggestions?
anyone know how to get rid of the issue for having a blank page in between in each fax sheet that comes through!?!?!