New HP Printer Doesn’t Need A PC

What exactly does "doesn’t need a PC" mean? It means this printer doesn’t need a PC at all. It’s web-connected on its own. This is called the HP Photosmart Premium and yes, it has its own 4.33-inch touch screen. When I say it doesn’t need the PC at all, I meant it.

According to this article, this will be introduced in the fall and set you back $399.

To be honest, I’m left scratching my head wondering how this product could be useful to anybody. I mean, yeah, browsing the internet on the printer itself, finding what you want to print, then printing it sounds cool.. but I think this printer is trying to solve a problem that doesn’t exist.

Is HP trying to say you don’t need a computer, just your printer? Well, that obviously won’t work. People aren’t going to throw out their PCs in favor of a 4.33-inch touch screen with limited capabilities.

I do not see a legitimate home use for this, but I could see this for use in public places like libraries, coffee shops, airport terminals and so on. In environments such as those, yes this printer would serve itself well. If one of these were outfitted with a small meter where you could drop coins in (say $1.00 for 5 minutes), in public service this would work great. It would be like having a super-small FedEx Kinko’s or UPS Store all in a neat little box. After all, it not only prints, but faxes, copies and scans too.

But in the home? I just can’t see anybody going for it. That is unless I’m totally missing the point of what this printer is about?

Would you buy this thing for use in the home? And if so, why? Or why not? I’ve love to know.

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http://simoncrabb.com Simon Crabb
I think this is aimed at people who DON’T have have a PC at all. Nor any intention of having one.
With a modern mobile phone, and a digital camera, lots of people want to print photos etc, which this printer enables them to do. But it also enables them to print off emails, documents, etc, that they might have got on their phone, but want a hard copy of it.
It’s a pretty niche device, but if you take the sector of the market who don’t do PCs at all, then they’ve filled a gap?

Nick C.
i understand your thought process but with the price point it still doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. instead of this all-in-one nonsense for $399 i could buy a $249 netbook and a printer/fax/scanner/copier all-in-one for $50. total savings: $50 — now i can buy ink and paper and still only spend $399. i get it that some people dont want a computer, but why would they waste money just to not have one?

BILL
I’m with you Rich I don’t get-it… I’ll stick with my $50 hp printer!!! I don’t want anything smarter then my P.C. because wouldn’t you think that the print and the pc would fight for control? Like you said what is the point.
Jon
Hey mom Christmas is coming up and there is this really cool printer that i want (for no obvious reason) and you should buy it for me hint hint
Who cares if this printer doesn’t need a computer the fact that its an upgrade from my other HP printer which is wireless and awsome means its on my list.