HP Deskjet D2430 Printer (CB614A#B1H)

great little printer, works great for the price. I didn't want anything big and expensive, this was a good choice, recommend it for people in a small office that need something small but effective.

I got this printer today, and wanted to share the funny debacle that followed software installation of it on Vista (but believe me, it wasn't funny while it was going on during an intense paper-due-tomorrow crunch).

Firstly, I unchecked installation of all software components I did NOT want clogging up my computer. Apparently I should have been more careful - for every. single. tab. I tried to open in Explorer after the software was in place, Windows Security Shield popped up a message that HP was trying to open its web imaging software. Casual browsing became this huge nuisance, and you guessed it, HP does not let you disable the web printing service once you've installed it.

At this point I'm stressed to my bones and figure I should try and ask their online chat "technician" whether there is any humanly possible way to deactivate the web-print service that is causing the annoying security messages (in Vista, it keeps popping up even if you choose to "disallow" and for the program to be remembered). I am assuredly told that "we shall deal with this issue together".

This technician of genius then proceeds to tell me I need to RESET THE START PAGE of my browser. I go, what, how's this supposed to help me? I won't do that, it makes no sense. She then sagely advises me to TURN ON THE POP-UP BLOCKER - I specified twice that the pop-ups had nothing to do with the browser, but with the Security Shield being bugged by HP's web-print service wanting to get access to my browser.

Fortunately her insistence I do ridiculous tweaks with my browser rather than fix the friggin HP software settings reminded me I could disallow HP as an add-on (go to "manage add-ons" in your browser options). Three hours later, I get a "follow-up" e-mail where this same support person tells me to turn off my phishing filter (jesus christ, I definitely will NOT)... sigh.

One hour after that, the software starts telling me there is no color cartridge (there is, and I re-install it and re-start the printer). Problem is, it apparently wants to do this everytime I unplug the printer from my laptop and open the laptop again... and the pop-ups return with 6-second intervals. Great job making this printer Vista-compatible, you guys.

I'm returning this printer as soon as my paper is done. I'm sure it's very nice printing quality, I just can't deal with the way HP tries to take over my computer and ends up leaving it a mess -- and man, if this is what support is like over a directly HP-related issue, I DON'T want to know what they'd do with a more complex problem.

DOES NOT COME WITH A BLACK CARTRIDGE NOR A USB CABLE!

Otherwise does what it is suppose to!

I needed a printer for my home use, and this is just what I was looking for.
Had to purchase some things that I expected to be included but were not.
Otherwise I am satisfied.

Fast Delivery. Good product for the price. It does printing and pix very well. It will eat up ink fast (since the cartridges are small)unless you use the "fast" or "draft" settings. Also, it's a tad on the noisey side.