(2009-10-05) Hp Photosmart Multifunction Box

Now that I don't have a KinKo-s around the corner, decided it was time to give in and buy a Multifunction Box (All In One) (printer, scanner, fax, copier). Bought HP PhotoSmart Premium Fax C309a.

Can be accessed wirelessly, but going to try wiring it to Time Capsule for sharing, just like old printer.

• so I guess I follow the wired/USB instructions, since as far as the HP is concerned, it's wired to a "computer" (the Time Capsule).

• running the new installer software on my MacBook.

  • hmm, chicken/egg problem: want to use Add Printer Control Panel, since printer is visible via BonJour, but don't have driver available. Likewise HP installer software can't see printer/box because it hasn't been added. So treating it as Wireless connection (since that's what makes sense from the MacBook installation perspective). Now the driver is available to the Control Panel. So I Add Printer there, then go back to the installer app to configure: hmm, it's not seeing the printer.

  • but successfully printed from Text Wrangler. (Though it takes over 30sec before the connection opens to the printer.) Still don't see it when I relaunch Setup Assistant.

• but HP Device Manager seems happy enough to run.

  • but when I dbl-click on "Scan to PDF", it launches HP Scan Pro, which fails to find scanner.

• the HP Printer Utility (launched by clicking on Utility button on the printer-control-panel window header) lists the printer but says it's unavailable. (But tried printing again, with success again.)

• tried live-support-chat, eventually established that they don't support MacOs X via live-chat, so had to email support.

• also posted to Apple support forum.

• some other options:

  • attach USB cable directly to my MacBook (though that's not a good permanent solution).

  • set up printer to be on WiFi network itself, rather than connecting through Time Capsule

• (at 12:11) ok trying to put HP on WiFi network directly

  • did setup successfully, it kicked out report page

  • tried printing: software looked like it was working, it sounded like it was working, but paper never came out

  • also noting the device name used in title ends with "- Fax", which worries me.

  • also noting that printer-control window no longer has "Utility" or "Scan" buttons.

  • relaunch HP Setup Assistant - ah, it sees printer now

    • doing Fax settings (even though I don't have phone wire connected - dreading UVerse issues there...)

    • ah, now add the device again via Printer Control Panel (removing previous entry)

  • try printing - it works

  • try scanning from HP Device Manager - seems to start ok! But then crashes! (I had no paper in the feeder.) Put paper in, try again. Get prompt saying it sees feeder engaged, telling me to Accept; so I do. Seems to be working... Yep that worked, PDF opened up in Preview, etc.

Update on scanning via Time Capsule: Kappy posts Scanning wirelessly is not supported by an AEBS or Time Capsule. It may not be supported even when connected directly to a computer's USB port unless the HP drivers support it. HP has recently released updated drivers here, but these will not work if the printer is connected to a Time Capsule or AEBS.

Nov06 update: gadzooks getting low-ink (black) warning already!