HP PhotoSmart D5360 – HP’s Latest Inexpensive Photo Printer

The HP PhotoSmart D5360 tries to be a convincing option for the cheap single-function photo printer. However, its standalone option boils down to directly printing photos from memory card. Any other type of edit needs to be made using PC’s help. Though HP PhotoSmart D5360 does have interesting features for offer such as DVD/CD printer and auto duplexer, it isn’t enough. Costing the same as HP is the $ 100 multifunction Canon Pixma MP470 that copies, scans and prints from both PictBridge devices and memory cards.

Features and Design

The D5360 has a standard PhotoSmart look. Its control panel is minimal. Though non-adjustable, the 1.5 inch LCD is mounted on raised panel. Onboard features of this device are also minimal. Though you could print pictures off the memory card, the same can’t be said of the USB storage device or the USB PictBridge device.

While printing tasks without the system, the only edit option is left is red eye removal. All other things have to be done using PhotoSmart Essential Software. Here, you can edit images, import them, share or print via Snapfish (HP’s online photo-sharing service or e-mail). Editing options include adding special effects, using light tools and color, resizing, rotating, flipping and cropping.

The HP PhotoSmart D 5360 prints directly on specially coated DVD’s and CDs. For this, you have to use Roxio Express Labeler software. It comes with purchase inkjet printable discs and printer.

Overall Performance

In terms of performance, the D5360 scored 5.53 ppm in text printing. It also emerged the speediest for color graphics with a print score of 2.10 ppm. It also improved a bit over Canon’s 4×6 photo print speed, scoring 0.61 ppm. In terms of text prints, the HP was a bit faster than Canon MP470 Pixma. However, it lagged on 4 x 6 photo prints. This device comes at a price tag of $ 170.