The Officejet Pro K550 offers a combination that's tough to beat. Its output speeds can stand up to those of many laser printers. Its per-page printing costs are less than most color laser printers for color jobs (under 8 cents per page), and less than most monochrome laser printers for monochrome jobs (as low as 1.5 cents per page).

The K550 is compact and easy to set up. As is true of many printers, the package does not include a USB cable (around $20 to $25 from HP). The four ink cartridges and two print heads are easy to install, even if the illustrations in the set-up guide are a little confusing.

Five buttons and lights on the right front side of the printer provide easy access to all controls and let you know the printer's current status. Some of the lights have more than one flashing code and meaning, which can take a little getting used to. Four buttons on the left front side of the printer let you know when an individual ink cartridge is getting low, so you won't run out in the middle of a print job. You can also check ink levels from within the Toolbox (Windows) or the HP Printer Utility (Mac).

The K550 supports printing resolutions of up to 1,200X1,200 dpi for monochrome, and up to 4,800X1,200 dpi for color, both while using premium paper. Output quality is excellent for text, line art, and grayscale images. Output quality for color photos is good, but not as good as a dedicated photo printer.

The 250-sheet paper tray is low for business use, but you can add a second, 350-sheet paper tray ($99.99) if you prefer to load paper less often. Other available options include a Bluetooth Wireless Printer Adapter ($159.99) and an automatic duplexer ($79.99).

The K550 ships with a power cord, four ink cartridges (cyan, magenta, yellow, and black), and a CD with drivers and user guide.

Pros: Stylish design. Low per-page costs for monochrome printing, relatively low per-page costs for color printing. Ink cartridge capacity is higher than many typical inkjet cartridges. Separate ink cartridges save money on consumables
Cons: Photo quality is average to slightly above average. Network connectivity is an expensive option. Set-up guide can be confusing, although the printer is not difficult to set up

Warranty
1 year, limited