Thanks to a built-in LCD touchscreen, even a computer-phobe can feel right at home with the HP Photosmart D7360 desktop photo printer. Printing photos is a simple matter of touching the screen and following the wizards.

The D7360 uses the now expected six-color ink system (cyan, magenta, yellow, light cyan, light magenta, black). Each color comes its in own cartridge, so you can replace them individually, rather than tossing everything because you used up one color.

Two paper trays simplify paper handling. The standard tray holds letter-size paper, as well as 5x7 and 8x10 photo paper; the dedicated photo tray holds 4x6 photo paper.

Printing with the D7360 is an interesting process. You can, of course, print directly from a computer, but you can also connect the printer to a PictBridge-compatible digital camera, or plug your camera's memory card into the printer's built-in card reader. When you choose the standalone option, you use the touchscreen LCD to select an image and paper tray, as well as to apply image editing tools, if desired. With just the touch of a Save button, you can also transfer your photos from your camera to your computer.

We gave the D7360 good marks for output quality, with one caveat. The type of paper you use plays an important role with any photo printer, but even more so with the inks that HP uses with the D7360. We had excellent results with HP's Advanced photo paper, which has a smudge-free finish that dries almost instantly to the touch. Other papers had some trouble absorbing the ink, and needed extra time to dry.Output speeds were respectable, with 4x6 prints taking just over a minute, and 8x10 prints slightly more than two minutes.

The HP Photosmart D7360 is a good choice for individuals who aren't computer savvy, or who need a standalone printer; for others, the inclusion of a touchscreen may not be worth the additional cost.

Pro: Two paper trays, touchscreen LCD display, individual ink cartridges saves money.
Con: Needs Advanced paper for best quality printing, touchscreen adds cost without adding significant benefit for most individuals

Warranty
1 year, limited