AFFORDABLE, adaptable and adequate print quality. These are the qualities you get from HP's tiniest laser printer to date.

Weighing just 5kg and about the size of an A4 paper, the P1005 is an ideal choice for homes and offices where space is a premium.

Obviously, there are some things you'll have to do without with a printer this small. For instance, it doesn't have network connectivity, which means sharing this printer with a group of co-workers via the office print server is a no go.

Also, the P1005 doesn't come with advanced printing options like auto duplex. Nor does it come with a large paper input tray - it only takes 150 sheets.

Expect entry-level features and specifications like a Tensilica 266MHz print processor, a 2MB print memory and a standard USB port.

What it does offer is easy usage and fairly good print quality at decent speeds.

Aside from the lengthy but simple installation process, it took me just a few minutes to figure out how the printer works.

Plus, there aren't many buttons on the printer so the first-time user shouldn't be confused. There's a green button that lets you know the printer is ready and a blinking yellow one to indicate a problem. Troubleshooting is easy as well. When a problem appears, solve it by following the on screen instructions on the computer.

At the 600 x 600 dpi print setting, you get smooth lines on text and charts. You can even read small 6-point Arial fonts clearly.

Photo prints are equally good with no visible lines running across images. The ink spread is also consistent, with no visible white spots on large black text.

The P1005 prints at a decent 14 pages per minute. This isn't the fastest speed in town, and it doesn't come close to the similarly compact, slightly more expensive OKI B2200n ($299) printer that prints 20ppm.

But for the price you pay, it does provide print speed that is good enough.

FINAL SAY

At $209, this low-cost, no-fuss printer should easily fall within the budget of the home user or the small office home office user.

• HP P1005 LaserJet printer
• $209; Toner: HP LaserJet Black Print Cartridge (CB435A) at $95
• Currently available at all authorized HP dealers

By Adli Yashir

This article was first published in Digital Life, The Straits Times on Apr 1, 2008.