HP LaserJet CM3530 review

When testing the CM3530 with our usual black text Microsoft Word document (38 pages), we got an average first page out as fast as 15 seconds. So a little slower than advertised but we were working with a large print job (the first page out times dropped to average time of 11 seconds with a one or two page job). It took a 1:25 to print 38 pages from hitting print, giving us an average of 25 ppm. But if you cut out the processing time of 15 seconds, you are actually getting 38 pages in 1:10 which gave us an average ppm closer to HP’s claims.

Either way, I was impressed to find that color tests we did (also a word document with a color chart and black text) gave us the exact same results. First page out was an average of 15 seconds and we got the same average of 25 ppm (when including processing time) and 32 ppm (when excluding processing time).

I printed a 32 page black text document using the duplexing feature in 1:25, with a first page out (both sides) in 21 seconds. A tad slower than printing one-sided jobs but you will save paper and toner.

Wondering about the quality of the prints? They were excellent. The black text was dark and crisp; the color images were bold and the detail was surprisingly good for a laser printer. I printed an 8×10 image of my puppy and found that the detail around her face and eyes really carried over from the original image. The color itself left a little to be desired. There was a good range of colors but they weren’t as vibrant or distinct as you would get from an inkjet photo printer.

Scanning on the CM3530 was impressive to many in my office but when talking to the photo pros they found it was lacking in areas. For instance, the CM3530 can scan an image or document and send it to the shared network folder in as little as eight seconds when saved as a JPEG file. When saved as a PDF, the CM3530 scanned an image or document and sent it to the shared folder in 13 seconds. That is another nice feature; having the choice to save scanned images how you choose.

But the scanner wasn’t perfect. When we scanned in an 8×10 color image, it did a good job with the detail but changed the levels which altered the brightness of the photograph. It also changed the saturation of the colors and over exaggerated imperfections from the printing process.

What I would really like to make clear is that the CM3530 is built as an office machine so the scanner is NOT geared towards replicating 8×10 professional photos. It is geared towards duplicating less detailed images and documents. For everyday users and amateurs photographers, the scanner is more than enough.

We also tested the power consumption of the LaserJet CM3530 even though it is Energy Star qualified because energy waste and laser printers have gone hand-in-hand in the past. During start up, the CM3530 uses about 80 W initially, spikes up to 1000 W for three or four seconds, then drops back down to 100 W. Once it is warmed up, the CM3530 pulsates between 50-100 W of energy. When actually printing, it uses 550 W but drops back to down to under 100 W when in ready mode.

There is a sleep mode on the CM3530 can be set ahead of time to automatically sleep, or users can hit the sleep button on the device control panel. The sleep setting used about 46 W which isn’t bad in comparison to other similar laser printers.

PROS

• Print speeds (quick in both B&W and color)
• Built-in duplexing (print and copy)
• JetDirect Embedded Print Server
• Large color touchscreen

CONS

• Isn’t great at scanning large photo quality images
• Inital cost
• No fax capability (on this model)

CONCLUSION

After reviewing the HP LaserJet Cm3530, I would recommend this MFP to any small or medium sized office. Here’s why: it printed – black text and color images – quickly and efficiently and it offered a bevy of features on the base model. My two concerns would be that some offices might want fax capability; HP does offer this feature on the CM3530fs but it will cost an extra $500. Which leads me to my second concern, high initial cost which can be taxing on a small business. HP offers a trade-in program which can save consumers up to $600 on CM3530 or can set up payment plans that brings the price down to a more affordable monthly price.

Having said all that, I’ve decided that the HP LaserJet CM3530 deserves an Editor’s Choice award. You might find faster print speeds or more cost-efficient devices out there, but the CM3530 gives users speed, quality and quantity. What more can you ask for from a printer?

PRICING AND AVAILABILITY

The HP LaserJet CM3530 MFP is available now for $2,499 on HP’s website.

Toner replacement per cartridge varies; regular black toner cartridge is $133.99, high volume black toner is $192.99 and all three colors are $264.99 a cartridge through HP SureSupply.