HP's email printing: Hit or miss?

HP's web-based printers received mixed reactions from the region's technology press at the release conference in Hong Kong.

It was hailed by some as a truly "revolutionary" product (a word which was thrown around often) following in the steps of Apple as HP open their own brand of app store.

By others, though, it was labelled a solution looking for a need.

Throughout the conference, there were brainstorming sessions to explore the possibilities of a printer which can runs apps, receive emails and print them straight from the web. Some joked that they were asking us what to do with the technology because they didn't know themselves.

Parts of the release could be compared to Apple's approach a few years back, and perhaps some of the tech journos' responses reflect that also. Some of us found it hard to see the benefit of the system, but the same might have been said of Apple's app store.

Also, like Apple, HP's representatives wouldn't be drawn on whether apps of an adult nature would be accepted if developed.

Either way, they have done the smart thing in opening up the API to developers. The number and variety of apps in Apple's store could never have been achieved by Apple alone.

Personally, I was actually quite impressed with the printers and, like many, I wondered why this didn't happen earlier. Give a printer its own email address ... I think it has potential.

They were calling it "the new Polaroid" - instant, easy printing, no wires, no drivers, and even no computer.

It's also a possibility that people won't go out to buy these printers because just because it can receive and print from emails, it will just be a cool feature of their new printer.

And of course, it wouldn't surprise me if HP's competitors emulated the approach fairly quickly.

Do you still print? For business, or pleasure? How often? Do you think printing is doomed? What do you think of HP's latest release?

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Jim   #1   01:11 pm Jul 01 2010

Spam filters better be pretty solid or you'll go through reams of paper advertising Viagra or free Nigerian money.

Mike   #2   07:19 am Jul 05 2010

So now I'll have to get the security wonks to run a full Vulnerability Assessment, including Penetration Testing, on every new model HP printer. Maybe, every new firmware release?

Thus turning a $3,000 printer into a $30,000 security liability. Brilliant

Phil   #3   09:45 am Jul 05 2010

Mike, they are only doing this for the cheap and nasty printers. Like the inkjets with cartridges that cost $300 each to replace (or something).

rob   #4   11:07 pm Jul 05 2010

I print the odd recipe, plane boarding pass or map, but that's all. Enough that I need a printer, not enough that I'm going to shell out for extra features. I suspect I'm not alone in that.

Johno   #5   05:40 pm Jul 07 2010

I think a desk phone that displays and prints emails would be a great idea. I have old family members that would love to get emails but just can't and will not use a computer.

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