HP Photosmart Pro B9180 Review

Beware of this printer. I bought one a little over a year ago and was never able to print more than ten pictures reliably. The paper would jam halfway through nearly every print job. The few times the printer managed to complete a job, the results were decent, however these were few and far between.

After approximately 10-11 months of trying various paper and setting combinations, I finally gave in and called HP's tech support. I'd read many reviews of this experience and I was prepared for the worst. Sadly, my expectations were confirmed.

The first 45 minutes of my initial call was spent trying to navigate HP's support queues. Eventually I really someone who walked through the usual "level one" tests, e.g. confirm power, confirm paper, etc. I've worked in enterprise IT for ten years so this was a bit annoying but I was pleasant throughout, recognizing that the guy had a job to do.

Eventually the conclusion was that I should try different paper. I agreed, and he promised HP would send a small bundle for testing. After waiting three weeks, I called to check on the order and found that it had been cancelled. The reason given was that the printer was no longer under warranty. Excellent work, HP.

I'm sad to say that this experience is precisely what I had expected--an infuriating waste of time. With no further recourse, I took the printer to a nearby dumpster and bid farewall.

In short, don't buy this printer. And if you do, never, ever call HP for support. It will be a complete waste of time.

Damon

This printer is mechanically appalling, and HP offer NO after-sales support whatsoever. Immediately it is out of warranty (one year), HP will wash their hands of it. No servicing. No repairs. Nowt!
I have had mine for 18 months. Within six months of purchase it shed bits of the paper feed (little knurled wheels and a rubber roller). I managed to replace the rubber, but not the wheels. In the most part I was doing A3+ straight-feed heavyweight paper giclees using HP inks and either HP or Hahnemuhle paper. So, all according to HPs requirements.
A few weeks after that, it started to give software error message, and stop halfway through a print cycle - costly on a long A3 width pano print! I was away for a few weeks on shoots etc and when I came back had a lot to get through. The B9180 did a couple of dozen A3+ posters for a client before it once again died. This time terminally. In total, it logged less than 700 print cycles. Repeated contacts with the on-line 'support' at HP US (none in Europe) failed totally to grasp the problem or provide a solution.
This cost more than £500 new in 2007. When it did work, it was unbelievably noisy, violent - it would shake its trolley around the floor - and had horrendous ink consumption, constantly wanting to recalibrate itself.
Avoid this machine and HP printers generally AT ALL COSTS! Sadly, I sold my elderly but incredibly reliable Canon A3 colour printer just before this thing died. There's a message there somewhere!