As we approach the last quarter of 2019, the common theme seen in tech is ‘wireless’ and ‘productivity’. In conjunction with this, HP has released their all new Officejet 9020, touting it as a printer that promotes “Smart Business Productivity” for its users. Taking into consideration the word ‘Office’ in its name, its size and number of papers trays that it has, one can gauge the target market which this printer is intended for; Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and offices. Furthermore, certain features of this printer are geared towards commercial users, although it can very well be used by households with slightly higher than average printing needs.
Unboxing
Unboxing the HP Officejet 9020 is simple and without any frills. After hauling the device out of all its styrofoam and plastic packaging; the printer, some instructions, the warranty card(s), and power cables will be seen. HP has also generously included ink cartridges together with it; can begin using the printer immediately after setting it up.
Setup
Out of the box, the initial process of setting up the printer can be done via Wi-Fi, or using an ethernet cable (isn’t provided in the box). Firstly, the printer would have to be connected to a WiFi connection, and this can be done on the printer’s LCD panel. It is to be noted that the printer does not take much time to connect to a Wi-Fi connection. Utilizing Windows 10’s ability to quickly add a printer via a network, drivers don’t have to be downloaded manually, as it will be automatically downloaded by Microsoft.
Once the entire process it complete (it only takes a few minutes), the Officejet 9020 will be in the list of printers and scanners as highlighted in green above. All is left is to print a test page, and its good to go.
Externals & Dimensions
At 44 cm wide with a depth of 40 cm, a height of 32 cm, and a mass of 12.2 kg, the HP Officejet Pro 9020 is by no means a small printer and light printer. However, given its performance and capabilities, its dimensions suddenly seem more than acceptable. Moreover, given the ability to connect it wirelessly, there is no need to lug the printer around to get things printed, scanned, copied or faxed.
The Office 9020 Pro does have several ports on its rear panel that attribute to versatility. Firstly, it has 2 RJ11 ports that allow for faxing. Although fax is pretty much extinct in 2019, it is nice to have in the event of it making a sudden comeback. Also, there are still people who communicate via fax. Besides 2 RJ11 ports, there is a USB host port located below them which allows for printing in the absence of wired or wireless Ethernet. However, the USB cable will need to be obtained separately as it isn’t included in the box. Below the USB host port is the RJ45 Ethernet port.
If the printer is going to be stationary and nearby a router at all times, it can also be connected to the router via an RJ45 Ethernet cable for a more stable connection. Last but not least is the power port of this device, allowing it to receive power.
The USB 2.0 port on the front panel of the printer enables offline printing, scanning and copying. When a USB is plugged in, it allows for printing, scanning and copying from/to the drive without the need for a laptop or desktop.
Usability & Productivity
During the testing of this printer, the were several features that were found to be very useful. First and foremost, the 2.65” touchscreen needs to be addressed. Compared to the printer settings page which can be accessed from the browser, using the touch panel instead was a far more intuitive, and a generally quicker way to navigate through settings.
On the front side of the printer, there are two paper trays which support 250 sheets of paper each. This way, users won’t have to continuously load paper onto the printer. Moreover, to add to its convenience, there is an automatic document feeder which supports up to 35 sheets of paper and can be used to scan, copy or fax multi paged documents.
In-line with HP’s theme of productivity, HP has included a feature called Self-Healing Wi-Fi. It’s supposed to detect and resolve network issues, ensuring a constant connection to the network. During testing, this feature proved itself, as the printer never had any network errors even when subjected to continual printing tasks. Besides WiFi enhancements, HP has an app called HP Smart App which is neatly bundled with the device. This app allows users to increase their work productivity tremendously, as they’re able to schedule printing, scanning and copying sessions remotely. HP coins these functions as “Smart Tasks”, which is an apt name given its advantages.
Moreover, if you only a MacOS or iOS-based device, the Officejet 9020 has got you covered. This is because it has the Apple Air Print feature built it, allowing Apple users to enjoy this device as much as Windows users. Last but not least, the use of Wi-Fi Direct could not be more convenient, as it allows for direct printing of documents from a phone.
Final Thoughts
At, RM 1259, the Officejet 9020 is a solid choice for small home offices, or homes with a higher-than-average demand for printing. Taking into account its smart looking exterior and all its bells and whistles in its interior, the Officejet is an excellent choice at an attractive price. Its productivity rate, ease of connectivity and setup earn it a solid rating.
