"What to know about the HP Color LaserJet CM1312 Mfp printer using HP Color LaserJet CM1312 MFP printer toner cartridges comes down to understanding that one will be getting what is known as ""all-in-one"" or multifunction printer capable of also scanning and copying. Additionally, Hewlett-Packard has delivered his printer at an attractive price point that makes a competitive with many other higher-end printers. Its print quality is excellent and it is also fairly speedy, which is something unusual with multi-functions at this price point."

This excellent print quality comes, though, at somewhat of a trade-off, which is something that most multifunction printers ask a user to accept. To get good print quality, one will have to be comfortable with a print speed rate of about 12 pages per minute for black and white and eight pages for color. It's no speed demon but most users looking for multifunction printers probably wouldn't care.

Resolution of printed copy per page is handled nicely because of its 600 dpi print resolution capability. Everything that comes out of the 1312 will look clear, clean and sharp and there will be little, if any, evidence of any smearing or smudging. When acting as a copier, the 1312 can enlarge up to 400% and reduce down to 25% the size of anything that's asked to copy. For best results, print with HP Color LaserJet laser toners.

Print time from tasking to emergence of the first sheet is 25 seconds in black-and-white. It will take an additional 6 seconds longer than that for something to be done in color. While this isn't particularly speedy, this machine will certainly deliver print quality that will be more than acceptable, which is probably what Hewlett-Packard meant to do in slowing things down a bit.

Always remember that, like any multi-function printer, the 1312 will be able to copy, print and scan. This necessarily means that the unit is a large compromise as far as doing any one of the three functions in an outstanding manner. However, the 1312 strives mightily to do so and when one takes into account how recently it's priced, the 1200 dpi scan resolution also looks exceptional.

Standard memory is also fine -- especially for a multifunction printer -- at 120 MB. There is no capability for memory upgrade, but that is usually the case for most multifunction units sold by this company in this particular market segment. It's easy enough to hook the printer up to either a PC, Mac or even to a small network, as it uses a high-speed USB connection port. No other wired connectivity capability is available.

Durability with the 1312 is excellent, and it has a monthly maximum duty cycle of around 30,000 impressions. This means that the 1312 will be able to copy or print up to 30,000 sheets of paper before it will need any sort of maintenance. Additionally, it can hold about 150 sheets of paper within its tray and will be able to print out on the wide variety of stock such as transparencies and envelopes. It runs off of a number of different Windows or Mac operating systems as well.