The hardware explored

Here we take a visual tour of the 7960:


The HP Photosmart 7960 is physically very wide in order to accommodate three ink cartridges at a time. However, HP's traditional front-loading design means only a modest depth is consumed by the footprint of the printer (below):


A low profile design, the 7960 doesn't sprout extra paper rests and lids in order to be used.


When used without a host PC you can preview images to be printed, configure print selections and settings and view the status of a print job via a 2.5 inch colour LCD screen.


The LCD screen tilts so you can obtain the best viewing angle.


Paper larger than 15x10cm fits in the lower section of the front paper tray. Access can be made easier by flipping up the top of the tray that doubles as the rest for printed pages.


A secondary paper tray for blank 15x10cm photo media is situated above and to the right of the main paper tray. It needs to be physically engaged to switch the feed from the main tray.


A handy flip-up paper stop is provided to prevent printed pages from falling off the end of the top rest. The only problem with it is that it feels like it won't last very long.


To access the front USB port or the media card slots, you need to open a wide plastic lid.


This close-up shows the media card slots and secondary front USB port. The 7960 can read SmartMedia, SD, MMC, Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro, Compact Flash I and II (including Microdrives) and xD cards, without the need for an adapter. The front USB port can be used for convenient printing from, say, a laptop or direct from a supported HP Photosmart digital camera.

Some labels would have been useful.


Your xD card slot goes in here.



To gain access to the print cartridges you need to open the printer up clamshell-style by pressing this button.


The whole top of the printer gapes open to reveal the three ink cartridge slots in their parked position to the right. Colour coding reduces the risk of fitting the wrong cartridge to a slot.


Here the tri-colour No.57 cartridge, No.58 photo cartridge and No.59 grey ink cartridge are fitted. The coloured locating levers that lock the cartridges in place are shown up and disengaged.


As the No.56 (pigment black) and No.59 (photo grey) cartridges must be swapped around, one will always be uninstalled. While out the printer, to prevent leaks and the print head from drying out, a simple cartridge stand is provided.


This is what the rear of the 7960 looks like. It looks fairly featureless until...


...you remove the blanking plate that would be replaced by the optional duplexing unit that enables double-sided plain paper printing.


Here is a close up of the rear USB port and proprietary power connector port.