HP LaserJet P1566 review

Small, cheap and easy to use, the HP LaserJet Pro P1566 is a mono laser printer aimed at single-user environments.

The two-toned chassis is compact at just 387 x 243 x 246mm and reasonably lightweight at 6kg. However, its compact nature means that the input and output trays jut out from the main unit. It also looks a little untidy, with a translucent plastic cover sitting in a rather ungainly way over the 250-sheet input tray.

USB is the only connection method available, highlighting that this printer is not intended for workgroup use. HP sells a separate wireless print server module that's compatible with the LaserJet Pro P1566 but, at £225+VAT, it's a very expensive option.

Installation was particularly simple thanks to HP's Smart Install utility. Instead of inserting the driver CD, you simply attach the printer to a PC, switch it on and the driver installation wizard pops up automatically.

However, although the printer works with Mac and Linux computers, this Smart Install feature is compatible only with Windows.

One thing we immediately noticed is that this isn't the quietest of printers. Run a long print job and the loud whirring noise will soon start to grate.

HP is clearly aware of this and includes a Quiet Mode option within the printer's driver. Switch this on and it becomes much easier on the ears, but print speeds take a noticeable hit.

Print speed
In standard mode we recorded a print speed of 22ppm; this figure doesn't include the time it takes for the first page to appear, which we timed at just over six seconds from standby and 18.5 seconds from cold. In Quiet Mode, the print speed drops significantly to 12ppm, with the first page taking 9.5 seconds to arrive.