83
What You Should Know
Hands-On Test Report
HP Officejet 4500 All-in-One Printer
March 2010
Wirth Consulting, LLC
Denville, New Jersey USA
www.wirthconsulting.org
Page 13
CLIENT/MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE
The Officejet 4500 All-in-Ones Printer’s client and management
software includes Hewlett-Packard Digital Imaging Monitor,
Solution Center, Toolbox utility, OCR software, Smart Web
Printing utility, and Document Manager. An embedded Web
home page is also available.
Solution Center provides the user with convenient “at-a-glance” system status
information.
STRENGTHS
HP’s Solution Center software is easy-to-use software for
scanning from the computer desktop, convenient sending and
receiving faxes at the computer workstation (PC fax), and for
converting files into editable text files with the included easy-to-
use OCR software. It also indicates current ink levels, and
provides an Eco Tips link that provides suggestions for more
environmentally friendly printing
Solution Center provides users with easy network and wireless
configuration, as well as easy fax and scan setup from the
convenience of the computer workstation. It also provides
extensive Help resources, including video clips that explicitly
show how to perform tasks such as loading paper and installing
ink cartridges, so that even novice users will be able to easily
perform these tasks.
Administrators can choose which software to install, and only the
print and scan drivers need to be installed for full functionality.
The Toolbox utility, which can be conveniently accessed from
the print driver (or from Solution Center), enables users to
quickly check ink-cartridge levels, align and clean the print
heads, order replacement ink cartridges, and access help.
Digital Imaging Monitor icon is installed on the Microsoft
Windows’ task bar, so that with just a quick glance, clients can
see the Officejet 4500’s current device status without launching
software.
Solution Center, the Embedded Web Server (EWS) Web-based
printer home page, and Network Toolbox provide easy network
and device management. These network tools are
straightforward, and enough guidance is provided that even a
less-experienced user will have no difficulty installing and
managing the system on the network, provided they follow the
provided instructions.
Embedded Web Services also provides usage tracking for
administrators, as well as device and consumables’ status
monitoring.
Document Manager software enables users to annotate, fax, e-
mail, and annotate both scanned and saved files, as well as scan
from the computer desktop, and provides an easy-to-use
workspace at the computer desktop.
The included OCR software is an easy-to-use solution for
converting scanned files into text files, such as Microsoft Word,
that can be edited.
NOTE
The installation procedure enables the user to pick and choose the
software to be installed along with the device. We recommend
that the user only install the minimum software, and add
additional software as necessary at a later date by popping the
CD back into the drive. The minimum software installation
includes the print and TWAIN driver that should be sufficient for
most users. If you wish to send scans to a workstation from the
Officejet 4500’s control, you must also install “HP Imaging
Device Functions.” Also recommended is the OCR software for
converting text documents into editable files.