I was delighted when my new Envy 5530 started first time but HPs installation
and support process really annoyed me. Here is a list of the issues I recall
from the traumatic installation process yesterday.
1. First I tried to register the product and was told that I was already
registered to Snapfish. This came as a surprise as I have never used Snapfish
but I guess I was required to register when I bought my last (note not current)
PC, which was from HP. However I don’t see why I need to use Snapfish just
because I bought one of your printers.
2. As I had of course no idea what the password was for Snapfish, I had to
set a new one. However it appears that the format constraints were not clear so
I had to try several times to discover that Snapfish only allowed letters and
numbers. If you are going to limit what can be put in a password can you
please say what is allowed up front?
3. Installation on my PC worked reasonably well after I managed to register
with HP I tried to use e-print. I received a message from HP saying that a
document was available to print, but nothing was visible on your web site and
nothing printed on my PC. What am I supposed to do now?
4. I tried to install drivers on my wife’s Windows PC and the only option
that appeared to be available, once the printer was detected, was to go through
the whole process again. Surely there is a simpler process for connecting a
second or third PC to the printer? Instead I was left to wonder if I should
allow the standard process or try to leave out some of the steps. And if I
selected the standard options, would that screw up the initial implementation?
This is surely a common issue and I suggest you ask, before installation if the
printer is already registered with HP or not and adapt the process
accordingly.
5. I seem to have all sorts of additional HP software on my PC now,
including some diagnostic stuff I download to help solve the e-print problem (it
didn’t as far as I know as it only identified the drivers for my old printer).
6. Why am I required to have all these “apps” and addins that seem to be
totally useless as far as I am concerned? Can’t I chose whether to install them
or not? HP Doctor and other programmes on my Sony Vaio have proved useless in
permanently solving problems which is one of the reasons I have ended up dumping
what is probably a perfectly good
7. I spent at least 1 1/2 hours yesterday trying to find answers on your
websites but keep going round in circles, mostly being directed to pages that
seem mostly interested in selling things to me. When I want help I don’t want
more PCs and printers shoved at me. I am hardly likely to be in a mood to buy
another HP product if I need help with the current one, am I?
8. I tried to use the “feedback” buttons on two screens but all I got was
directed to an error message. Is this because you don’t want feedback? In any
event it is really annoying and the result was my plea via Twitter.
So HP please shape up. Your product looks nice and I am hopeful will work
well. But that is all I want. I don’t need to be obstructed and harassed by HP
into the bargain
