HP Color Laser MFP 179fwg

Three Months with the HP Color Laser MFP 179fwg: My Honest Experience

The HP Color Laser MFP 179fwg - Compact yet powerful multifunction printer

After several years of battling with an inkjet printer that seemed to need new cartridges every time I wanted to print something important, I finally decided it was time for an upgrade. My small home office deserved better, and I needed something reliable that wouldn't cost a fortune in supplies. After considerable research, I settled on the HP Color Laser MFP 179fwg—a compact color laser printer that promised to deliver quality, reliability, and reasonable running costs.

What initially caught my eye was its relatively small footprint. Unlike many bulky laser printers that command significant desk space, the 179fwg seemed reasonably sized for my modest home office setup. And the fact that it offered printing, scanning, copying, and even faxing capabilities in one device sealed the deal for me.

If you're looking for a compact color laser printer that won't break the bank, check out the HP Color Laser MFP 179fwg on Amazon to see current pricing and availability.

Unboxing and Setup: Easier Than Expected

Another angle of the HP Color Laser MFP 179fwg showing its compact design

When the printer arrived, I was pleasantly surprised by how straightforward the setup process was. The printer comes with four starter toner cartridges pre-installed, which is a nice touch that saves you from the immediate hassle of installing them yourself. The quick start guide was clear enough, though I did end up turning to YouTube for some visual guidance on connecting to my Wi-Fi network.

I should mention that connecting via Wi-Fi took a couple of attempts. The small LCD screen and navigation buttons aren't the most intuitive for entering network passwords, but once connected, the printer has maintained a stable connection for months without dropping. If you're more comfortable with a wired connection, the Ethernet port works flawlessly too—I tested both options before settling on Wi-Fi for the convenience of placement.

One aspect I particularly appreciate is the HP Smart app, which makes scanning documents to my phone or laptop incredibly convenient. Setting up the app took just a few minutes, and it's become an essential part of my workflow.

Print Quality and Performance: The True Test

The real measure of any printer is in its output, and this is where the HP Color Laser MFP 179fwg both shines and shows its limitations. For text documents—which make up about 80% of my printing needs—the quality is exceptional. Characters are sharp, crisp, and professional-looking, exactly what you'd expect from a laser printer.

Paper input tray with extension for different paper sizes

Where things get a bit more complicated is with color printing. The printer handles business graphics decently—charts, graphs, and simple designs come out with vibrant colors that are more than adequate for internal use or client presentations. However, I did notice some banding in areas with solid color blocks or gradients. For photo printing, this definitely isn't your best choice—images come out somewhat grainy and lack the depth you'd get from a good inkjet.

Speed-wise, the printer performs quite well for black and white documents, churning out about 18 pages per minute in my experience. Color printing is significantly slower at around 4 pages per minute, but that's to be expected in this price range. My only real complaint is the lack of automatic duplex printing—having to manually flip pages to print on both sides feels archaic in 2024, especially when I'm printing longer documents.

My experience with this printer has been largely positive for my small business needs. Get more details and check current deals on the HP Color Laser MFP 179fwg here.

Scanning and Copying: A Pleasant Surprise

The control panel with its LCD display and physical buttons

One feature that has exceeded my expectations is the scanner, which comes with a 40-sheet automatic document feeder (ADF). The scanning resolution of 600 dpi is sufficient for most business documents, and I've found the color accuracy to be quite good. While scanning multiple pages, I've had very few issues with paper jams—a refreshing change from my previous printer.

The copying function works as expected, producing faithful reproductions of original documents. One minor drawback is that copies tend to be slightly lighter than the originals, especially when copying already faint text. The control panel for scanning and copying functions is intuitive enough, though the two-line LCD display sometimes requires scrolling through multiple menus to find specific settings.

For my invoice scanning and document archiving purposes, this printer has proven to be a reliable workhorse. The ability to scan directly to email or to my phone has streamlined my paperwork processing considerably.

Costs and Considerations: The Long-Term Value

Let's talk about the elephant in the room when it comes to any printer purchase: running costs. The initial price of the HP Color Laser MFP 179fwg is quite reasonable for a color laser multifunction printer, making it accessible for home offices and small businesses.

As for toner, the standard cartridges yield approximately 1,000 pages for black and 700 pages for each color. In my three months of ownership, I haven't had to replace any cartridges yet, despite printing several hundred pages. This has been a welcome change from the frequent cartridge replacements my inkjet required.

When it does come time to replace the toners, there are both genuine HP options and third-party alternatives. I haven't had to make this decision yet, but I've researched the options and found reasonably priced compatible cartridges that have good reviews. This should help keep the long-term operating costs manageable.

One cost-saving feature I appreciate is that the printer uses separate toner cartridges for each color, so you only need to replace the colors you've used up. This is significantly more economical than printers that require you to replace the entire color cartridge when just one color runs low.

Who Should Consider This Printer?

After three months with the HP Color Laser MFP 179fwg, I have a good sense of who would benefit most from this printer:

• Small business owners who print primarily text documents with occasional color needs
• Home office workers who need reliable, low-maintenance printing
• Anyone tired of dealing with dried-out inkjet cartridges
• Users who need all-in-one functionality (print, scan, copy, fax) in a compact device
• People with modest print volumes (under 500 pages per month)

On the other hand, this printer might not be the best fit if you:

• Print a lot of high-quality photos (a photo-oriented inkjet would serve you better)
• Need automatic duplex printing
• Have very high-volume printing needs (over 1,000 pages per month)
• Require specialty paper handling like envelopes or cardstock (the printer can be finicky with these)

Ready to upgrade your home office with a reliable color laser printer? View the HP Color Laser MFP 179fwg on Amazon to see if it's the right fit for your needs.

Final Thoughts: A Solid Performer with Some Limitations

Three months in, I'm satisfied with my decision to purchase the HP Color Laser MFP 179fwg. It delivers what I need most—reliable, quality printing without constant maintenance or ink emergencies. The multifunction capabilities have proven useful beyond what I initially expected, especially the scanner with ADF.

Yes, there are some limitations. The lack of auto-duplex printing is occasionally frustrating, and color prints aren't going to win any awards. The control panel could be more intuitive, and the paper tray capacity is modest at 150 sheets.

But for my small business needs, where reliability and reasonable running costs are the priorities, it's been a significant upgrade from my previous inkjet printer. The convenience of not having to worry about dried-out cartridges or streaky prints has been worth every penny.

If you're looking for a compact, capable color laser multifunction printer that won't break the bank—and you understand its limitations—the HP Color Laser MFP 179fwg is worth considering. It's been a reliable workhorse in my home office, and I expect it will continue to serve me well for years to come.

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