Hewlett-Packard has consistently produced printers of a high standard and durability and so the release of the latest in the Photosmart series is a cause for interest. Because success in this field is gauged as much by user-friendliness as speed and quality of delivery, HP has introduced a number of new features to appeal directly to the technophobe.

First of all, it looks sexy and glossy in smooth grey, white and silver tones. It's also all of a piece, with the in and out trays attached and the only supplements being an optional Auto Two-Sided Print Accessory, which clips neatly into the back, and an optional Bluetooth wireless adapter to enable you to print images from your mobile phone.

The first innovation is a touch screen with a large 8.6cm (3.4-inch) colour display that sits up in the middle of the front control panel and is designed for direct photo printing either from memory cards (Secure Digital, CompactFlash, Memory Stick and xD but not SmartMedia) or from digital cameras via Pictbridge through the USB 2.0 slot.

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Through the same display, using HP Photosmart Express, you can preview, save to PC and share images. A Print Wizard guides beginners through the choice of printing tasks, including paper size, enlargements, borders, even CD and DVD labels. Next to the LCD is another novelty; a Photo Fix button which makes use of HP Real Life technology to automatically remove red-eye and enhance lighting, contrast and sharpness.

Also, as well as the usual in and out trays, there's an additional automated photo tray which can hold twenty 115mm sheets of photo paper and is ideal for running off lots of smaller size prints. If you put A4-size photo paper in the main tray at the same time, the printer will detect which job should have priority.

HP has created a new high-end paper type, the HP Advanced Photo Paper, which quickly absorbs ink, dries quickly and avoids smudging whilst retaining quality. There's even a new sensor (Auto Sense) within the printer which detects unique marks on the back of this particular paper so as to select the optimum colour profile and print settings.

HP is making the huge claim that this is the fastest printer in the world, with 10x15cm (6 x 4-inch) photos being churned out as fast as 12 seconds each. Our tests averaged about 15 seconds at best quality, while five A4 pages of mixed black text and colour graphics zoomed out in 90 seconds, which is impressive by any inkjet standards.

There are no fewer than six ink cartridges, using HP Vivera Inks that have a claimed 200 year life-span, and they are both the easiest to load we have come across and, more importantly, long lasting. After a good thirty sheets of graphics, photos and text there was still hardly a dent in the levels and the colours were still vibrant and realistic.

This printer offers a major leap forward in volume photo printing at a friendly price and with a number of user-friendly innovations, including a large LCD display and the opportunity to edit, print and share photos without the use of a computer.