g wrote:
On 09/23/2010 12:50 PM, Richard Shaw wrote:
> I currently have a HP Photosmart C5580 which is a decent all-in-one
<snip>
> Since in general HP printers are well supported, one of the printers
> I'm looking at is the HP Photosmart B8550[1].
>
> My inlaws have one of the Epson Artisan printers and it seems to do
> well so I'm also considering the Artisan 835[2].
<snip>
as for recommending a printer, i will not.
having been in photo finishing business servicing equipment for over
30 years, i still like photo negative and photo paper prints.
ink layers just do not have quality of emulsion layers.
that said, and from what i have seen in ink layer printing it is
getting better, but still has a long way to go.
i will make a few suggestions.
stay with a good name brand. in order of personal choice based on
what i have seen, hp, cannon, epson.
laser jet over ink jet.
get a printer that is not an 'all in one'. you will pay a more,
but if one fails, you do not lose both.
get a printer that has 3 or 4 individual color cartridges, plus black.
get a printer that has a high dots per inch, even if it's out put
is a little slower. you want quality, not quantity.
shop around for best deal on price. there are plenty out there.
Your points are well considered, I will add two more thoughts.
All-in-one: gives you the ability to put your functions in arm's reach, which
can save time if you are doing this for business or use it a lot.
I use a big LaserJet for b/w printing, buy the high capacity toner. I rarely use
11x17, but nice to have, and it prints the postscript itself. I do very little
color, so that's an issue for me. It also does double sided printing, something
I find useful for keeping my paper thin, rather than anything I use for
presentation, where pretty is more important.
--
Bill Davidsen <davidsen(a)tmr.com>
"We have more to fear from the bungling of the incompetent than from
the machinations of the wicked." - from Slashdot