New Colour Photo Printers released in Q1'00
Introduction
February saw an amazing number of new photo-quality printers announced. Here are some of the highlights.
Epson has reduced the price of its Stylus Color 900 and Stylus Color 900G colour inkjet models, as noted in the link at the end of this article. The company was also showing a new product behind closed doors at the Comdex West show in Jan. 2000 that, say those who saw it, was nothing short of spectacular. That product, officially announced Feb. 3, turned out to be the US$299 Stylus Photo 870, a new "digital photo lab" printer with new inks and paper that promise fade resistance and photo-like image quality.
Also that day, Sony introduced the UP-DP10, a USB-based photo printer that produces what the company characterizes as "photo-lab-quality" images up to 4x6 inches in size. It's due in Q2 for about US$389. A PR Newswire announcement provides details.
HP, too, is generating spectacular-looking output with its newest DeskJet printer models. These units, which use a very small (5 picolitre) ink drop size, and a technique of laying down the inks in layers that produces what most would characterize as true photo quality. At least until Epson's mystery printer hits the market later this year, the C$549 HP DeskJet 970Cse is our Editor's Choice in photo-quality printers. (A more expensive 1100 series DeskJet model adds infrared communication capabilities.)
Hewlett-Packard (Canada) Ltd. on Feb. 1st announced several new products using similar technology to that of the 970Cse. HP announced "most like a photo" quality at lower-prices with DeskJet 930C/932C and DeskJet 950C/952C printers at estimated Canadian selling prices of $299 and $449, respectively. The printers include features new to the DeskJet line that the company says enhance the overall customer experience. In addition to its 100-sheet regular paper tray, the DeskJet 950C/952C printer allows users to store up to 20 sheets of HP's "snapshot" size photo media in its built-in 4 inch x 6 inch paper tray. With it, users can print ready-to-frame photo images in minutes. The DeskJet 930C/932C printer includes a fold-up paper tray providing, the company maintains, a compact printing solution for home users with limited workspace or students with small dorm rooms.
The printers utilize HP's enhanced colour-layering technology dubbed PhotoREt III. The technology uses tiny drop sizes (five picolitres) and precise algorithms to place up to 29 ink drops per dot, thus providing a wider range of colours and finer colour control. The units also provide a so-called "Alternative photo mode," yielding up to 2,400 x 1,200 dpi printing on photo paper.
As well, HP announced a new DeskJet 840C model, offering built-in photo quality printing for C$229. Details at www.hp.com
For Further Reading:
Post new comment