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-------------------------------------------------------------- This story was printed from ZDNet Australia. --------------------------------------------------------------
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The Essential Inkjet Buying Guide September 03, 2001 URL: http://www.zdnet.com.au/reviews/hardware/printersscanners/soa/The-Essential-Inkjet-Buying-Guide/0,139023422,120107928,00.htm
Get top-notch print quality from an inkjet without draining your wallet. Within the last year, true photo-quality inkjets have stormed the market, accompanied by superior resolution, low prices, and long-lasting inks. Even some professional-quality inkjets are now available at consumer prices. Impressive, under-AU$450 printers now deliver superb photo output. The best photo printers use six ink colours rather than the usual four, improving quality by making it easier to mix a colour (since more inks are available for mixing). Fewer dots per colour means smaller, less visible dot patterns. A good photo inkjet should also be able to change tone gradually, without visible patterns or jumps in colour or darkness. When shopping, relise that inkjets often have different resolutions for colour and monochrome. Look for the photo-output resolution. Photo inkjets may be able to make up for a somewhat lower resolution with sophisticated dithering schemes, but the only sure way to rate photo output is to view print samples. If you are unable to do that, consider buying a printer you can return without paying a restocking fee, in case you're not satisfied.
Many families seek moderate-quality photo printing, plus some text printing. For them, four-colour printers capable of 600-dpi resolution can produce very credible resultsââ,¬"more than enough for printing snapshots and images up to 12.7x17.8cm. And the cost of printing with four-colour inkjets is less than for six-colour ones. Expect to spend AU$350 to AU$450 for a four-colour, photo-quality inkjet. You may also find six-colour printers in this range. Some of the printers in this category include the HP DeskJet 932C, which features 600-dpi photo-quality output, automatic colour matching, moderate-cost consumables, and the ability to print envelopes and card stock. The Canon BJC-8200 offers 1,200x1,200-dpi resolution and the ability to print a 10.16x15.24cm photo in about a minute. The Lexmark Z52 Colour Jetprinter delivers 2,400x1,200-dpi and can print greeting cards and envelopes. The Epson Stylus Photo 870 offers 1,440x720-dpi, with long-life inks
The essentials for pro-quality output are resolution, colour fidelity, and print durabilityââ,¬"and many inexpensive printers qualify. High-quality paper is essential to good photo output, with coated glossy or semi-gloss producing the best resolution. Photo pros may opt for dye-sublimation printers, though dye subs typically max out at 300-dpi resolution and cost more than inkjets. Best all-around are high-end inkjets, which range from under AU$600 to AU$2000. The HP PhotoSmart P1000 Photo Printer delivers 2,400x1,200-dpi enhanced resolution, fast print speeds, 8MB of RAM, and the ability to print envelopes, labels, card stock, and transparencies. The 1,440x720-dpi Epson Stylus Photo 2000P offers archival-grade inks. The Epson Stylus Photo 1270, similar to the 870, prints sheets up to 33x111.8cm.
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