Relying on Hewlett-Packard's proprietary PhotoREt III color-layering technology, the AU$799 HP PhotoSmart 1215 can create prints on premium glossy paper that display good continuous tones and subtle shading. The 1215 can also print text and photos onto plain paper, so it's an excellent choice for a multipurpose printer.
Looking for a solid performing multipurpose printer that's optimised for printing photos? Look no further than the HP PhotoSmart 1215. Using Hewlett-Packard's proprietary PhotoREt III colour-layering technology to produce resolutions as high as 2,400 x 1,200 dpi, the 1215 creates photo prints that approach the smooth colour gradations and subtle shading of dye-sublimation prints -- at a fraction of the cost (less than AU$3 for an 20.32 x 25.4-cm photo on HP's best photo paper, according to our calculations). The quality of its text printouts is also a cut or two above the average inkjet printer's (though not as good as a laser printer's), which makes the 1215 an excellent choice when a single printer is needed for a variety of tasks.
While Hewlett-Packard offers other inkjet printers with REt (Resolution Enhancement technology), the PhotoSmart 1215 has several features that make it especially appealing for digital camera enthusiasts. The printer has both CompactFlash and SmartMedia slots, so you can print your photos from compatible digital cameras without using a computer. The CompactFlash slot accepts both Type I and Type II cards, making it compatible with IBM's Microdrives.
Included software lets you use the printer's internal card slots from Windows, allowing you to copy your photos without having to use a separate card reader or a computer-to-camera connection. You simply place the memory card in the printer, and then use Windows Explorer to drag and drop your photos onto your hard drive. The 1215 also has infrared capability, so you can transfer files wirelessly from an infrared-equipped notebook, PDA, digital camera, or cell phone. The printer communicates with infrared devices that support the HP JetSend, OBEX, or IrLPT protocols.
Other features that make the 1215 convenient to use as a photo printer include a separate tray for 4 x 6 photo paper, an optical paper sensor that automatically adjusts the printer settings for the type of paper (plain, glossy, or transparency), and both parallel-port and USB connectors.
The REt colour-layering technology performs well with both plain and premium glossy papers. Compared with the plain-paper printouts from other devices, the 1215's plain-paper printouts have a broader range of colours and better contrast. While there's an obvious difference between the 1215's plain-paper and glossy-paper printouts, the plain-paper photos are quite usable for a variety of purposes. We found the 1215, which is rated at a relatively speedy 12 pages per minute for colour and 15 pages per minute for black and white, to be faster than most inkjet printers. Especially complex colour pages took us about 5 to 6 minutes to print when we added in the time it took for the computer to render the page and send it to the printer. We were impressed by the HP PhotoSmart 1215. You can find other inkjet printers for far less money, but you'll have a hard time finding one that can match the 1215's versatility and overall print quality.
PhotoSmart 1215
Company:hp online store
Ph: 132347
Price: AU$799
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