A Saga of Quality
Written: Dec 27 '99 (Updated Dec 31 '99)
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Pros: Quality, gold and silver foil printing
Cons: Availability of cartridges, slow
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| gridtex's Full Review: Alps MD-5000P Printer |
The Alps MD-5000P is the most interesting printer on the market today. There are always two sides to every coin. If you are a low volume user, and a quality fanatic, the Alps MD-5000P is your ideal printer. Its quality with the dye sublimation upgrade kit allows you to print photographs that won't fade as ink jet product is likely to do. The gold and silver foil treatments allow one to make a dynamite impact that will really set your work apart from the same old same old. Its quality stacks up well against printers that costs thousands.
I have an Alps MD-5000 and I am delighted with its quality. I would buy this machine again, and again. I do recommend it.
However, there is the other side of the coin.
The cartridges for the machine are very numerous, 19 or 20 I believe. The MD-5000 will hold up to 7 at one time. Unfortunately, they are more difficult to locate than HP or Epson cartridges. If you are a small business owner who makes custom presentations, there is not a better option. You can produce superior documents that will make your company appear larger and more substantial.
The dye sublimation kit upgrade is just an enabling key. In short, a marketing ploy to get another $100 or so from the purchaser to unlock the real superior quality of this machine. This should either be included or made available for a modest sum.
The feel of the machine is cheesy. A more substantial plastic would make this machine seem more like the value it is.
The price really needs to come down to allow for greater market penetration. Say, at $449 with the dye sublimation upgrade kit included, Alps might really begin to increase market share with this superior machine. On the flip side, to equal the MD-5000's quality, you'd have to spend literally thousands.
A larger sheet capacity to say 11 by 17 would be very exciting.
In sum, a real knock-out beauty with a few moles that can be overlooked.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 433.00 (List $599)
Operating System: Windows
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Epinions.com ID:
gridtex
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Location: D/FW Metroplex, TEXAS
Reviews written: 8
Trusted by: 45 members
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