RESOLUTION AND VERSATILITY! A NEW STANDARD
Written: Nov 15 '00 (Updated Dec 21 '00)
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Pros: Quality Photo production, easy software, versatility and innovative!
Cons: A little slow, but it doesn't matter
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| artbyjude's Full Review: Hewlett Packard PhotoSmart p1000 Ink-jet Printer |
For the past 7 years, I have relied on HP to provide a reliable printer for my needs. My needs have changed. Technology has changed. The HP 1000 currently has the best printer for me in the affordable price range. I highly recommend it!
Just to give you some background, I have been using digital cameras since the first ones came on the market. The first HP used was the old 550 model, and while it produced "OK" pictures, suitable for the low resolution images of the first digital cameras (my first one was a Casio), it lagged behind the technology in two ways: 1) there was no way to improve the image even with the software provided and 2) the printer itself had no internal memory, so bitmap images were unprintable, and printing, should it print at all, was cumbersome and unreliable.
My second investment was the 870 CX1, which featured a 4 MB internal memory. This printer has been reliable, and reasonably fast and proved to be accurate, as well as produce pictures of good quality. It offered a choice of resolutions and a calibration feature, which allowed me to verify the picture produced with the one showing on the monitor. It worked with several photo programs, and proved to be the best for my Sony FD71 digital camera. It worked with the Kodak 260 digital camera, but not as well.
Unfortunately, the longevity of this printer was limited. I suspect, however, that it would still be "usable" if the moving company had not trashed my desktop, with its' programs, or if I were still using my desktop exclusively to edit and print photos.
I confess that I took a chance on a Canon 550, and was immediately disappointed in the images it produced. They were never as clear, and the colors were never as bright. Images were acceptable only after a great deal of software editing, and the color cartridges had to be replaced so often that it required a constant trek to the local supplier to finish a project. I have demoted the canon to a fax machine and have vowed to never again transgress.
Finally, with the advent of three new higher resolution digital cameras, I went looking for a printer that could meet the needs of my current productivity. I checked out specs, looked them all over and settled on the HP 1000 PHOTOSMART. It is my new best friend!
FEATURES I CURRENTLY USE:
1. Print anything. Epinion reviews, as part of a portfolio. E-mail, recipes, anything. You can set for any resolution, black and white , etc, change you page settings, and all the things you could do with previous HP "photo quality" printers. While this may seem trifling, it offers the security of familiarity.
2. Print photos from software applications. This means I don't have to use any special tricks, or buy new programs. The ease of plugging into PHOTOSTUDIO is a comfort to those of us who have learned technology the hard way (by making many mistakes)
3. The HP's photo organization software. It allows you to place the photos in albums for organization on your hard drive. While still struggling to repair my CDRW drive on the desktop, I can at least know where to find them on the storage media. I can also pick selected photos to save on the hard drive for work later.
FEATURES I INTEND TO USE:
1. Print from a memory card. The Sony FDC 7000, has a memory card DEVICE (the memory stick fits inside it) . I am hoping this will work directly. If not I still have a Ricoh with a compatible memory card, as well as the Kodak that will make this feature usable. The HP Photosmart will allow me to plug in directly to the Printer, bypassing the hard drive, to get thumbnails from the card itself. This will save countless minutes in pulling up images from the software, to edit and print. When time is a premium, this is important.
2. HP JetSend Infrared. If you have a camera that has this feature, it would appear that nothing will be easier. This is a direct communication from your camera, wireless, and saves a lot of steps. I have some homework to do on the upgrade possibilities of my current digital imaging equipment, but I must say that this feature is one of the most attractive of this printer.
There are a few essential things you need to know about this printer before you invest. You MUST have a two way communication cord, an old printer cable will not do. (IEEE 1284-compliant parallel or USB cable) . Also, if speed of printing is your issue, go to the next level. This printer will not spit out 100 copies in a few minutes. To it's credit, however, it doesn't "forget what it is doing".
RECOMMENDATION:
This is a solid printer that is able to adapt to changing technology as well as offer some new innovations. If you don't have digital imaging on your mind, it will still work for you, but a less expensive printer will probably meet your needs. It is easy to use, and is relatively inexpensive. There are newer models on the market, but they have not met the test of time. The SONY printer produces great images, but the size (small) and expense (high) is prohibitive. HP has never let me down. I believe I'll keep it!
**added 12/21 Another great feature is the independent existence of "card slots" for both compact flash and smart media flash cards. So if you have a Kodak, Fuji, or HP digital camera, this feature is a distinct advantage!
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 350
Operating System: Windows
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Epinions.com ID:
artbyjude
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Member: jude paxton
Location: In a state of confusion
Reviews written: 699
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About Me:
If I'd known TODAY was to be my TOMORROW I woulda done better YESTERDAY.
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