sukim's Full Review: Alps MD 1000 Dye Sublimation Printer
My History with the Alps MD-1000:
I purchased the Alps MD-1000 in September of '98, and have been using it moderately ever since. Onsale.com was selling alot of them and I managed to snag one for $107 shipped. This was my first ever color printer, and I bought it mostly for use at college. I needed something under $150 that printed high-quality text and decent color for presentations. I had recently purchased a digital camera, so I wanted the option of printing hard copies of my photos as well. After reading some reviews on ZDNet, CNet and in magazines, I decided that the Alps MD-1000 was a good choice. Another deciding factor was the design of the printer. In contrast with the plain beige Epson printer chasis, the Alps was a cool purple, with minimalist edges and an elegant perforated brick red paper tray.
My Opinion:
This thing prints s-l-o-w. We are talking 1 page per minute slow. Add a couple colors, and it drags down to about 1 page per 2-3 minutes. It's probably one of the slowest printers around. Print speeds are similar to that of an Apple Imagewriter II. The reason for this is simple: ink ribbons. The Alps MD-1000 uses a propietary dry-ink technology from Alps. Instead of color inkjets which are used in similarly priced color printers like the Epson 400/440, the Alps uses 4 separate ink ribbons. You can mix and match the colors to best suit your function. For plain text, use standard black. For basic document color use black w/ red, blue and yellow. For photo-quality prints, use red, blue and yellow w/ white, and then finish off with a clear coat. Print quality varies depending on the paper you use. On standard laser printer paper, text quality is almost indistinguishable from laser. It's that good. However, textured paper doesn't fare as well, so don't plan to use the MD-1000 to print your resumes and cover letters on bond paper. Photos come out decent on regular laser paper, but they are a bit dull and lack detail. However, if you use Alps brand photo-realistic paper, the prints take on a whole new life. Colors can get a bit oversaturated, but the quality is amazing for a printer at this price point. Overall, I would say this is a great machine for gadget lovers on a budget. It gives the results of a much more expensive printer, at a bargain price. However, there are many problems as well.
The Goodies:
Laser quality text when using laser printer paper was a pleasant surprise. Almost photo-realistic prints on photo-quality paper was another pleasant surprise. For the price, I don't think there is another printer on the market that can do what the MD-1000 can do as far as print-quality. If you are an aesthetics freak, the MD-1000 is also the coolest looking printer you'll ever see.
Weak Spots:
This printer is fickle. It only responds well to the appropriate paper (laser printer paper for text, and Alps brand photo-realistic paper for photos). Also, while text quality is outstanding, don't try to use this printer in a rush, b/c you will have to wait for your pages to print. The paper feed system is also flawed. Often, the print feed motor will try and take in 2-10 sheets of paper at a time. This is definitely not one of those printers that you can just leave in the corner and expect it to be your workhorse.
Where to Buy:
I bought this thing 2 years ago, and have no idea who still carries it. I would check the auction sites for deals on refurbished models. Also, I'm sure you'll find alot of them on eBay and similar auction sites. I bought it for $107 2 years ago. Since then inkjet printer prices have dropped about 50%. Low-end models like the Epson Stylus 440 can be had for $50-60. They are probably more reliable, but also not as fun as the Alps MD series printers. It's not for everyone, but if you have the patience of a saint, and can sacrifice reliability for rewarding print quality, the Alps MD-1000 is something you should try.
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