Good on its own merits. Suffers by comparison!
Written: Jan 09 '02 (Updated Jan 10 '02)
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Pros: Built-in media readers! Impressive print quality. And SO quiet!
Cons: Expensive, print quality LESS impressive compared to Canon/Epson. Very problematic drivers.
The Bottom Line: The bottom line is this: As impressed as I was initially with this printer, careful comparison revealed many shortcomings. Get a better printer for less money from Canon or Epson.
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| savoirfaire's Full Review: Hewlett Packard PhotoSmart 1215vm InkJet Printer |
For me, the HP Photosmart 1215 was something of an impulse buy. I saw an open box at Circuit City for $100 off the usual price and figured it was worth a shot. Indeed, my first impression was that the Photosmart 1215's print quality is quite remarkable - almost enough to forgive the numerous headaches I had with the driver installation. Then I took the time to compare print samples with those of lower-priced Epsons and Canons... Here's the scoop.
PART I: Features
Features are what set this printer apart from the pack. It includes two media slots which are built to accept SmartMedia, CompactFlash (I and II), and IBM Microdrives. This doubles as a cardreader for your computer if you use your CompactFlash card to transfer data files as well! The next model up (the 1315) also accepts Sony MemoryStick but costs $100 more. This functionality allows for standalone printing from your media cards (no computer needed!) using the control buttons on the front panel. What it does is print out an index sheet so you know which photos are which. Again, the 1315 comes with a built in LCD display, but costs $100 more. It also includes infrared capability for devices that support the HP JetSend, OBEX, or IrLPT protocols. Be warned, however, that IR data transfer speeds are a painfully slow 4Mbps.
Other convenient features include a separate tray for 4x6 photo cards, an optional accessory for double-sided printing, an optical paper sensor that automatically detects paper type and adjusts the settings accordingly, and both parallel-port and USB connectors (you have to buy the appropriate cable yourself). Dimensions are a slightly bulky 17x8x20.5 with tray extended and a weight of just under 16 pounds, but well-suited for a small workspace.
PART II: Installation
This was the most painful part. I initially downloaded the most current WinME drivers for this model directly from HP's website. Disaster! After installation, I would consistently get a C++ Runtime Error every time I tried to right-click on the desktop (to create a new folder, for example). This would resolve once I uninstalled the driver software. Did this a couple of times with the same results, then called HP customer service. BEWARE HP CUSTOMER SERVICE! First of all, it's a long distance call. No toll-free number. Second, I was on hold for a good 15 minutes. Third, the gentleman who tried to help me ran through the whole process up until the point where I got the usual C++ runtime error. He then gave up and said there must be something wrong with my system software and recommended backing up my software and reinstalling. Yeeeeah... back up 30gb of software and files on 650mb CDs? So after 90 minutes worth of long-distance phone time, I got nowhere.
My solution? Upgrade to WinXP and try the WinXP drivers. Well, it worked sort of. Now everything works fine, but if I restart the computer, Windows hangs at startup unless I physically unplug the usb cable from the computer or printer. Still, a minor annoyance compared to the WinME horror. Granted, Microsoft is probably just as much to blame, but this is an HP review... :)
PART III: Print quality
This is the important part, right? Well, I was impressed with HP's print quality. HP boasts a maximum resolution of 2400x1200 dpi and emits hardly a whisper while doing it. From a reasonable distance, the photos were comparable to actual photographs. From a distance of about 6 inches you can juuuust make out some stray pixels, but who looks at photos that closely? A photo I printed of hot air balloons against a vivid, blue sky showed some very subtle "bands" where a smooth gradient was supposed to be, but again, very subtle. Also, at an angle, you can see ever-so-slightly raised areas where inks were layered to create dark/black colors. Still, I felt the photo quality was at least an 8/10. Speed is a respectable 12ppm in color and 15ppm in black and white; however, a complex 8x10 image at 600dpi ended up taking almost 5 minutes to print when you add in the rendering time on my 1Ghz Athlon T-bird.
Now comes the kicker... HP printers boast PhotoRET technology. What that means is that HP uses three pigment ink colors to create a full spectrum, forcing it to use a dot-on-dot technique due to the relatively less absorbable ink. The high-end Epsons and Canons use six color dyes which allow for more faithful reproduction of colors including the ability to create smoother gradients. For a very good review of these principles, especially if you are relatively new to the subject, I recommend http://www.dp-now.com/Features/Printer_reviews/Photo-inkjets/photo-inkjets.html.
PART IV: Price
The big secret is that all PhotoSmart printers sport comparable print quality, just different speeds and features. Given that, this printer is a lot of money for what you get. If you really want the built-in media readers, they may justify the $300 price tag. Otherwise, you can get the Canon S800 for the same price or an Epson Photo Stylus model for much lower! What's more, the consumables (ink cartridges and HP photo paper) cost MUCH more for the Photosmart - an average of $0.33 per 8x10 photo compared to the S800 which can print photos for as little as $0.13 per page at 2400dpi. In addition, the Canon has the terrific feature of allowing you to replace the colors individually as they run out. You may end up disposing of an HP cartridge with 80% of any one color left! Ouch.
So what does this all mean? It means that the other reviewers ain't lyin' when they say that the PhotoSmart 1215 has great print quality. It really takes a side-by-side comparison to realize how much BETTER it could potentially be! The fact that HP uses four color inks instead of six is a MAJOR disadvantage if you're looking for photo-realistic prints. On the other hand, if you're mostly printing on plain paper, HP quality is superb. But if that's the case, why spend $300 for a fancy "photo" printer?
Recommended:
No
Amount Paid (US$): 199.99
Operating System: Windows and Macintosh
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Epinions.com ID:
savoirfaire
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Location: Twin Cities, MN
Reviews written: 19
Trusted by: 2 members
About Me:
28yo Minnesota technophile who somehow stumbled into a career in medicine! Go figure.
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