Expanding The Capabilities of Photo Printers
Written: Apr 06 '03
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Pros: Highly versatile input capabilities, fast text print speed, great print output, intuitive, hp historical reliability.
Cons: Wee bit pricey for slightly less than perfect color output, doesn't include USB cable.
The Bottom Line: Versatile printing options, great quality prints, intuitive interface, and high-speed text printing make the HP Photosmart 7550 a force to be reckoned with.
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| megaxan's Full Review: Hewlett Packard PhotoSmart 7550 InkJet Printer |
If you are reading this review, chances are you are also considering purchasing a Canon S900, 830D or an Epson of some sort. As I played around with these printers extensively prior to choosing the HP, I will try to provide relevant comparisons of these printers in addition to a comprehensive review of the 7550.
The Photosmart 7550 is slightly larger than most photoprinters and boasts a flip-up LCD display and several buttons on its face. In addition to the traditional power button there are also individual buttons for zoom, rotate, copies, brightness, size, cancel, menu, print, save, email, ok, and directional navigation button. The printer face also includes an impressive array of card slots for the various digital camera media and a USB port for HP, and only HP, direct printing capable digital cameras. The four card slots accept CompactFlash, IBM Microdrives, Smartmedia, MultiMediacard, Secure Digital, and Sony style Memory Sticks. Given all these features, I was initially skeptical of the "bells and whistles" this printer offers. However, after some time I began to appreciate all of the features and see the beyond the hype that the printer face presents.
One of the more impressive and unique features of the printer is its capability to print straight from the digital camera media without computer intervention. After inserting the media card into the appropriate slot reader, the LCD begins guiding the user through a very intuitive printing process. Throughout this process, the numerous buttons on the face of the printer reveal their full functionality.
This process offers the user the opportunity to manipulate several aspects of the photo such as the brightness, orientation, and size of the print. The functions offered are similar to those of stripped-down photo editing software that is often bundled with digital cameras. Although you cannot select to crop the image, you can utilize the zoom and directional buttons to select a portion of the image to print while maintaining the original qualities of the image file. It would be great if it had a red-eye reduction function.
The printer also allows you to print multiple selections per page as well as an index print of all of the images on the card. The process is relatively intuitive and quick to learn but the manual lacks a complete explanation of the process. Those who are not comfortable with this type of technology might become frustrated as a result of this.
Photo prints from computer are similarly quick and easy to accomplish. Mac OSX users can rejoice at the compatibility of this printer. Though it is not yet native, the software loaded easily and is, so far (knock on wood) bug free. I also had no problems networking it wirelessly with the Airport Base station. The printing utility is simple, yet effective, offering all of the options necessary to produce predictable prints.
Print speeds vary greatly depending on what you are printing. Generally, I found the photo and high-res image and graphic speeds to be slightly slower than the comparable Canon and Epson printers, while the text speeds were significantly faster from the HP. Based on these speeds, those looking for a dedicated photo printer would probably opt for the slightly superior print quality and faster photo prints capable of the Canon and Epson printers while those interested in an all-around printer with photo printing capabilities should consider the HP.
I found slight differences in print quality amongst the high-end consumer photo printers that I tested. Yes, Epson and Canon still carry the torch of image quality, but only a pace ahead of HP who is gaining pace. I also cannot speak of print longevity and archival quality, having owned the printer for less than a year. As I am only an amateur photographer, I will not claim any one brand to be superior though I found the test prints from the Epson 2200 to provide the most consistent color and clarity. All of these printers would fulfill my desires for print quality especially given my relatively low-res digital camera.
I have heard many complaints regarding the cartridge system of the 7550. As many printer manufacturers are opting to have several single print cartridges, the 7550 has three - a twin-black, a tri-color ink, and a photo-ink. The former system allows users to use the entirety of a single color before changing the cartridge thus claiming increased efficiency. However, all of the printers that I have owned in the past were retired due to a cartridge problem so as far as I'm concerned, fewer cartridges means fewer things to break. Furthermore, I have found that with the vast majority of photo printing tasks, the colors are used relatively evenly so the ink waste is diminished. After crunching the numbers of cartridge cost, I found the printers that I tested to be relatively similar in cartridge replacement costs.
Although I have only owned the HP Photosmart 7550 for a few months, I have used it extensively and never had a problem with paper loading, jams, etc. It accepts a wide range of papers including transparencies, 4x6, and tee-shirt transfers.
At first I was skeptical that I would take advantage of the direct printing capabilities that the 7550 offers. However, once I became familiar with this possibility and liberated from the import-to-computer mindset, I found I use my digital camera and printer so much more as the lag from concept to product is greatly diminished. I will make quick prints when friends stop by or as a handout or presentation tool - its as close to a Polaroid as, well, a portable version of the 7550 (hint, hint, HP).
I still believe Canon and Epson quality prints to be of higher quality but since I can barely tell, and most of the time not at all, I would recommend this printer to anyone interested in a high-quality, versatile photo printer. The multiple input and output options of the printer make it capable of expanding the relevance of a digital camera in your life. Finally, if you are looking for a printer with traditional high-speed text capabilities and photo print capabilities, look no further.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 263
Operating System: Macintosh
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Epinions.com ID:
megaxan
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Reviews written: 6
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