Buying a printer

This is the place to discuss the latest computer hardware issues and technology. Please keep the discussion ON TOPIC!
Post Reply
User avatar
godling
Legit Enthusiast
Legit Enthusiast
Posts: 35
Joined: Sun Sep 09, 2007 7:05 am

Buying a printer

Post by godling »

Howdy people, long time.

I'm looking to buy a midrange-to-highend printer (not going over $250) primarily for photo printing, and I expect it to print documents in economic mode as well.

For this I'm considering the Canon CP series [here].

I had three questions:

1. Is there any other (better) alternative I can look for? considering that I want great photo prints and economic document printouts?

2. These photo printers.....are they just dedicated photo printers? or do they have an economic document printing mode as well? (I mean, will they forcibly printout everything including word documents in ultra high photo quality?)

and,

3. When a printer spec is 300x300 dpi, or 300x600 dpi, what does that mean and what is the largest size I can print under these DPIs, A4?
In search for the perfect computer.........
User avatar
KnightRid
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 4295
Joined: Wed Dec 14, 2005 5:21 am
Location: Dallastown, PA

Re: Buying a printer

Post by KnightRid »

All of those printers are actual photo printers for 4X6 prints, not for regular paper.

You want a regular photo inkjet if you want to do regular printing also. If you dont need it to be protable, you can get an AWESOME printer for around $100-$150 US dollars! I have an older Canon ip4000 and even on that the photo printouts look amazing!

Mike
Remember, I am opinionated and nothing I say or do reflects on anyone or anything else but me :finga:
User avatar
godling
Legit Enthusiast
Legit Enthusiast
Posts: 35
Joined: Sun Sep 09, 2007 7:05 am

Re: Buying a printer

Post by godling »

KnightRid wrote:All of those printers are actual photo printers for 4X6 prints, not for regular paper.

You want a regular photo inkjet if you want to do regular printing also. If you dont need it to be protable, you can get an AWESOME printer for around $100-$150 US dollars! I have an older Canon ip4000 and even on that the photo printouts look amazing!

Mike
Thanks for the mention! Somehow I just felt that those photo printers won't do text like normal printers do, and that's why I asked. So that's that, they are photo only. Off my list then.

I definitely don't need portable, so I'll check out some photo inkjet makes. Any particular one (new?) you'd like to mention?

Thanks.
In search for the perfect computer.........
User avatar
martini161
Mr Awesome
Mr Awesome
Posts: 3183
Joined: Sat Sep 08, 2007 8:27 pm
Location: Cherry Hill, New Jersey

Re: Buying a printer

Post by martini161 »

i have a HP photosmart 2600, dont know if they make them any more but if they do its a great buy. its got a fax, scanner copier printer and it even has an ethernet jack
User avatar
KnightRid
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 4295
Joined: Wed Dec 14, 2005 5:21 am
Location: Dallastown, PA

Re: Buying a printer

Post by KnightRid »

I dont like the all-in-ones!

I would suggest the Canon ip4500 - I had HP when I first started out, but the only good HP printers are the HIGH end! That canon is around $130 MSRP and will blow away the same priced HP for quality.

Mike

of course you could go to the Pixma PRO line, but I dont think you will like those prices ;) bet it would cost over $120 to replace all those ink tanks :rolleyes:
Remember, I am opinionated and nothing I say or do reflects on anyone or anything else but me :finga:
User avatar
unfaithfulsfan
Legit Extremist
Legit Extremist
Posts: 761
Joined: Fri Mar 28, 2008 6:52 pm
Location: Buffalo NY

Re: Buying a printer

Post by unfaithfulsfan »

I recently bought a Kodak EasyShare 5100 AIO for $99 at Wal-Mart. Prints great text and absolutely awesome photos although not the fastest in the world. It replaced a two year old Canon ipIfrickinforgetthemodel. The best part about the kodak is the price of ink cartridges $9 for black and $15 for color or if you're lucky you can find the two pack (one of each) for $22.

Worth a look IMO
"A payphone was ringing and it just about blew my mind,
when I picked it up & said 'Hello' this foot came through the line"
~Bob Dylan
User avatar
unfaithfulsfan
Legit Extremist
Legit Extremist
Posts: 761
Joined: Fri Mar 28, 2008 6:52 pm
Location: Buffalo NY

Re: Buying a printer

Post by unfaithfulsfan »

forgot to mention, I got roughly 70 4x6 prints along with about a dozen 8x10 prints on one color cartridge. The only thing that really sucks about this printer is you'd best not try to rush printing 4x6s. Do them one at a time or you risk screwed up prints, a lot of rage, an expanded vocabulary and a couple of frightened pets. :axe:

Doesn't have a fax but does have scanner/copier
http://www.kodak.com/eknec/PageQuerier. ... cale=en_US

Jack
"A payphone was ringing and it just about blew my mind,
when I picked it up & said 'Hello' this foot came through the line"
~Bob Dylan
Post Reply