Best Inkjet/Photo Printer for the money?
Hi all what's up? I just bought an HP LaserJet 1200se for my new PowerMac and I have to say that it's the best laser printer I could find for $400. It was a real pain in the ass to find to!
Now that I have a good laser for text, I'd like to get a very nice color printer for PhotoShop work. The most that I want to spend is $400 and I'm partial to brands like HP, Canon, Epson, and Brother but if there is another good alternative please tell me. The printers that I'm looking at now are:
<a href="http://consumer.usa.canon.com/printers/s750/index.html" target="_blank">Canon S750</a>
<a href="http://consumer.usa.canon.com/printers/s900/index.html" target="_blank">Canon S900</a>
<a href="http://products.hp-at-home.com/products/detail.php?id=C6431B&j=1" target="_blank">HP DeskJet 940c</a>
<a href="http://products.hp-at-home.com/products/detail.php?id=C8925A&j=1" target="_blank">HP DeskJet 995c</a>
<a href="http://products.hp-at-home.com/products/detail.php?id=C2695A&j=0" target="_blank">HP DeskJet 1200cse</a>
Now that I have a good laser for text, I'd like to get a very nice color printer for PhotoShop work. The most that I want to spend is $400 and I'm partial to brands like HP, Canon, Epson, and Brother but if there is another good alternative please tell me. The printers that I'm looking at now are:
<a href="http://consumer.usa.canon.com/printers/s750/index.html" target="_blank">Canon S750</a>
<a href="http://consumer.usa.canon.com/printers/s900/index.html" target="_blank">Canon S900</a>
<a href="http://products.hp-at-home.com/products/detail.php?id=C6431B&j=1" target="_blank">HP DeskJet 940c</a>
<a href="http://products.hp-at-home.com/products/detail.php?id=C8925A&j=1" target="_blank">HP DeskJet 995c</a>
<a href="http://products.hp-at-home.com/products/detail.php?id=C2695A&j=0" target="_blank">HP DeskJet 1200cse</a>
Comments
it is one of the few that you will not have trouble with in os x, either.
<strong><snip> The guy at Best Buy told me that Canon printers usually have the best image quality so I'm also kind of leaning towards the S750 or S900. Does anyone have any personal experience with those printers?</strong><hr></blockquote>
<shudder> while cannon does have nice printers I'd temper the recommendations from a Best Buy employee. Bring in a camera or your media and do some actual prints if they let you. If you're going to drop 400.00 U might as well walk out the door convinced that you bought the perfect printer for your needs.
<strong>Thanks for the replies! The HP 940c is probably what I'd go for if I were to buy an HP because the 9** series is pretty much the same except the higher you get, the faster they print. I was looking at the Epson C80 but I got discouraged after reading some reviews. I'd like to have a printer that prints out images that are photo quality like going to a store and getting real prints. If the HP can do that very nicely then it would be great. The guy at Best Buy told me that Canon printers usually have the best image quality so I'm also kind of leaning towards the S750 or S900. Does anyone have any personal experience with those printers?</strong><hr></blockquote>
The canon image quality is no greater than the HP-they both have 1200x2400 resolution and the HP, due to their technology has better gray scale images, better text and less graininess. The Canon, however, has seperate ink tanks which will save you money. However, you will have to replace the printhead at some time and with the HPs you never have to.
The HP to get is the 960 because the black ink tank in the 960 has almost twice the ink that the 940 does. It also prints text better because of that better cartridge.
I would get the HP personally...........................
We recently just purchased a PM-4000 from Epson (sold only in Japan). It uses a new pigment based dye. We haven't had a chance to really test it out yet.
<strong>Thanks for the replies! The HP 940c is probably what I'd go for if I were to buy an HP because the 9** series is pretty much the same except the higher you get, the faster they print. I was looking at the Epson C80 but I got discouraged after reading some reviews. I'd like to have a printer that prints out images that are photo quality like going to a store and getting real prints. If the HP can do that very nicely then it would be great. The guy at Best Buy told me that Canon printers usually have the best image quality so I'm also kind of leaning towards the S750 or S900. Does anyone have any personal experience with those printers?</strong><hr></blockquote>
dont buy the hp 940, go with at least 960. besides, if you buy the 960 or 990, you can get a $50 plus a $25 (total $75) rebate from HP. check their website for the form. to qualify, you had to have bought a new computer before april 15th. even an imac qualifies or any apple computer qualifies. it's a really good deal. and with stores giving away gift cards, i got my $200 hp 960 printer for $50 after all the rebates.
i thought the epsons were always really good at photos. they totally suck at text. dont get the c80, instead get the photo whatever number theyre on. the c80 tries to be an all-around printer, but you dont need that.
<hr></blockquote>
That probably goes for all inkjets. HP's are better but that means that they just suck less at text than Epson. Injkets that market "laser quality" or "razor sharp text" are deluding themselves and their users. Like wolfeye155 I'm looking for a combination of Laser Printer and Photo Inkjet. Rarely to I find that I need great text and great Photo printing on the same page.
Go try all the printers out in person. If you're really looking to use the printer for Photoshop work, I assume you're looking to use the highest quality settings on the best papers. Don't base your decision on a plain-paper printout like you might see lying around the printers in a store. The difference between a plain-paper sample and a glossy photo paper can be amazing, so ask to see a sample printed out the way you would be using the machine.
[ 04-08-2002: Message edited by: Barvow ]</p>