May 09, 2008

Reviews of Canon PIXMA MP610, Lexmark C780n, and HP Photosmart A826

By Kara Soos

Review Roundup: Canon PIXMA MP610 Gets Stoned, Lexmark C780n Is No Rocky, and HP Photosmart A826 Can Make You Look Like the Biggest Loser

Canon PIXMA MP610 Photo All-In-One: A Good Buy for Everyone Except Those With an MP600

Time gives way to progress, right? So you would think that Canon wouldn't waste time releasing models that don't showcase new or improved features. But PC Magazine's M. David Stone found that Canon must support cloning — at least for printers. Even though he could not find any notable differences between the Canon PIXMA MP610 and its predecessor, the MP600, Stone likes what he sees, giving the new model a 4 out of 5 rating and making it a PC Magazine Editor's Choice.

Two paper trays enable you to store plain paper and photo paper simultaneously so you can change print jobs without reloading new paper, Stone raves. In addition, the Canon Pixma MP610 produces high-uality photo prints, its text remains readable in most fonts as small as four points, and graphics looked good (although he notes that full-page graphics require higher-quality paper to prevent curling). "Every photo in our tests qualified as true photo quality, at least as good as — and in many cases better than — you would expect from photos from your local drugstore." In terms of speed, the Pixma MP610 positions itself among the top of its class for All-In-Ones, boasts Stone.

With an MSRP of $199, Canon's Pixma MP610 All-In-One suits most home offices in both functionality and price, but the model doesn't distinguish itself enough from the previous model to justify an upgrade, he concludes. One of the only differences Stone could find in his testing pertains to speed. The Canon Pixma MP610 prints one page more per minute in monochrome mode than the MP600 model, but that one-page improvement doesn't amount to much for the average user, comments Stone.

Lexmark C780n: Laser Printer Qualifies For Heavyweight Bout, But Doesn't Win the Title

Print quality and speed are the common traits you look for in a printer — but reliability is also an important, overlooked characteristic, especially when your busy workgroup relies on your printer for heavy volumes. In her PC World review, Melissa Riofrio considers the Lexmark C780n one of those hit-or-miss printers that creates quality output, but can't always perform. She rates it a 71 out of 100 (that's PC World speak for "Good").

The Lexmark C780n does compete well in terms of speed and print quality, claims Riofrio. The hefty, 105-pound laser printer whips out plain text at 26.1 pages per minute, and produces "impressive" images at 3.9 pages per minute. For a business that's on the up-and-up, the Lexmark C780n gets the job done just as well — if not better — than other laser printers in its price range ($899), concedes Riofrio.

Problems arise in the user experience department. The menus don't always provide clear instructions for back-tracking, and replacing a toner cartridge might prove difficult thanks to a lack of visual clues, complains Riofrio. She also points out that Lexmark as a company scores poorly in reliability and only maintains an average service reputation, according to PC World reader surveys.

HP Photosmart A826 Snapshot Photo Printer: Portable Prints For The Budget-Conscious, Casual Photographer

Technology advancements seem to lean toward increasingly smaller footprints. HP lives up to this trend with its latest photo printer, the Photosmart A826. In his MyMac Magazine review, Owen Ruben found that the HP Photosmart A826 eliminates the PC from your photo-printing process, and the convenience is wrapped in a 6-pound piece of technology.

Despite Rubin's dissatisfaction with the printer's paper-loading system, which he says operates awkwardly and needs rough handling, Rubin praises the HP Photosmart A826's 7-inch LCD touch-screen and its built-in image-editing capabilities. You can crop your photos, remove red-eye, adjust your photo's brightness, and add other creative touches like captions, frames, special effects and more. Rubin's favorite editing feature: the slimming tool. As you move a slider on your screen, the people in your photo gain or shed pounds. Now that's what I call an easy diet!

While the HP Photosmart A826 prints well on the fly and remains affordable with a price of roughly $200, the printer uses only three ink colors and no black ink, points out Rubin. When he compared the HP Photosmart A826 to other photo printers in the same price range, he found that the HP's image-editing features distinguished the printer from competitors, but similar photo printers with six colors (including black), such as the Canon Pixma iP6000D, offer richer colors and contrast. Rubin surmises that casual photographers will enjoy the HP Photosmart A826, but more tech-savvy photographers who want high-quality prints may crave more from a photo printer.

About Review Roundup
Although we cannot review every printer and printer accessory, we can scour the Web for the most creative and helpful reviews. That's what we do for you in Review Roundup. In the process, we also interview the reviewers for updates and additional insights that you'll only find here.

May 06, 2008

Samsung CLX-6210FX: 4-in-1 Multifunction Color Laser Printer Aims to Please Small Businesses

By Kara Soos

Printer News: Samsung CLX-6210FX Spreads Color Like A Rainbow Yet No Pot of Gold Necessary For Purchase

Over the last few generations, one aspect of childhood has remained constant. Kids always fight over the cheap plastic toy in their cereal box. The trinket overjoys children because no one expects such a pleasant surprise from a cereal box. (Who thought of sticking a toy into breakfast cereal, anyway?) The icing on the cake: A child's cereal-box toy costs next to nothing.

You'll feel the same giddiness when you realize that the Samsung CLS-6210FX performs all of its four office functions — printing, copying, scanning, and faxing — in color. Most multifunction printers scan color documents, but limit printing to black-and-white. An even bigger surprise is the relatively low $899 MSRP. Consider it a cereal-box toy for small businesses used to spending four figures on network multifunction printers.

In addition to sprinkling color into your otherwise drab office documents, the Samsung CLX-6210FX also handles double-sided documents. You can print duplex documents (without flipping over the paper yourself) and scan existing double-sided documents for copying, filing, and faxing. To speed up printing, you can configure the CLX-6210FX with an 80 GB hard drive for storing print jobs, faxes, etc. The printing resolution reaches up to 2400x600 dpi, and you can plug in a USB drive to print documents without using a computer at all. Perfect for when you want to print those birthday party invitations at work without leaving a trace.

[CEO's Note: As the CEO of Databazaar.com, I know a good multifunction color laser printer when I see one. Therefore, we're offering Samsung's new CLX-6210FX for just $850 (free shipping, sales tax only in Florida). In addition, you'll receive a Samsung MP3 player while supplies last. If you buy two of these printers, we'll include one set of free standard toner cartridges. This offer expires on May 31, 2008. Thank you for reading our blog. — Oney Seal]

Summary

Multifunction color laser printer best for small businesses and workgroups

MSRP: $899

Manufacturer

Press Release

Small Business Gets Big Return With New Samsung Printers

Product Page

Samsung CLX-6210FX

Supplies

Toner

High-Yield Toner Cartridges: CLP-K660A (Black), CLP-C660A (Cyan), CLP-M660A (Magenta), CLP-Y660A (Yellow); Standard Yield Toner Cartridges: CLP-K660B (Black), CLP-C660B (Cyan), CLP-M660B (Magenta), CLP-Y660B (Yellow); Paper Transfer Belt: CLP-T660B

Specs that matter

Release Date:	April 28, 2008
Notable Features:	Duplex printing, color printing/scanning/faxing, duplex automatic document feeder, PC-free printing from USB drive, optional hard drive
Green Features:	Duplex printing, low cost per page when used with high-yield toner cartridges, S.T.A.R Toner Recycling Program
Pages Per Minute:	21
Resolution:	2400x600 dpi
Paper Trays:	2 (plus optional 500 sheet tray)
Paper Capacity:	350 (850 with optional tray)
Interface:	USB 2, Ethernet 10/100
Compatibility:	Mac, Linux, Windows
Dimensions:	18.4x19.6x25.6 inches
Weight:	79.4 pounds
Warranty:	Unknown
Extra Row 2:	Enter

About Printer News
Your one stop source for information about new business- and consumer-class printers, Printer News covers everything you need to know. Well, almost everything. If you have anything to add to our report, please post it below.

May 06, 2008

How Can I Improve My Photo Prints?

By Kara Soos

The Secret to Printing Success Lies in Your Paper and Your Printer Driver

Frustration rears its ugly head when you snap the perfect photo and perhaps even spend time making it more perfect (perfecter?) in Photoshop or another image-editing program only to have your printer output garbage. Before you toss your printer in the garbage, read this Post because we'll show you a simple way to ensure that your photo prints elicit "oohs" and "aahs" from your family and friends. And most importantly, you won't need to invest much time.

Paper In, Paper Out

Think about what lies between your printer and your photo prints — paper! If you don't adjust your printer driver settings for the correct paper type, your printer won't release the right amount of ink. For example, if you ever printed a photo on plain paper and the printout was drenched in ink, your printer may have thought it was glossy photo paper. Unless your printer knows your paper type, it can't adjust its ink output.

Jon Canfield wrote the book on the settings in printer drivers — literally. In Print Like a Pro: A Digital Photographer's Guide, he discusses this topic in considerable depth plus many other topics beyond the scope of this Post. Below you'll find a summary of steps for setting the correct paper type in both Mac and Windows environments.

Take Advantage of Software If Available

If possible, use a color profile for the paper you plan to use. In fact, you may want to shop for paper based on the availability of a printer profile. (Read our PrinTip, What Are Color Profiles and Where Can I Find Them?) In conjunction with the color profile, use an image editor like Photoshop to apply the printer profile, thus offering you more control than your printer driver.

Also, check your printer's manual to see if your manufacturer offers any streamlined printing software. Epson offers software called EasyPrint that enables you to bypass your printer driver. EasyPrint works directly with your image-editing program to determine printer driver settings for you. This route is the easiest one, so take advantage if your manufacturer offers similar software for your printer model.

Choose From Two Printer-Setting Paths In Windows

If you use Windows, you can tweak your printer settings right from within the application you use to print your photo by opening the Print dialog box, or you can access the Printers And Faxes area through the Start menu to adjust printer settings. While the Printers And Faxes area offers system-specific settings in addition to printer-specific settings, your image-editing software's Print dialog box offers an easy-to-access option. Both choices guide you to the same settings if you're working with printer-specific adjustments (which you are), so you can choose whichever path you find more comfortable.

In the Printers And Faxes area, you can modify your printer settings by right-clicking on your printer icon and choosing Printing Preferences. If you access printer settings through an application's Print dialog box, click the Properties button to view the same settings.

From this point, you'll see different options and tabs depending on your printer. Canfield walks you through the settings for Canon, Epson, and HP printers. In particular, if you're using an HP printer, you must select an option from the What Do You Want To Do? list to view relevant paper types. For example, if you choose Photo Printing - Borderless from the list, you can choose from a list of photo paper types, whereas the default General Everyday Printing option offers only plain paper.

Divulge Your Paper Type to Your Mac

In Mac OS X, you must choose your printer settings through the Print dialog box in your Mac's image-editing software, such as Photoshop or iPhoto. Instead of tabs, you can access different setting categories through the Print dialog box's main pop-up menu, which you'll find right below the Printer and Presets pop-up menus. Choose your printer from the Printer pop-up menu, and then choose any stored settings you might want to use from the Presets pop-up menu. Or if you don't know about presets, just use the default Standard preset. To adjust your paper type, choose Quality & Media from the main pop-up menu (choose Print Settings for Epson printers). Then, you can choose your paper type from the Media Type pop-up menu that displays.

You can also adjust several other printer settings to get your photo prints just the way you want them. For more information about these additional settings, read the sample chapter, Using Printer Settings, from Jon Canfield's book. And remember, you can find just about any printer driver in our PrinTip, Where Can I Find Printer Drivers?

About PrinTips
Sometimes useful, sometimes fun, and always interesting, PrinTips enable you to get more out of your ink jet or laser printer. That said, we don't profess to have a monopoly on printer tips so if you have anything to add, please do so below.

April 30, 2008

Which Version of Photoshop Should I Use?

By Kara Soos

PrinTip: Get The Skinny on Each Version's Printing Capabilities Before You Set Up Shop

Digital photography's rise in popularity has opened up a whole new demographic for image-editing programs like Adobe Photoshop. A decade ago, most casual consumers didn't know about Photoshop — only designers, photographers, and other right-brainers used the software.

But in this digital age, Photoshop has become a household name. Adobe has catered to its newfound audience by developing several versions of Photoshop that provide advanced image-editing capabilities with user-friendly interfaces. Now you just need to determine which version strikes the right balance for you in terms of usability, functionality, and price.

Gain Ultimate Printing Control With Photoshop CS3 — For a Price

Photoshop CS3 is the cream of the crop for experienced prosumers who want the most control over their images — and printing is no exception. This version provides a large print preview window, and you can find all of its print settings in one place. Most importantly, Photoshop CS3 includes a color management system that ensures the color you see on your monitor is the color you get on your printout. Adobe collaborated with HP, Epson, and Canon to ensure full compatibility when printing from Photoshop CS3 to select printer models. Adobe hopes this collaboration simplifies color management for a wider range of amateur and professional photographers.

If you think all this control over your color and printing cements your decision, you might want to consider Photoshop CS3's price first. Photoshop CS3 sells for about $649 ($195 to upgrade from an earlier version). Adobe also offers an Extended version of Photoshop CS3, which offers additional support for 3-D images, motion graphics, and video layers, along with image analysis tools. The Extended version retails for about $999 ($349 to upgrade).

Enjoy User-Friendly Print Options With Photoshop Elements 6

You may find color management, including creating your own color profiles, not worth the time and effort — and expense. For the casual photographer who prints mostly family pictures, Photoshop Elements 6 (available in both Mac and Windows versions) might better suit you.

Photoshop Elements 6 includes Printer Packages, which give you control over your images' layout before you print them. This feature helps you to prevent mishaps with your pricey photo paper. You can also print contact sheets in Photoshop Elements 6, enabling you to view several pictures at once by formatting them as thumbnails. Add text, such as captions and dates, to your images. In the Windows version of Photoshop Elements 6, you can feature your own pictures in calendars, greeting cards, and labels.

These printing features are more in line with consumers who aren't necessarily design professionals. Adobe has positioned Photoshop Elements 6 as a middle-of-the-road option for people who don't necessarily need all the control Photoshop CS3 offers. In particular, Mac users feel that Photoshop Elements 6 gives them a long-awaited alternative to other image-editing software.

You'll find that Photoshop Elements 6 is a little easier on your pocketbook at a retail price of $99.99 ($79.99 for an upgrade) for the Windows version and $89.99 ($69.99 for an upgrade) for the Mac version. You might not get a full color-management system and all the other professional features, but Photoshop Elements 6 still offers plenty of editing and printing options. (Disclosure: We now use Photoshop Elements 6 on a Mac to produce the photos in this blog.)

Test-Drive Photoshop Express for Free, But Don't Expect to Print Images

Adobe realizes that the online world of photo-sharing continues to expand, a phenomenon it cannot ignore. Photoshop Express (see screenshot above), the much-anticipated online version of Photoshop, plays nice with established photo-sharing Web sites and image-editing programs instead of trying to outdo them. You can synchronize your albums in Picasa, Photobucket, and Facebook with the pictures you edit and share in Photoshop Express.

We'll deliver the bad news first: As it stands, Photoshop Express has no printing capabilities whatsoever. The program focuses on uploading and editing photos, and then sharing them with your family and friends or the entire world. But you won't even find a simple print button, much less any advanced printing options. When you right-click on a picture, Photoshop Express offers a "Print" choice in the right-click menu, but our test prints included only a navigation page and half of the selected image. Adobe obviously didn't anticipate that users may want to print pictures from Photoshop Express.

The good news is that anyone can try out the beta version of Photoshop Express free — and because Photoshop Express is still very much beta software (geek speak for not officially released), it's likely Adobe will add printing capabilities — especially if enough Photoshop Express users complain. Consider this post as Exhibit A.

About PrinTips
Sometimes useful, sometimes fun, and always interesting, PrinTips enable you to get more out of your ink jet or laser printer. That said, we don't profess to have a monopoly on printer tips so if you have anything to add, please do so below.

April 30, 2008

Canon imageCLASS MF6540, MF6590, and MF6595/MF6595cx: Do-It-All Laser MFCs at Four Price Points

By Kara Soos

Printer News: Canon's imageCLASS of 2008 Makes Multitasking Easy for Space-Constrained SoHos

Small businesses lack something that larger companies have in spades — space! If you can reach your copier, scanner, fax machine, and printer from your desk chair, you should consider paring down your office equipment. Canon's new imageCLASS series of multifunction laser copiers — MF6540, MF6590, and MF6595/MF6595cx — offer you an all-in-one office solution that can cope with your intensive printing, scanning, copying, and faxing workload — without having to lease more space.

Every model in Canon's new imageCLASS series outputs in black-and-white at 24 pages-per-minute. Load your paper in one of two trays: a front-loading paper cassette that holds up to 500 pages or a multipurpose tray that accommodates 100 pages. You can add an additional 500 sheet cassette (see below). Keep in mind that all of these models print in black and white only. The integrated scanner handles color, however.

When making copies, save yourself time and money (not to mention the environment) with the Duplex Automatic Document Feeder (DADF) for double-sided documents, or stick to the platen glass you've used for years. To further reduce your need for space, use the scanner and bundled Presto! PageManager and ScanSoft OmniPage SE OCR software (Windows only) to transform your piles of paper into PDF files and even editable Word documents. Despite the imageCLASS series' wide range of functions, Canon has simplified their maintenance with a unique single-cartridge system that combines both the toner and the drum. Translation: You only replace one part instead of two or more.

If you're wondering which model best suits your needs, ask yourself this question: Do I need a fax machine? The imageCLASS MF6540 offers printing, scanning, and copying features only, while its cousins, MF6590 and MF6595/MF6596cx, both include faxing capabilities in their repertoires. The MF6595cx (pictured above) also includes an extra 500-page cassette paper tray. And, as expected, the higher models carry higher prices for those additional features. The imageCLASS MF6540 has an MSRP of $599, the MF6590 $699, the MF6595 $999, and the MF6595c $1,145.

Summary

MSRP: $599 (MF6540), $699 (MF6590), $999 (MF6595), $1,145 (MF6596cx)

Manufacturer

Press Release

Canon Expands imageCLASS MF6500 Series Laser Multifunction Copiers Offering Four New Dektop Solutions for Small and Home Offices

Product Page

imageCLASS MF6540, imageCLASS MF6590, imageCLASS MF6595, imageCLASS MF6595cx

Supplies

Toner

Cartridge106 (all models)

Specs that matter

Release date:	March 3, 2008
Notable Features:	Duplex Automatic Document Feeder (DADF), Ethernet for networking, two paper trays with optional third, color scanning, fax capabilities (MF6590, MF6595, and MF6595cx only)
Green Features:	EnergyStar, duplex printing, energy-saving mode, toner-saving mode, RoHS compliant, recyclable toner cartridges, OnDemand SURF technology that warms up faster to cut down on energy expenditures, AIRSHELL cartridge packaging utilizes air cushioning for more efficient packing and shipping
Pages per minute:	24
Resolution:	1200x600
Memory:	128 MB
Paper Trays:	2 standard, 1 optional (imageCLASS MF6540, imageCLASS MF6590, imageCLASS MF6595); 3 (imageCLASS MF6595cx)
Paper Capacity:	600 (imageCLASS MF6540, imageCLASS MF6590, imageCLASS MF6595); 1,100 (imageCLASS MF6595cx)
Interface:	USB 2, Ethernet
Compatibility:	Windows (Mac limited)
Dimensions:	205x18.0x17.8 inches (imageCLASS MF6595cx is taller because of extra cassette, but Canon does not list its correct height)
Weight:	51.8 pounds
Warranty:	1 year

About Printer News
Your one stop source for information about new business- and consumer-class printers, Printer News covers everything you need to know. Well, almost everything. If you have anything to add to our report, please post it below.

April 28, 2008

Canon PIXMA MX7600 Office All-In-One: Superb Image Quality Even on Multipurpose Paper

By Kara Soos

Printer News: Canon PIXMA MX7600 Inkjet Printer: Have Laser Printers Met Their Match?

Conventional wisdom suggests that high-quality results require high-end materials — but then how do you explain Paris Hilton? Many people consider Paris Hilton a beautiful finished product, but she has no particular talent in the performing arts — or even in modeling. Thus, the raw materials are ... well, plain.

Just like Paris Hilton, the Canon PIXMA MX7600 Office All-In-One printer gives you superior image quality on plain multipurpose paper (the cheap stuff you use in copiers). You don't need to couple its 5-color ink system with special paper to obtain superior printouts. The printer's clear-ink base coat enables color to adhere better to standard office paper for laser-like results. In addition, this "Pigment Reaction" (PgR) ink system boasts crisper, smudge-proof black text.

The PIXMA MX7600 also gives you the functionality you expect from an office printer — copying, scanning and faxing — with an automatic document feeder (ADF) that holds 35 originals and handles two-sided projects without manual feeding. An Ethernet interface grants you network connectivity, and a 1.8" LCD screen shows you images before you print them. The Canon PIXMA MX7600 has an MSRP of $399.99.

Summary

All-In-One Inkjet printer best for small businesses.

MSRP: $399.99

Manufacturer

Press Release

Canon U.S.A. Brings Revolutionary Print Technology to Market With Newest Pixma Office All-In-One Printer

Product Page

Canon PIXMA MX7600

Supplies

Ink Cartridges

PGI-9 Clear, PGI-7BK Pigment Black, PGI-9C Pigment Cyan, PGI-9M Pigment Magenta, PGI-9 Pigment Yellow, PGI-9PBK Pigment Photo Black

Specs that matter

Release Date:	March 3, 2008
Notable Features:	PgR ink system for clear text, 5-color ink system for professional images on plain paper, Ethernet connectivity, scan/copy/fax capabilities, auto duplexing, automatic document feeder, PictBridge compatibility.
Green Features:	Energy Star, RoHS compliant, duplex printing, power supply made of recycled plastic, SmartWay certified carriers to transport printers to stores and warehouses.
Pages Per Minute:	28 (b/w), 23 (color) — printer and copier
Seconds Per Photo:	43
Resolution:	600x600 dpi (b/w), 4800x1200 dpi (color)
Paper Trays:	2 including ADF
Paper Capacity:	185
Interface:	USB 2, Ethernet, PictBridge, Memory Card Reader
Compatibility:	Mac and Windows
Dimensions:	19.7x21.0x10.1 inches
Weight:	36.6 pounds
Warranty	1 year

About Printer News
Your one stop source for information about new business- and consumer-class printers, Printer News covers everything you need to know. Well, almost everything. If you have anything to add to our report, please post it below.

April 22, 2008

What Are Color Profiles and Where Can I Find Them?

By Kara Soos

PrinTip: Your Printer Says Purple, Your Paper Says Muave: How to Get Them on the Same Page

You might notice that what looked teal on your computer screen looks more sea-green in a printout. Color profiles serve as the Rosetta Stone you need to solve these color discrepancies.

A color profile is a small computer file that synchronizes your printer and your paper so they can come to an agreement on color. A printer will never give you the same scope of colors as your digital camera, says Eric Vlietinck in his article, The Secrets That Lead to Great Colour Photo Prints. So your printer tries to match your image's color with its own limited color palette. You can cut down on some of the confusion by shooting digital images as RAW files — the purest interpretation of color without any meddling from your camera's software, according to Vlietinck.

But what if your camera doesn't shoot RAW images? Most consumer-class cameras don't. You have three options for getting the color profile you need:

1. Trust "The Man"

Use a color profile from your paper's manufacturer (ICC or ICM) based on your printer model and the paper you're using. This option will serve you well with a minimum of fuss if you're just as happy with "red" as you are with "crimson." Many printer profiles already reside on your computer. You can access them in the print dialog box when printing from your preferred photo editing software.

In his article, Understanding Printer Colour Management: A Brief Tutorial on Printer Settings, Michael Reichmann of The Luminous Landscape walks you through this two-step process using Photoshop. The procedure is similar in other programs.

If you can't find a color profile for your paper and print on your computer, visit the Web site of the paper manufacturer to see if you can download it there. For example, we found a page on Kodak's Web site with a fairly comprehensive list of color profiles that you can download for various Epson and Canon printers.

2. Be a Control Freak

If you cannot find a corresponding color profile, you can create one yourself. Ideally, you'll need to invest in a spectrophotometer such as those made by X-Rite. We covered such devices in our article, How Do I Calibrate My Monitor to Accurately Represent My Photos? That article focused more on proofing than printing, but printing comes after proofing.

Alternatively, you can modify existing color profiles using a Photoshop plugin such as Antelligent Microsystems' Color Darkroom (Windows only), which you can try free before you pay the $75 purchase price.

3. Outsource It

If you need dead-on color, but don't want to deal with any color profile mumbo-jumbo, you can always fork over the cash to have a third-party company create a profile for you. You'll probably pay between $65 and $315, says Vlietinck. This method makes sense if you find some paper that like and plan to use it exclusively or at least heavily for your photo printing.

Now that you know all about printer profiles, your only excuse for printing a bad photo will occur when you're low on ink. And you don't need us to tell you how to solve that problem.

About PrinTips
Sometimes useful, sometimes fun, and always interesting, PrinTips enable you to get more out of your ink jet or laser printer. That said, we don't profess to have a monopoly on printer tips so if you have anything to add, please do so below.

April 18, 2008

Canon PIXMA MX850 Office AIO: A No-Compromises Photo Printer That Also Copies, Scans, and Faxes

By Anne Rutherford

Canon's PIXMA MX850 Office AIO Combines Beauty, Brains, and Braun

People say that "home is where the heart is." True. But home is also very often where the office is. And with Canon's Pixma MX850 AIO you could add a photo shop as well. In other words, the PIXMA MX850 promises the printer industry's equivalent of the Holy Grail — an all-in-one that doesn't skimp on photo quality.

The PIXMA MX850 Office AIO has both speed and a robust monthly duty cycle (that's printer geek speak for the ability to print large volumes without undue wear and tear). The automatic document feeder can copy or scan both sides of up to 35 originals automatically and simultaneously. When scanning a multi-page document that you want to print, the MX850 can print the first page as it scans the second and so forth. That's the printer equivalent of walking and chewing gum at the same time.

Other features that should appeal to your business needs include the ability to adjust scans directly from the control panel, a 2.5 inch LCD screen, and fax capabilities. Regarding the latter, you'll find a 250 page memory, 8 numbers that you can speed dial with one touch, and another 100 numbers that you can speed dial by code.

Now, as for that photo lab you've always wanted in your house, the MX850 uses 5 individual color cartridges to print at a resolution of up to 9600 x 2400 color dpi, and can print a borderless 4"x6" lab-quality photo in about 21 seconds (Canon recommends its new Canon Photo Paper Plus Glossy II). The PIXMA MX850 features direct photo printing from select memory cards and PictBridge ready devices. But best of all, it features both USB 2 and Ethernet, which means you can make it a network printer. All that at a competitive MSRP of 279.99.

[Editor's Note: With this edition of Printer News, we introduce a new feature. In the Specs That Matter section, we've always tried to do exactly that — list the most important specifications and omit all the stuff you don't care about (A4 paper anyone?). Today, you'll find a new entry — Green Features. Here we'll list the printer's environmentally-friendly attributes, if any, such as Energy Star rating, cartridge recycling, use of non-toxic plastics, etc. Even if you don't care about saving the planet, you probably do care about saving money, which certain green technologies can do. Please let us know what you think in the Comments. Thank you.]

Summary

All-in-one inkjet printer/copier/scanner/fax best for small offices and busy home offices

MSRP:$279.99

Manufacturer

Press Release

Canon U.S.A. Expands Popular Office All-in-One Series With a New Flagship Model - PIXMA MX850 All-in-One Printer

Product Page

Canon PIXMA MX850 Office AIO

Supplies

Ink Cartridges

PGI-5BK Black, CLI-8C Cyan, CLI-8M Magenta, CLI-8Y Yellow, CLI-8Bk Black

Specs that matter

Release date:	January 23, 2008
Notable Features:	Automatic document feeder (35 pages), duplex scanning and printing, lab-quality photo, fax capabilities, LCD screen, QuickStart (printer ready in seconds), network-ready.
Green Features:	Energy Star, RoHS compliant, duplex printing, power supply made of recycled plastic, SmartWay certified carriers to transport printers to stores and warehouses.
Pages per minute:	31 (b/w), 24 (color)
Seconds per photo:	21
Resolution:	600x600 (b/w), 9600x2400 (color)
Paper Trays:	2
Paper Capacity:	300 (150 in cassette, 150 in sheet feeder)
Interface:	USB 2, Ethernet, Memory Cards, PictBridge, Bluetooth (optional)
Compatibility:	Mac and Windows
Dimensions:	20x19x10.2 inches
Weight:	30.7 pounds
Warranty:	1 year

About Printer News
Your one stop source for information about new business- and consumer-class printers, Printer News covers everything you need to know. Well, almost everything. If you have anything to add to our report, please post it below.

April 16, 2008

Reviews of Canon PIXMA iP90, Samsung SCX-4500, and Lexmark X4550

By Anne Rutherford

Review Roundup: Tiny PIXMA iP90 Packs a Big Punch Plus Reviews of Samsung SCX-4500 and Lexmark X4550

Canon PIXMA iP90: Pogue-Approved for Your House

If you're a photophile who wants instant prints of your most treasured photos without your house looking like an office, you'll probably like what New York Times technology columnist David Pogue had to say in Making the Case for the Countertop Printer, a review of his family's Canon PIXMA iP90.

This diminutive inkjet printer "excels where you want it to," says Pogue. It offers both photo quality and speed, pumping out black text documents instantaneously and a borderless 4x6 photo taking just over a minute.

It takes up no more space on Pogue's kitchen countertop then a hard-bound book and could be carried in a laptop case, he notes. It offers a battery, car adapter and Bluetooth receiver.

"If you compared the photos from the iP90's three-color ink cartridge side-by-side with the same ones from a big six-tank photo printer, the six-color version would look better. But they look great to us," writes Pogue.

Among the downsides, Pogue points out that the ink cartridges are tiny and don't quite yield what Canon says they do. "Canon says you'll get 100 pages from each color tank and 185 for the black one, but they're not talking about full-page coverage; in the real world, you get maybe 25 photos from the color cartridges."

Samsung SCX-4500: Old School But Cool As a Cucumber

What a concept — people still actually choose black and white printing over color. On purpose. That said, David Chen's review of the Samsung SCX-4500 monochrome laser with built-in scanner and copier (see photo above) is so bullish I'm tempted to return my new color AIO. "The SCX-4500 is a good overall performer, offering the benefits of high-quality monochrome laser prints and color scans without putting a dent in your budget," Chen sums up in his MacWorld review.

In fact, the only thing Chen doesn't like about the SCX-4500 — priced around $300 — is that its sleek, compact design doesn't come with an output tray for your prints. "You'll have to turn the SCX-4500 away from the edge of your desk to prevent papers from falling on the floor," he notes.

The SCX-4500 features an intuitive, touch-sensitive control panel with only seven buttons (Power, Start Copy, Scan to PC, Stop/Clear, Darkness, Reduce/Enlarge, and Copies), and reasonably speedy print output: 13 seconds to print a 1-page Word document, 46 seconds to print a 10-page Word document, and 31 seconds to print a 4-page PDF file. The SCX-4500 can scan an 8x10 photo in 77 seconds and a 4x6 photo at 1,200 dpi. Image quality "doesn't disappoint," concludes Chen.

Lexmark X4550: WiFi Printer Challenging to Set Up

Mac users have a reputation for being just a bit smug compared to their Windows counterparts (come on, you've seen the ads). But maybe it's not so much smugness as a little perverse pleasure in feeling you're always ahead of the curve. That's the sense you get from Mike Swope's review of the Lexmark X4550 in MacNN.

"They don't make it as simple or elegant as Mac users expect," says Swope who had numerous connectivity problems with both the units he reviewed. Customer service wasn't prepared for his Mac related problems. He also complains that the Lexmark X4550 wireless printing, copying, and scanning functions "fall short of their potential and are of the plug-and-pray variety."

The $129 Lexmark X4550 offers a quick setup card for Windows, but Mac users get only the "Getting Started Manual," which covers just that, Swope says. Wireless installation instructions should be followed to the letter he notes as there is no room for error, but the printer works better via USB.

Once connected though, Swope had high praise for the X4550 saying it worked very well. Both his Macs sent jobs to the printer at the same time "without incident." The X4550 prints color up to 4800x1200 dpi resolution and it offers approximately 36 paper sizes, including envelopes, postcards, and photo paper.

Swope says he helped Lexmark through the problem he had connecting, "so future Mac users should not experience similar fruitless discussions with Lexmark tech support," he states ... with justifiable smugness?

About Review Roundup
Although we cannot review every printer and printer accessory, we can scour the Web for the most creative and helpful reviews. That's what we do for you in Review Roundup. In the process, we also interview the reviewers for updates and additional insights that you'll only find here.

April 10, 2008

Catching Up with HP's Vyomesh Joshi, the Ultimate Printer Pundit

By Anne Rutherford

Printer Pundits: HP's Top Printer Executive Sees Lots of Printing Opportunities Even as the World Becomes More Digitized

It's your birthday in the year 2012. You receive a birthday card from your best friend. But it's not like any card you've ever seen. When you open it, you're holding a YouTube video printed on an HP printer. Welcome to HP's vision of the future as expressed by Vyomesh Joshi, Executive Vice President of HP's Imaging and Printing Group.

Joshi, known as "VJ" in the industry, is a man on a mission, speaking around the world about the future of printing — "Print 2.0" as he likes to call it. HP's Imaging and Printing Group is a $26 billion business (larger than most entire companies in the Fortune 500) so when Joshi speaks, people listen. Us included. Below we report on Joshi's recent media appearances.

Laser What?

"You have two choices with what to do with Web content," Joshi told John Battelle who interviewed him in October 2007 at the Web 2.0 Summit. "You can either view content or you can print it." Joshi says it is inevitable that publishing will go the way of the music and photo industry — completely digital, transforming books, magazines, and newspapers. And, predicts Joshi, "in 10 years, everything will be printed by inkjet printers," 70% of it from Web applications.

For example, in Victoria Shannon's International Herald Tribune article, Hewlett-Packard Shifts Strategy on Printers, Joshi discusses how his two daughters in college would love the ability to print Web-based profiles of all their friends at the end of the year as a keepsake — sort of like a custom yearbook. "That could be a very powerful way to document and chronicle their social connections during their year at Berkeley," he said.

A Lousy 1.8%

Today, HP owns about 46% of the printer market share, but Joshi measures true penetration not by how many printers HP has installed around the world (approximately a billion, he thinks), but by how many actual pages people print.

"The actual number of actual pages printed in the world is 50 trillion but we have only 1.8% — a lousy 1.8% as I call it — of that market," observed Joshi in a February 28, 2008 interview by Joyce Kim and Chris Albrecht on the GigaOm Show. And only 10% of that 50 trillion is digital, he notes. Joshi says HP can double its business by capturing "another lousy 1.8%."

Joshi has worked at HP for over 27 years, working his way to the executive suite of the legendary Palo-Alto-based company from the company's research and development wing. HP has been the worldwide market leader in printing since introducing its first inkjet and LaserJet printers in 1984. The company has sold more than 300 million inkjet printers since then and, in 2006, shipped its 100 millionth LaserJet printer.

HP's Printing-Related Acquisitions

Joshi wants to see a print icon on every Web page and blog that would give readers what he called a "template-based experience." HP has actually bought such technology — Tabblo — as we reported last year. Likewise, HP is creating widgets for blogs so that you don't have to print 150 pages of comments when all you want is one. The company has started working with the trend-setting blog BoingBoing.

HP also owns photo sharing Snapfish. Though lagging behind Flickr and other competitors, it has still increased its user base fivefold. LogoWorks, an online stationery store for small businesses, is another example of HP's new focus.

Furthermore, as reported by Mike Freeman in his Union-Tribune article, San Diego Facility Creates Web Press, HP recently announced its "Web Press" device, which enables publishers to send their pages electronically over the Internet to multiple locations rather than printing large volumes in one location and then trucking them to readers and stores. While announced in March, HP says it won't be available to customers until 2009.

Joshi insists that all of these ventures are completely consistent with HP's core business strategy. "Our business model is very simple: Print," he has said in interviews." Joshi and HP don't care what people print, they just want to make sure an HP solution exists for every possible scenario.

What About that Other Silicon Valley Icon Down the Road?

Joshi has served on Yahoo's board of directors since 2005. And as you may have heard, Yahoo is the lead business story these days. Will it become part of Microsoft? Will it become a Google affiliate? Unfortunately, Joshi isn't saying much about Yahoo though he did tell Battelle that he doesn't see online advertising as a good fit for HP. "There's too many people who want to be in that business." But as to what Yahoo plans to do? That he won't say. Probably not even if he had a video greeting card in which to do so.

About Printer Pundits
We spend most of our time here at Databazaar Blog on printer gear, but this impressive technology doesn't just appear by magic. With Printer Pundits, we bring you interviews with and stories about some of the luminaries in the printer industry — senior executives, analysts, journalists, inventors, and others. Of course, in today's world everyone is a pundit so please share your insights below.