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October 07, 2009
How to Take and Print Polaroids Using Your iPhone
By Databazaar Blog
PrinTip: Polaroid-Style Photos From Your iPhone in Two Steps (Shaking Optional)
We recently covered three methods for creating and printing Polaroid-style photos — two using your Mac or PC and one using a ZINK-based gadget. But those of you with an iPhone asked us if there's "an app for that." With 85,000 apps on Apple's App Store, did you have any doubt? There's even an app for finding nearby public restrooms, but I digress.
Nick Campbell's Shake it Photo sells for 99 cents. Snap a photo through Shake it Photo, and then shake your iPhone to watch your Polaroid-style photo come to life (you don't have to shake your iPhone but shaking it makes the photo "develop" faster). You can also process existing photos.
After using Shake it Photo, you can transfer photos to your Mac or PC, and then print them, but where's the fun in that?
If you use an HP printer, install HP's free HP iPrint Photo for iPhone. Using this app, you can print photos from your iPhone to any WiFi-enabled HP printer.
If you own a non-HP inkjet printer (Canon, Epson, Lexmark, etc.), use a third-party printing app such as EuroSmartz's Print or Microtech's ePrint (each costs $2.99).
Now that we solved this problem for you, how about an app for doing the laundry? We're still researching that one.
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.
October 07, 2009
Canon PIXMA MP990 Plus Twenty One More Printer Reviews
By Databazaar Blog
Review Roundup: Xerox Phaser 6125, Oki MB290, HP 3015d, Samsung ML-2855ND, Canon PIXMA MX320, Canon PIXMA MP560, Canon PIXMA MP990, HP Photosmart Premium TouchSmart Web, Kodak ESP-7, Lexmark Interact S605, Lexmark Interpret S405, Lexmark Platinum Pro905, Lexmark Prestige Pro805, Lexmark Prevail Pro705, Lexmark Prospect Pro205, Canon Selphy CP790, Canon PIXMA iX7000, HP Officejet 7000, HP Deskjet D1660, Polaroid PoGo Instant Digital Camera
Canon is like the quiet, unassuming kid in the back of the class who shocks everyone when he gets admitted to Harvard. Canon quietly (it never sends us press releases) cranks out crowd-pleasing inkjet printers. The Canon PIXMA MP990 has pleased the press as well, earning an Editors' Choice Award from Computer Shopper and, as a result, bragging rights as our Review Roundup winner this week.
Color Laser Printers"This is a great little colour laser printer that produces worthwhile black and colour documents, though you may need to tweak settings for satisfactory photo prints. Print speeds hold up well, though are some way short of the specified figures. " — IT Reviews
Monochrome Multifunction Printers
"Cash-strapped small businesses should find the Oki MP290 useful as a general-purpose mono fax, printer and copier. The fax and messaging functions are particularly versatile. However, with respect to printing speed and copying quality, you get what you pay for." — Alistair Dabbs, Register Hardware
Monochrome Laser Printers"We get to see a lot of printers, but there is still a great deal about the HP LaserJet P3015d to make it stand out from the crowd. It is a solid performer, actually achieving the speed rating quoted by the manufacturer (astonishing, really) and offering a clutch of extra features that will go down well with workgroups, such as automatic duplex printing, PIN-protected stored print jobs, easy-to-use drivers and 'walk-up' USB printing of PDF documents." — Alistair Dabbs, Register Dabbs
"This is a good, general-purpose mono laser printer, with useful features, such as its built-in duplex print. It's compact and still produces pages at well over 20ppm in real office conditions. Print quality for office documentation is fine and running costs fall in the middle of the pack." — Simon Williams, TrustedReviews
Inkjet Multifunction Printers"Canon's PIXMA MX320 is at the low end of the company's range of SOHO all-in-one printers.… This is a serviceable home office all-in-one, with a useful general-purpose front panel USB socket, reasonable speed and the addition of both an ADF and fax facilities. While not intended as a photo printer, it produces excellent photos and fair plain paper prints and copies. Overall it's very good value." — IT Reviews
"The Canon PIXMA MP560 Wireless Photo All-in-One printer definitely lives up to its predecessor, the MP620. The photo quality is excellent, Canon has improved the wireless setup, and it is full of great features including Canon's Easy Scroll Wheel, a front side PictBridge/USB port, and two way paper feeding." — Sarah Meyer, PrinterComparison.com
"This all-in-one is a significant improvement over previous PIXMAs, shining where it really counts: excellent text and image quality. It is perfect for SOHO users who demand quality and speed." — Sally Wiener Grotta & Daniel Grotta, Computer Shopper
HP Photosmart Premium TouchSmart Web | Read Our Take
"Aside from the never-ending name, the HP Photosmart Premium TouchSmart Web All-in-One Printer looks good and prints high-quality photos at competitive speeds. We also appreciate the effort put into the downloadable applications for the interactive touch screen, but the innovation is offset by a hefty price tag. Unless Web connectivity and touch screens are a top priority, we recommend checking out HP's other multifunction printers, which still offer high performance but at a much lower cost." — Justin Yu, CNET
"In fact, because of the problems we had, we cannot recommend this printer. Who wants to buy a new printer only to spend hours with technical support to get it working properly? Yet, we feel that Kodak is a printer manufacturer to watch very carefully. Kodak's first digital cameras came up short, but after several generations, we found them to be greatly improved. If Kodak can work through their problems with these printers, we feel they could create exceptional printers." — Sandy Berger, Hardware Secrets
"This all-in-one turns out documents and photos at respectable speeds and offers some fresh ideas, but don't mistake it for a photo printer. It's meant purely for small-business and personal-document printing." — Jonathan Rougeot, Computer Shopper
"This is the first of Lexmark's new range of inkjet all-in-ones we've examined and in general improvements are impressive. While ink costs are still too high, the extra economy of individual ink cartridges, where you don't have to throw a tri-colour cartridge away when one ink is exhausted, is some compensation. Speeds are good and print quality is improved, getting closer to Canon and HP standards." — Simon Williams, TrustedReviews
"This innovative, inexpensive-to-operate all-in-one incorporates some next-generation printer functions, but it's marred by confusing paper handling." — Sally Wiener Grotta and Daniel Grotta, Computer Shopper
"The Lexmark Platinum Pro905 is a fully capable all-in-one business device, but its touch screen might throw a wrench in your workflow. The Smart Solutions widgets add virtual customization to the control panel, but we wish Lexmark had retained a few hard buttons as well." — Justin Yu, CNET
"Overall, we liked the Prestige. The attractive, relatively small (9.83 x 18.31 x 15.42-inch) printer proved itself as a performer capable of handling its maximum duty cycle of 10,000 pages per month. And with registration of the product, Lexmark extends the one-year warranty to five years." — Brian Sheinberg, ChannelWeb
"For your extra money, compared with the Interpret, you get an extended warranty, high-capacity cartridges as standard, a full-colour LCD, a slow but useful duplex mode and more convenient paper handling. Print quality and running costs are no different from the cheaper series, but the Prevail Pro705 is still a reasonable all-in-one for SOHO office work." — Simon Williams, TrustedReviews
"Great for small businesses who need an all-in-one printer without loads of frills, this entry-priced model earns good marks for its ease-of-use features and five-year warranty, despite a few print and paper-feed stumbles." — David English, Computer Shopper
Inkjet Photo Printers
Canon Selphy CP790 | Read Our Take
"Though a competent photo printer, the Selphy CP790 is not a good value. The unit and prints are expensive, and the software bundle is meager." — Susan Gilnert, Computer Shopper
Large Format Inkjet Photo Printers
"This large-format inkjet is excellent for cost-sensitive small businesses and home offices. Top-notch results with plain paper, plus auto-duplex printing, make it one of the most versatile single-function inkjets you can buy." — David English, Computer Shopper
"We didn't think we'd be saying this about an HP printer, but it really does look as if the company has taken its eye off the ball.… it doesn't do what it should and really can't be recommended." — Simon Williams, TrustedReviews
"At its best, the Officejet 7000 produces high-quality output on plain paper — and does so cheaply. Its features restrict it to use by small workgroups or home offices, however." — Susan Silvius, PC World
Inkjet Printers
"This is a pretty good printer for the money. It's very easy to use and in most ways just gets on with the job. Facilities are basic, but it's reasonably quick for its class and produces high quality output. Print costs are on the high side, but are likely to drop and will always be a bit higher when the asking price is low. If money is tight, the Deskjet D1660 is a good place to spend it." — Simon Williams, TrustedReviews
ZINK-Based Photo Printers
Polaroid PoGo Instant Digital Camera
"That said, the output from the built-in printer was a vast improvement over what we saw from the standalone ZINK printers from Polaroid and Dell. None of the colors were noticeably off, and the printer did a reasonably good job with skin tones in particular." — M. David Stone, PC Magazine
About Review Roundup
Every week, we scour the Web for the most helpful reviews, organize them by printer type, and provide you with a salient quote and a link for further reading. We also link to our own summaries when available. When shopping for a printer, start with Review Roundup.
Article Filed Under: Canon HP Inkjet Cartridges Kodak Laser Toner Lexmark Okidata Printers Review Roundup Samsung Xerox-Tektronix
September 23, 2009
Canon PIXMA MP490 Inkjet Printer Focuses on Print Quality
By Databazaar Blog
Printer News: Canon Cuts Some Corners With the PIXMA MP490 But You May Not Care
If you build it, they won't necessary come, but if you build it and sell it cheap, you've got a fighting chance even during the Great Recession. That's the philosophy behind Canon's new PIXMA MP490 Photo All-in-One inkjet printer.
The PIXMA MP490 cranks out lab-quality 4x6 inch photos in about 43 seconds using four inks (it can print photos as large as 8x10 inches). Unlike pricier printers, Canon has cut some corners. For example, the LCD screen measures just 1.8 inches, and there's no WiFi, duplex printing, or fax capability. However, the PIXMA MP490 offers some advanced features such as a nearly instantaneous warmup, automatic recognition of scanned items, and professional color copies.
Clearly, Canon gave some thought to what a certain class of consumers want and what they don't care about. If you just want to print high-quality photos from one computer and have a copier and scanner handy just in case, the PIXMA MP490 may suit you.
Summary
All-in-One inkjet printer best for home users and studentsMSRP: $99.99
Manufacturer
Press Release
Canon U.S.A. Announces New Affordable Pixma and Selphy Printers for a Wide Range of UsersProduct Page
PIXMA MP490Supplies
Specs that matter
| Release Date: | July 7, 2009 |
| Notable Features: | LCD Screen, borderless photo printing, auto photo fix, PC-free printing, copying and scanning |
| Green Features: | Energy Star, QuickStart, 4-in-1 and 2-in-1 printing saves paper, RoHS compliant, hardware recycling program |
| Pages Per Minute: | 8 (b/w), 4 (color) |
| Seconds Per Photo: | 43 (4x6 inch) |
| Resolution: | 4800 x 1200 |
| Paper Trays: | 1 |
| Interface: | USB 2.0, Memory Cards |
| Compatibility: | Windows and Macintosh |
| Dimensions: | 17.5 x 13.1 x 6.1 inches |
| Weight: | 13 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.
September 22, 2009
Epson Stylus NX515 Plus 13 More Printer Reviews
By Databazaar Blog
Review Roundup: Kyocera Mita FS-C1020MFP, OKI C710dn, OKI MB260, Xerox WorkCentre 6400S MFP, Brother MFC-3360C, Brother MFC-6890CDW, Brother MFC-990CW, Epson Stylus NX515, HP Officejet Pro 8500, HP Photosmart C4680, HP Photosmart C4780
Has anyone reviewed more printers than PCMag's M. David Stone? He should win an award. In the meantime, David continues to issue awards of his own, recently bestowing a coveted PCMag Editor's Choice award (the gold standard) on Epson's new Stylus NX515. Therefore, we hereby declare the Epson Stylus NX515 this week's Review Roundup winner.
Below you'll also find reviews of the Epson Stylus NX515 from Digital Trends and Wi-Fi Planet, neither of which found it as impressive as David. Why the different conclusions? Because David reviewed the Stylus NX515 for Epson intended audience — home users, not business users.
Color Laser Multifunction Printers
"The FS-C1020MFP is a good, general-purpose, colour laser multifunction printer for workgroups and small-business. Although it's inexpensive to buy, it lacks any walk-up print facility and, unusually for Kyocera Mita, doesn't offer particularly good colour print. It's cheap to run, though, and easy to use from the control panel, from a locally-connected PC or across a network." — Simon Williams, TrustedReviews
"Despite the setup problems we experienced, this is a good workgroup colour printer. Though not ideal for printing photos, it's pretty good at everything else and is one of the best machines for duplex print we've tested. Having four different consumables to consider could be logistically awkward, but they have long enough service lives for it not to be too much hassle." — Simon Williams, TrustedReviews
"The WorkCentre 6400 is a very robust, usable and eminently shareable MFP. Print quality could be an issue for some, but overall we liked the machine and you'd certainly have to pay a lot more to get anything better." — Alan Stevens, V3.co.uk
Monochrome Laser Multifunction Printers
"This is a really nice machine for personal use as a printer, copier and scanner. If you don't need colour, it's really cost-effective as a SOHO device, even though its GDI processing slows it up on older computers. Print quality is adequate, better on text than greyscale graphics. At the price, you'll find it hard to improve on the MB260 as a whole." — Simon Williams, Trusted Reviews
Inkjet Multifunction Printers
"The Brother MFC-3360C does decent quality text and graphics, but anyone printing a large volume of photos won't be happy with the extremely slow output speed." — Justin Yu, CNET
"Ultimately it has to be asked whether the advantages of having affordable … printing in the home are outweighed by the painfully slow printing process and at best indifferent output quality offered by the MFC-6890CDW." — IT Reviews
"The Brother MFC-990CW is a speedy, fully capable all-in-one device that earns our recommendation for an individual or a family that will make use of its touch screen and telephone/answering machine. Mechanical issues notwithstanding, this is the highest-scoring Brother printer we've tested to date." — Justin Yu, CNET
"Overall, we liked the Epson Stylus NX515. We were impressed with its print quality and performance. It produced nice-looking, quality photos and documents at a fast speed. One minor negative is that unlike the Artisan's limited two-year warranty, the NX515 only comes with a limited one-year warranty, which includes telephone and email support." — Daniel Casciato, Wi-Fi Planet
"Ultimately, the NX515 excels as a home AIO and as a home-office printer, if not as a home-office AIO. Few inkjet AIOs at any price offer comparable speed for business applications or comparable quality for text and photos, much less match the NX515 on all three points. Fewer still offer smear resistant output on plain paper. With all of these strengths, plus the convenience of Ethernet and WiFi connections, the NX515 not only earns its Editors' Choice award with room to spare, but resets the bar for what to expect from a home AIO." — M. David Stone, PC Magazine
"The Stylus NX515 is a good printer for producing photos and arts-and-crafts projects. As such, we have no problem giving up faxing capabilities at this price range — especially since the integrated scanner is so good — but let's be honest as well. In the end, we're very disappointed with its capacity for printing documents." — Michael Brown, Digital Trends
Epson Stylus SX415 (European Version of NX415) | Read Our Take
"Aside from the flash, textured-black case and slightly improved paper trays, the SX415 is identical to the older and cheaper model, which uses the same consumables and is about as fast as well. A new printer should offer significant improvements over the model it replaces, particularly if it's more expensive. We can't see them here." — Simon Williams, Trusted Reviews
HP Officejet Pro 8500 | Read Our Take
"The HP Officejet Pro 8500 wireless makes a convincing inkjet argument for offices with a high volume of prints. With a function touch screen, multiple networking options, and an astoundingly fast print speed, it makes perfect sense to give this workhorse an Editors' Choice award." — Justin Yu, CNET
"This combination of features, along with the lack of any office-centric features — there's no networking, no fax capability, and no automatic document feeder — pegs the C4680 as being aimed strictly at home use, rather than, say, a home office or even a shared printer for home and office, although it's output quality for text and graphics is good enough so it could serve in a home office as well, for extremely light-duty use." — M. David Stone, PC Magazine
"Now that I've reviewed the Photosmart C4780, I can say with confidence that it would be a great companion for any student. It's wireless, compact and good-looking; it is also functional and relatively cheap. Yes, the print speeds were slower than advertised and the text could have been sharper but the fact that C4780 will keep printing even after a cartridge expires is a huge plus for any student on a deadline." — SarahM, PrinterComparison.com
About Review Roundup
Every week, we scour the Web for the most helpful reviews, organize them by printer type, and provide you with a salient quote and a link for further reading. We also link to our own summaries when available. When shopping for a printer, start with Review Roundup.
Article Filed Under: Brother Epson HP Inkjet Cartridges Kyocera Laser Toner Okidata Review Roundup Xerox-Tektronix
September 03, 2009
Xerox WorkCentre 3220DN Plus 10 More Printer Reviews
By Databazaar Blog
Review Roundup: Canon imageCLASS MF8350Cdn, Xerox WorkCentre 3220DN, Kyocera Mita FS-C5300DN, Lexmark C734DN, HP LaserJet P3015X, Brother DCP-385C, Canon PIXMA MP540, Epson Stylus NX515, Canon Pixma iP4700, HP Photosmart B5550
The mysterious SarahM at TechTarget's PrinterComparison.com has been on a tear, cranking out six printer reviews in August, including two listed below. SarahM likes the Xerox WorkCentre 3220DN all-in-one laser printer in particular, awarding it her Editor's Choice,, which explains why we hereby dub the Xerox WorkCentre 3220DN (see above photo) the Review Roundup winner this week.
Color Laser Multifunction Printers
"The Canon imageCLASS MF8350Cdn is a functional, reliable color laser printer. It lived up to, and sometimes exceeded, Canon's claims for print speeds, energy usage and diverse features. I had no real problems during testing other than a few slightly off center copies made when I hastily loaded a 10-page document in the ADF without tightening the paper clasps." — SarahM, PrinterComparison.com
Monochrome Multifunction Laser Printers
Xerox WorkCentre 3220DN | Read Our Take
"Well, the claims are true, the 3220DN is a great printer for a professional working from home or for a small office/workgroup. The WorkCentre 3220DN delivers four different functionalities, good print speeds, excellent print quality, and great features such as fast automatic duplexing, front side USB port and a variety of Scan-to and fax-to options. That's why we decided to award the Xerox WorkCentre 3220DN with the PrinterComparison.com Editor's Choice designation." — SarahM, PrinterComparison.com
Color Laser Printers
"Kyocera Mita's FS-C5300DN makes high-volume color printing affordable — and it pumps the pages out fast. Assuming you can do better than the list price, this printer would work well in a mainstream business office with basic color needs." — Melissa Riofrio, PC World
"The Lexmark C734dn has a few quirks and a color palette in need of adjustment. Nevertheless, it offers the speed, features, and expandability to keep most mainstream offices happy for a while — and the cheap toner is icing on the cake." — Melissa Riofrio, PC World
Monochrome Laser Printers
"If you need a high-capacity, duplex mono laser, with PIN-protected, walk-up PDF print, you won't go far wrong with the LaserJet P3015X. It's easy to use and maintain, is no fuss on a network and prints long documents fast, though as usual not quite as fast as its manufacturer believes." — Simon Williams, TrustedReviews
Inkjet Multifunction Printers
"Although the DCP-385C reviewed here has no wireless connection, if you're happy to connect directly, you get a considerably higher spec machine. With its widescreen LCD display, full set of memory card slots and PictBridge, dual-media paper tray and higher capacity cartridges, in most ways it's much better value." — Simon Williams, TrustedReviews
"The PIXMA MP540 is an excellent all-in-one for the money. At not much more than entry-level price, it has several features — such as the colour LCD display, the twin paper sources and individual ink cartridges — that you wouldn't expect to see. Given that it also prints superbly, it's hard not to recommend; so we won't resist." — IT Reviews
"For general use, the Epson Stylus NX515 offers great performance, superior monochrome text output, inexpensive costs per page, and both simple setup and good ease of use. But if printing photos is a big part of your agenda or you frequently rely on Draft mode for documents, this isn't the model for you." — Daniel Grotta and Sally Wiener Grotta, Computer Shopper
Inkjet Photo Printers
"It seems strange to be giving such high marks and an A-List spot to a printer we've freely acknowledged does almost nothing to improve on its predecessor, but since the iP4600 will soon be off the shelves, you'd be crazy not to switch your attentions to the iP4700. It may not innovate, but it's still the best home inkjet around." — David Bayon, PC Pro
HP Photosmart B5550 | Read Our Take
"Overall, I like the look and feel of the printer. I was able to achieve excellent color accuracy and quality. Its price and feature set make it appear to be positioned as a high-end consumer printer but it would also serve the professional for a majority of the prints used in wedding and portrait work." — Dennis Sellers, Macsimum News
About Review Roundup
Every week, we scour the Web for the most helpful reviews, organize them by printer type, and provide you with a salient quote and a link for further reading. We also link to our own summaries when available. When shopping for a printer, start with Review Roundup.
Article Filed Under: Brother Canon Epson HP Inkjet Cartridges Kyocera Laser Toner Lexmark Review Roundup
August 27, 2009
Epson Artisan 810 Aims to Please Gadget Hounds and Families Alike
By Databazaar Blog
Printer News: Epson Artisan 810 All-in-One Inkjet Printer Replaces the Artisan 800
Epson showed us its Artisan 800 in July 2008 in a faux living room complete with a comfy black leather sofa. The only item missing was a yuppie — he was probably at the office working late.
Perhaps because of the recession or perhaps because the Artisan is now an established brand, Epson didn't build a living room around the new Artisan 810 this time around. Instead, Epson just had it sitting on a table in a hotel lounge.
But we're actually more excited about the 810 than the 800 because savvy consumers (like you) often resist buying "Rev A" models. Instead, they wait to buy the second generation.
So what's new? We suspect Epson made improvements under the hood, but specs-wise not much has changed. You can print from your iPhone/iPod Touch, charge USB devices thanks to the new port on front, take advantage of more built-in printing projects, and fax documents from your computer (Windows only). Unfortunately, the 810 lacks automatic duplexing though you can add this functionality by purchasing a duplexer.
Summary
Multifunction inkjet printer best for home users that care about style and need fax functionalityMSRP: $299.99
Manufacturer
Product Page
Artisan 810Supplies
Specs that matter
| Release Date: | August 19, 2009 |
| Notable Features: | 7.8 inch touch panel, 3.5 inch LCD screen, embedded photo correction and printing projects, borderless photo printing, CD/DVD printing, Ethernet and WiFi, USB charging, iPhone printing, two year warranty |
| Green Features: | Energy Star, duplex printing saves paper (automatic duplexing is optional), individual ink cartridges mean you can replace only the color you need, estimated power consumption for one year is less than two dollars |
| Pages Per Minute: | 38 (9.5 at laser quality) |
| Seconds Per Photo: | 10 |
| Resolution: | 5760 x 1440 dpi |
| Paper Trays: | 2 |
| Paper Capacity: | Main Paper Tray: 120 sheets, Photo Tray: 20 photo sheets |
| Interface: | USB 2.0, WiFi, Ethernet, PictBridge, Memory Cards, Bluetooth (optional) |
| Compatibility: | Windows and Macintosh |
| Dimensions: | 18.3 x 25.8 x 7.8 inches |
| Weight: | 23.1 pounds |
| Warranty: | 2 years |
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.
August 24, 2009
Brother DCP-9045CDN Plus 10 More Printer Reviews
By Databazaar Blog
Review Roundup: Brother DCP-9045CDN, Samsung CLX-6210FX, Samsung CLX-6240FX, Lexmark X204n, HP CP1515n, Lexmark C734dn, Canon Pixma IP4700, Epson Workforce 600, HP Officejet 6500, Lexmark X7675
Thank goodness for the British. They gave us the Beatles and Top Gear, and they also review a lot more printers than American publications. This week's Review Roundup winner comes courtesy of British technology publication Trusted Reviews, which recommends the Brother DCP-9045CDN (see photo above).
Color Laser Multifunction Printers
"This is an impressive multifunction device, with many of the features needed in a modern office. It's useful to have the facility for duplex copy and scan, as well as print, though the copy speed is disappointing. Even so, the print quality and ease of use of the machine makes it a good choice for general-purpose document printing." — Simon Williams, TrustedReviews
Samsung CLX-6210FX | Read Our Take
"Samsung's colour laser multifunction is unnecessarily large, takes a while to warm up and is confusing to use. Though affordable, there are plenty of better quality alternatives." — James Hutchinson, PC World Australia
"Samsung's CLX-6240FX multifunction printer is a vast improvement over cheaper models from the company, providing better print quality and speed. Some design flaws do remain, however, and the control panel is confusing for first-time users." — James Hutchinson, PC World Australia
Monochrome Multifunction Laser Printers
"This is a good, general-purpose multifunction printer, with a fair turn of speed, but with some shortcomings in its copy quality and a driver glitch which needs sorting. It also costs noticeably more than some of its rivals to run, unless we see a drop in the consumable price as it becomes more widely available." — Simon Williams, TrustedReviews
Color Laser Printers
"The Color LaserJet CP1515n is a bit of a puzzle as it has a solid build quality, high-grade black text quality and competitive pricing alongside restrictive paper limits, low quality colour photo printing and noise and speed issues." — IT Reviews
"It perhaps won't be superlative print quality that draws you to the Lexmark C734dn (although both text and graphics are quite easy on the eye), but if your business needs a heavy-duty printer packed with a huge range of options and possessed of considerable versatility, the C734dn fulfils most of its functions with a good deal to spare." — Robin Morris, PC Advisor
Inkjet Multifunction Printers
Epson Workforce 600 | Read Our Take
"The only problems I saw? First, there's no two sided printing. Second, the screen is a little small to get a real sense of the image you're printing. The best part? Built-in scanning to memory card or USB key. This has been an absolute lifesaver and is one of my favorite features." — John Biggs, CrunchGear
HP says it has successfully reproduced all three of these problems and is working on ways to fix them.… Despite the problems I found, the Officejet 6500 Wireless is well worth considering. If HP had left these features out altogether, it would count as only a small oversight, so even though running into features that don't work can be frustrating, it's hard to count the problems all that heavily against the printer. — PCMag
"We loved its fast print speeds and automatic duplexing, and it also uses inexpensive high yield inks. On the minus side flesh tones looked a little orange on plain and HP papers, and its scanner is a little slow. The PC World test center gave it a score of 84 out of 100 which is very good." — Sarah Jacobsson, PC World
"We think the Lexmark X7675 is a good printer for the home office environment and offer excellent functionality." — Carrie-Ann Skinner, PC Advisor
Inkjet Printers
"The Canon Pixma IP4700 really impressed us. It is a good quality inkjet printer that produces excellent results in a short amount of time. We also liked the fact that it was exceptionally quiet. If excellent prints are what you need and you aren't in the market for either copying or scanning features, this is the ideal printer." — Carrie-Ann Skinner, PC Advisor
About Review Roundup
Every week, we scour the Web for the most helpful reviews, organize them by printer type, and provide you with a salient quote and a link for further reading. We also link to our own summaries when available. When shopping for a printer, start with Review Roundup.
Article Filed Under: Brother Canon Epson HP Inkjet Cartridges Laser Toner Lexmark Printers Review Roundup Samsung
August 19, 2009
HP Photosmart Pro B9180 Plus 16 More Printer Reviews
By Databazaar Blog
Review Roundup: Konica Minolta Magicolor 1690MF, HP Laserjet P3015x, Samsung SCX-5835FN, Canon Pixma Pro9000 Mk II, Canon Pixma Pro9500 Mk II, Epson Stylus Photo R1900, Epson Stylus Photo R2880, HP OfficeJet 6000, HP Photosmart B8550, HP Photosmart Pro B9180, Brother MFC-6890CDW, Brother MFC-5490CN, Epson Stylus SX115, Epson Stylus SX215, Epson Stylus SX415, Epson Stylus NX515, HP Photosmart C4480
In addition to rounding up the usual suspects for home and office use, this issue of Review Roundup includes reviews of six large format photo printers for professionals and prosumers with deep pockets. MacWorld UK selected the HP Photosmart Pro B9180 as the best of the bunch. Who are we to argue? We, therefore, declare the HP Photosmart Pro B9180 (see photo above) the winner of this week's Review Roundup.
Color Laser Multifunction Printers
Konica Minolta Magicolor 1690MF
"The magicolor 1690MF is a capable color laser multifunction device. With very good printed output, handy features like the automatic document feeder and built-in fax machine, and 10/100BaseT Ethernet networking, the 1690MF is a good fit for small or home offices looking to produce high-quality office documents." — James Galbraith, MacWorld
Monochrome Multifunction Laser Printers
"I easily printed 42 pages per minute (one-sided) on the P3015x using 1200 dots per inch print quality. The printer was faster at 600 dpi and even faster in draft-mode at 300 dpi. Printing in duplex mode slowed the printer down to 11 ppm, but you can't expect blazing speed from a duplex unit.… I configured a private print job from the Properties pages of the printer. After I sent the print job, it did not print until I walked up to the printer and entered my pin number on the numeric key pad located on the front of the printer." — Sean Doherty, Law.com
"Provided the Samsung SCX-5835FN monochrome laser multifunction printer hasn't entered energy-saving mode, it is speedy. The first page of a document is printed in an average of 10 seconds, while subsequent pages are printed at a consistent rate of 35.3 pages per minute.… Though there are limitations on the use of its internal hard drive, the Samsung SCX-5835FN remains a capable workgroup multifunction printer for use in small businesses." — James Hutchinson, PC World Australia
Inkjet Printers
"The HP OfficeJet 6000 offers good quality prints at fast speeds. However, its long-term printing cost is high and, with no software, it's not suitable for those wanting to print their digital images." — Carrie-Ann Skinner, PC Advisor
Inkjet Multifunction Printers
"For those looking for a tabloid-sized multifunction printer, the MFC-6890CDW is a decent option. It has a ton of features and prints good quality office documents. Photos are not its strong suit, however, and its paper handling leaves something to be desired." — James Galbraith, Macworld
"While the Brother MFC5490CN offers a number of different functions, it wasn't particularly user friendly in terms of set-up or suited to photo printing, so for that reason we can't recommend this printer for anything other than home office use." — Carrie-Ann Skinner, PC Advisor
"If you're relatively strapped for cash and need a lightweight, compact all-in-one printer for day-to-day operations at home or in a small office, then you might briefly consider the Stylus SX115, although its slow speeds, decidedly average print quality and dearth of inputs do it no favours at all." — IT Reviews
"If you don't mind substituting quality for speed when it comes to draft mode, then the Epson Stylus SX215 is a value for money printer. You'll just have to be prepared to wait a little longer than usual for better quality prints." — Carrie-Ann Skinner, PC Advisor
"The print speeds don't look stunning on paper, but given the quality available in each mode, the SX415 offers strong overall performance. Should you want a little extra quality, the Epson Stylus SX415 will be a worthy upgrade from the 200 series." — Robin Morris, PC Advisor
"And while the Stylus NX515 does falter a little in draft mode with slower than advertised speeds and average quality; it makes up for it with low energy consumption and a compact design." — Sarah M., PrinterComparison.com
"The Photosmart C4480 is an easy-to use all-in-one, neat and well-organised, quiet to run and subjectively quick. Print quality is very good for an entry-level machine and if money is tight, it's a very good buy." — Simon Williams, TrustedReviews
Large Format Inkjet Photo Printers
"The Pixma Pro9000 Mk II represents a remarkably balanced entry, with decent quality and throughput. Reputedly three times faster than the mark one version, the Pro9000 Mk II wasn't the swiftest in this test, but it was markedly faster than its similarly named cousin, the higher-end Pixma Pro9500 Mk II." — Karl Hodge, Macworld UK
"The Pixma Pro9500 was the first photo-quality inkjet printer to offer 10 inks — using a mammoth 10 cartridges containing Lucia pigment-based tanks. The result? A huge colour range when compared to lower-end machines, with output that confidently handles the subtle gradients needed in photographic reproduction as well as the sharpness required by illustration and line art." — Karl Hodge, Macworld UK
"The first thing worth saying about the R1900 is: wow — it's fast. If speed is what you need, buy this printer. If absolute, professional quality is what you're after, however, you might have to dig a little deeper into the old wallet." — Karl Hodge, Macworld UK
"No printer at this level is easy to use — but the Epson is easier to use. It also has a clear edge in speed.… Overall, a superb machine if your budget can stretch to it." — Karl Hodge, Macworld UK
"Getting on for three years old, it's a bit long in the tooth now. Still, its depth of colour, accuracy and detail are all good. It also impresses with the quality of black and white shots. The B9180 is known for its accurate handling of greys. All this comes from a colour system using eight tanks. There are two blacks and a grey among the set — which accounts for some of that monochromatic strength. " — Karl Hodge, MacWorld UK
HP Photosmart B8550 | Read Our Take
"At this price and with these features, the HP Photosmart B8550 is aimed squarely at everyday consumers — holiday snappers and poster makers — rather than at enthusiastic creatives. But with budgets squeezed hard for everyone, it wouldn't be too much of a compromise for serious amateur photographers to plump for this model." — Karl Hodge, MacWorld UK
About Review Roundup
Every week, we scour the Web for the most helpful reviews, organize them by printer type, and provide you with a salient quote and a link for further reading. We also link to our own summaries when available. When shopping for a printer, start with Review Roundup.
August 11, 2009
HP Officejet 6000 Plus Seven More Printer Reviews
By Databazaar Blog
Review Roundup: Konica Minolta magicolor 1690MF, Kyocera Mita FS-C5400DN, Xerox WorkCentre 3220/DN, Lexmark E360dn, Brother DCP-375CW, Brother MFC-6890CDW, HP Officejet Pro 8500, HP Officejet 6000
PC Magazine's M. David Stone is an unapologetic fan of laser printers. Thus, his decision to bestow an Editor's Choice award on the HP Officejet 6000 (see photo above) inkjet printer makes it our Review Roundup winner this week.
Color Laser Multifunction Printers
Konica Minolta magicolor 1690MF
"With very good printed output, handy features like the automatic document feeder and built-in fax machine, and 10/100BaseT Ethernet networking, the 1690MF is a good fit for small or home offices looking to produce high-quality office documents." — James Galbraith, Macworld
Color Laser Printers
"Well configured from the outset, the machine is also very expandable, with up to four extra 500-sheet trays available as options. And, while it's daft to put the USB drive socket at the back, its speed and the quality of its print are the important factors in the product overall and in this market it deserves a recommendation." — Simon Williams, TrustedReviews
Monochrome Multifunction Laser Printers
Xerox WorkCentre 3220/DN | Read Our Take
"For small offices in the market for a monochrome laser AIO, the WorkCentre 3220/DN is an attractive choice — with reasonably fast speeds and high quality output, plus all the functions and features most small offices need. I'd like it better if the setup were more fully automatic, or if it at least came with more complete instructions for the manual steps, but setup is a one-time thing." — M. David Stone, PC Magazine
Monochrome Laser Printers
"With super-fast print speeds, low running costs and a built-in duplex unit, the E360dn from Lexmark is a decent laser printer for small businesses or individuals who print large volumes."— IT Reviews
Inkjet Multifunction Printers
"The top factors in buying any printer are print quality, running costs and print speed. In the case of the DCP-375CW you'll have to have to wait longer than you should for expensive, unimpressive prints." — Simon Williams, TrustedReviews
"For those looking for a tabloid-sized multifunction printer, the MFC-6890CDW is a decent option. It has a ton of features and prints good quality office documents. Photos are not its strong suit, however, and its paper handling leaves something to be desired." — James Galbraith, Macworld
"The HP Officejet Pro 8500 Wireless All-in-One is definitely a useful machine; it offers users the ability to print, scan, copy and fax with multiple computers, one computer or zero computers. But the real question is this: will the Officejet Pro 8500 replace your current laser print seamlessly? And can it really save you money? My answer is maybe." — Sarah M., PrinterComparison.com
Inkjet Printers
"As the number of inexpensive single-function ink jet printers has shrunk, the contenders have become less impressive from one generation to the next, to the point where there haven't been any recent Editors' Choices in this category.… [The Officejet 6000] offers an attractive balance of speed, output quality, paper handling, price, and cost per page, plus it earns the PCMag GreenTech Approved seal. The combination puts the category firmly back into ready for prime time status, with the Officejet 6000 as Editors' Choice." — M. David Stone, PC Magazine
About Review Roundup
Every week, we scour the Web for the most helpful reviews, organize them by printer type, and provide you with a salient quote and a link for further reading. We also link to our own summaries when available. When shopping for a printer, start with Review Roundup.
Article Filed Under: Brother HP Inkjet Cartridges Konica Kyocera Laser Toner Lexmark Printers Review Roundup Xerox-Tektronix
August 05, 2009
Canon Selphy CP790 Photo Printer Gives New Meaning to the Term All-in-One
By Databazaar Blog
Printer News: Print Buckets of Photos With Canon's SELPHY CP790
If you buy Canon's new SELPHY CP790 Compact Photo Printer, keep it away from your toddler as he's likely to fill it with water. The SELPHY CP790 comes with a "Storage Basket" that holds the printer, paper, and ink cassettes. Nice idea, but why did Canon design it to look like a bucket? On the plus side, if the printer ever dies, you can use the basket to chill a bottle of wine.
Basket aside, this nifty new SELPHY features a 3 inch LCD screen for previewing photos, an Easy-Scroll Wheel for selecting functions, and fast printing (47 seconds for a 4x6 inch borderless photo). Plus it might qualify as the world's first green printer — the color green that is.
The SELPHY CP790 prints photos from your Mac or PC, but you can also print PC-free thanks to a memory card slot, PictBridge, infrared, and Bluetooth (optional). The SELPHY CP790 does not run on batteries, but it's reasonably portable thanks to its small size, compact power adapter — and of course that basket.
Summary
Compact photo printer best for people who want a dedicated printer for small lab-quality photosMSRP: $179.99
Manufacturer
Press Release
Canon U.S.A. Announces New Affordable Pixma and Selphy Printers for a Wide Range of UsersProduct Page
SELPHY CP790Supplies
Specs that matter
| Release Date: | July 7, 2009 |
| Notable Features: | Storage Basket, 3 inch LCD screen, ink and paper in one cassette, embedded software projects, PC-Free printing, green color |
| Green Features: | Energy Star |
| Seconds Per Photo: | 47 |
| Resolution: | 300 x 300 dpi |
| Paper Trays: | Integrated |
| Paper Sizes: | Card (2.13 x 3.39), Postcard (4 x 6 and 4 x 8) |
| Interface: | USB, Memory Cards, PictBridge, IrDA, Bluetooth (Optional) |
| Compatibility: | Windows and Macintosh |
| Dimensions: | 7.0 x 9.7 x 3.4 inches |
| Weight: | 3.2 pounds |
| Warranty: | 1 year |
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