Beemer said:
I'm considering buying an HP Photosmart Pro B9180 printer. I've read a few
reviews and the manual but I would like an opinion from a user. To me this
printer appears to good to be true. Also the spec says that it can print on
hard media up to 1.5mm thick but can it print on a DVD?
Beemer
Nope - I haven't got one - but have been looking at info, reports,
previews etc for these for a long time.
What's too good to be true?
HP own *claimed* yield is 80 x A3+ per 8 cartridges.
Ink cost per A3+ print ~ approx US $3.00 - even higher than Epson (even
when you allow for a lot of cleaning cycles) So, all other things being
equal, then if something seems too good to be true....(you know the rest).
It won't print on CD/DVD - you can buy a cheap printer that will - if
you need this function.
It will print on heavy papers.
It will print up to 42" x 13" with windows driver, but no roll paper holder.
Great longevity (200 year Wilhelm DPR on media tested)
Great neutral monochrome output.
Some bronzing of monochome on glossy media.
Some gloss differential on glossy papers.
Similar output quality to R2400 Epson - Epson has finer droplet size -
smoother tones from extra ink (light light black).
Closed-loop calibration / self monitoring nozzles a good idea with
thermal heads (thermal heads have 8 times more nozzles than an
equivalent piezo printer to achieve about the same print speed.
Calibration after user printhead changes is a good idea - no two thermal
heads are going to be identical.
Some early users are reporting banding problems (check DPReview forums)
- but these initial head blockages do seem to self maintain as claimed
and after a couple of days are okay. But set up and initial calibration
from new uses a lot of ink.
The B9180 sounds good - but I suggest waiting if you can. Firstly
because early adopters make good real-life "beta testers". Secondly,
because Epson are releasing a new printer in a few days - which is
rumoured to be a 17" (size does matter) model at ~ >$1000 - and if they
haven't nailed the mK / pK cartridge switch debacle of the current K3
printers - especially now that they have some serious competition, then
someone at Epson should be shot. Lastly, if there was hope for lower
cost printing, it might come from Canon - and we haven't seen the Pixma
Pro 9500 yet.
Good luck.
