Need help choosing a printer

[Bob Headrick]

When i was up to buy first Canon, i was looking about HP, too. But, then i
decided for Canon and so far i'm not sorry. For one thing, i just read some
reviews about printers and i saw that HP needs whole 30 minutes to print A4
photo, while canon does same job in just over 2 minutes.

I am glad you like your printer, but I suspect you must have misread the
review. Was this in an April 1 issue?

- Bob Headrick, not speaking for my employer HP

 

[SleeperMan]

I am glad you like your printer, but I suspect you must have misread
the review. Was this in an April 1 issue?

haha...
nope....2 weeks ago...
Can you explain a bit more? I mean, for quite a time now there's common
knowledge that Canon printers have the cheapest price per page... And i also
saw the "speed" of HP at my friend's...it was not a photo, just normal color
page and it took so looooooooooooong to print...

 

[Hecate]

I am glad you like your printer, but I suspect you must have misread the
review. Was this in an April 1 issue?

- Bob Headrick, not speaking for my employer HP

<g> 30 mins may be stretching it a bit, but I've seen 22 mins for a
best quality photo coming out of an HP.

 

[Bob Headrick]

Can you explain a bit more? I mean, for quite a time now there's common
knowledge that Canon printers have the cheapest price per page...

Common knowledge? Can you point to any data based on actual measurements (as
opposed to mfg spec's)? There are certainly a range of products from both
manufacturers, with a range of speed and price per page. I suspect the HP
Business Inkjet 1200 series has better real world cost per page than any under
$200 color printer available. It has seperate ink tanks. See:
http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/us/en/sm/WF25a/18972-236251-236261-24728-f51-411179.html

As for speed, I suppose it is possible to find a very old HP printer, perhaps
driven by a 66 Mhz 486sx that could take thirty minutes to print, but five
minutes is more typical for best mode for printers sold in this millenia.
Certainly any recent HP Photo printer will be closer to three minutes than
thirty minutes for a best mode full size photo print.

Regards,
Bob Headrick, not speaking for my employer HP

 

[PC Medic]

<g> 30 mins may be stretching it a bit, but I've seen 22 mins for a
best quality photo coming out of an HP.

I can not quote the time for an HP and here is why.....
I was recently in my local CompUSA and overheard the HP Rep telling a
potential customer how the HP he was demonstrating "would beat the
competition hands-down in both speed and quality", since they were about to
take this at face value (and knowing my iP4000 prints a pretty damn quick
image) I had to ask, 'can you give us a demonstration?'. Sure he said and
proceeded to load a piece of photo paper and press the button to get a
sample print. After about 3-4 minutes I simply stated 'my printer would have
print two or three by now' and walked away. His potential customer caught up
with me a few minutes later stating it still had not finished and asked what
printer I had. I told him about my iP4000. He thanked me and went and picked
up an iP6000D from the shelf. I kin of felt like coming back when the Canon
guy was there and asking for my cut of the sale! :0)

 

[PC Medic]

Common knowledge? Can you point to any data based on actual measurements
(as opposed to mfg spec's)? There are certainly a range of products from
both manufacturers, with a range of speed and price per page. I suspect
the HP Business Inkjet 1200 series has better real world cost per page
than any under $200 color printer available. It has seperate ink tanks.
See:
http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/us/en/sm/WF25a/18972-236251-236261-24728-f51-411179.html

As for speed, I suppose it is possible to find a very old HP printer,
perhaps driven by a 66 Mhz 486sx that could take thirty minutes to print,
but five minutes is more typical for best mode for printers sold in this
millenia. Certainly any recent HP Photo printer will be closer to three
minutes than thirty minutes for a best mode full size photo print.

Not my response and experience in a local store. While I can't say it took
30 minutes (which would seem extreme) I can say it had nothing to do with PC
performance as these samples come from little boxes with image files
contained in a ROM so little/no overhead involved. Wish I could remember the
model, but assume it was fairly recent if was being touted by the sales
person from HP.

 

[SleeperMan]

Common knowledge? Can you point to any data based on actual
measurements (as opposed to mfg spec's)? There are certainly a range
of products from both manufacturers, with a range of speed and price
per page. I suspect the HP Business Inkjet 1200 series has better
real world cost per page than any under $200 color printer available.
It has seperate ink tanks. See:
http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/us/en/sm/WF25a/18972-236251-236261-24728-f51-411179.html

Yeah, dream on...
model was HPdeskjet 450 Ci, time was 30 min, 30 sec, while Canon i865 time
was 2 min 30 sec.

As for speed, I suppose it is possible to find a very old HP printer,
perhaps driven by a 66 Mhz 486sx that could take thirty minutes to
print, but five minutes is more typical for best mode for printers
sold in this millenia. Certainly any recent HP Photo printer will be
closer to three minutes than thirty minutes for a best mode full size
photo print.

PC has NOTHING to do with it...all needed info is in printer's memory

 

[SleeperMan]

I can not quote the time for an HP and here is why.....
I was recently in my local CompUSA and overheard the HP Rep telling a
potential customer how the HP he was demonstrating "would beat the
competition hands-down in both speed and quality", since they were
about to take this at face value (and knowing my iP4000 prints a
pretty damn quick image) I had to ask, 'can you give us a
demonstration?'. Sure he said and proceeded to load a piece of photo
paper and press the button to get a sample print. After about 3-4
minutes I simply stated 'my printer would have print two or three by
now' and walked away. His potential customer caught up with me a few
minutes later stating it still had not finished and asked what
printer I had. I told him about my iP4000. He thanked me and went and
picked up an iP6000D from the shelf. I kin of felt like coming back
when the Canon guy was there and asking for my cut of the sale! :0)

Now THIS is talking!!!

 

[Bob Headrick]

Yeah, dream on...
model was HPdeskjet 450 Ci, time was 30 min, 30 sec, while Canon i865 time
was 2 min 30 sec.

The DeskJet 450 is a portable printer, designed for battery operation rather
than speed, but I would still bet that even in best mode it would take less
than six or seven minutes for a full print.

- Bob Headrick

 

[Bob Headrick]

[snip]

Wish I could remember the model, but assume it was fairly recent if was
being touted by the sales person from HP.

I would really like to know which model, since the data you suggest does not
match with reality for any of the printers I have dealt with, which includes
nearly all the recent DeskJet and Photosmart models.

This entire thread contains an overabundance of misinformation.

- Bob Headrick

 

[SleeperMan]

The DeskJet 450 is a portable printer, designed for battery operation
rather than speed, but I would still bet that even in best mode it
would take less than six or seven minutes for a full print.

- Bob Headrick

Well, according to German magazine "Stiftung warentest", which is
add-free,so independent, not. They tested some 20 printers and HP was far
behind all. Some other times are: HP photosmart 7960: 8 min 30, HP deskjet
5652 8 min 10, HP Photosmart 7260 11 min 20, Epson Stylus C64 9 min, HP
deskjet 3650 22 min, Lexmark P707 21 min, Lexmark Z705 23 min 30, Epson C44
plus 29 min 10. All Canons from 2 to 4 min, Epson Stylus Photo R300 2 min...
Test was made for all printers on SAME PC,SAME config, SAME photo, SAME max
quality, photo paper etc. Now, say that they are liars and you're right...
Not that i tested any of HP's, but i just happen to believe independent
magazines. Shoot me...
As a side info, Epson's R800 was told to be the best among tested models for
photos, while fastest (but most expenisive) was Canon i990, which printed A4
photo in 1 min 30 sec. Recomended model (as best value for money) was Canon
i560.

 

[Bob Headrick]

Well, according to German magazine "Stiftung warentest", which is add-free,so
independent, not. They tested some 20 printers and HP was far behind all.
Some other times are: HP photosmart 7960: 8 min 30, HP deskjet 5652 8 min
10, HP Photosmart 7260 11 min 20, Epson Stylus C64 9 min, HP deskjet 3650
22 min, Lexmark P707 21 min, Lexmark Z705 23 min 30, Epson C44 plus 29 min
10.

OK, a few comments:
1. It is not particularly reasonable to compare the lowest end printers with
high end printers that cost 5-10x as much. The DeskJet 3650 is a very low end
DeskJet.
2. Based on your data I do not see "HP far behind all".
3. HP "Best" mode is about 2x faster than the numbers shown for "max
quality". The max quality setting is probably using the 4800 dpi mode, which
really does not provide noticeably better quality but does take twice as long.

- Bob Headrick

 

[Hecate]

I can not quote the time for an HP and here is why.....
I was recently in my local CompUSA and overheard the HP Rep telling a
potential customer how the HP he was demonstrating "would beat the
competition hands-down in both speed and quality", since they were about to
take this at face value (and knowing my iP4000 prints a pretty damn quick
image) I had to ask, 'can you give us a demonstration?'. Sure he said and
proceeded to load a piece of photo paper and press the button to get a
sample print. After about 3-4 minutes I simply stated 'my printer would have
print two or three by now' and walked away. His potential customer caught up
with me a few minutes later stating it still had not finished and asked what
printer I had. I told him about my iP4000. He thanked me and went and picked
up an iP6000D from the shelf. I kin of felt like coming back when the Canon
guy was there and asking for my cut of the sale! :0)

LOL! We just purchased an iP4000 for a relative, although we use
Epson 2100/2200s. Certainly, for general A4-sized usage, I'd
certainly pick the Canon.

 

[SleeperMan]

OK, a few comments:
1. It is not particularly reasonable to compare the lowest end
printers with high end printers that cost 5-10x as much. The DeskJet
3650 is a very low end DeskJet.
2. Based on your data I do not see "HP far behind all".
3. HP "Best" mode is about 2x faster than the numbers shown for "max
quality". The max quality setting is probably using the 4800 dpi
mode, which really does not provide noticeably better quality but
does take twice as long.
- Bob Headrick

Could be...but printing with 4800 dpi mode with my Canon takes just over 2
minutes for A4 page...
And at last, all above are not my conclusions...

 

[Panos Popadopalous]

Hi Bill!

I refuse to "tow" the Canon line1

Some of the other posters may "toe" the Canon line.

It's still freedom of choice.

 

[Jimw]

Hi Bill!

I refuse to "tow" the Canon line1

Some of the other posters may "toe" the Canon line.

It's still freedom of choice.

I freely chose the Epson C84 and compatible carts from Printpal.com
They do a great job for the regular household printing.
Cost is very low.