HP rolls out printer triumvirate

Three new printers were announced today by Hewlett-Packard. The most expensive of the lot, the Photosmart A630 ($149), has a large touch-screen LCD display for a printer--4.8 inches. Why such a large screen? No doubt because some 300 editing changes can be made in a photo from the printer itself. The unit can produce prints in a variety of sizes--5 x 7, 4 x 6 and 4 x 12 panoramas--and, according to HP, can produce a 4 x 6-inch print in 27 seconds. If you want to use the printer away from a wall outlet, an optional battery pack allows you to do so.

Another new ink box, the A530 ($99), isn't as feature rich-- its non-touch-screen LCD is smaller-- but it's still the most economical photo printer capable of doing 5 x 7-inch prints.

Both printers support Bluetooth, with an optional adapter, for wireless connectivity with a variety of devices, and are designed to work with either a Mac or PC. They're expected to reach retailers next month.

HP also debuted its Photosmart D5460 ($99), which has a more conventional 1.5-inch color display and an array of slots for memory cards. Not only does this model print photos but it will print them directly onto CDs and DVDs. Designed as more of an every day printer, HP rates this inkjet at 33 black-and-white pages per minute and 31 ppm for color. It also noted that a 4 x 6-inch print can be produced in 18 seconds. What's more, the unit can print multiple sized photos without swapping paper. It has an automated photo tray that automatically selects size and type of paper and easily switches between photo and document printing.