Printers: August 2008 Archives
Camera makers weren't the only ones introducing new products for lens jockeys this week. Epson America, hot on the heels of its release of its new green scanner, raised the curtain on two new all-in-one printers designed with shutterbugs in mind.
The Artisan 800 has a large 3.5-inch display for on-printer editing of images and an expansive control panel for selecting, copying, rotating, cropping and printing photos without a computer. It can scan images at 4800 dots-per-inch resolution and supports 48-bit color.
The Artisan 700 has a 2.5-inch LCD and can scan at 2400 dpi. It also supports 48-bit color.
Both printers have card readers that accept media cards used by digital cameras and include an auto photo correction feature that allows pics to be corrected on the printers' LCD before they're sent to hard copy. They also support PictBridge and will restore faded color to snapshots without consulting a computer.
Dual paper trays are built into the units to eliminate the fuss over switching between photo paper and plain paper, and they'll print borderless prints in a variety of popular sizes, such as 4 x 6, 5 x 7 and 8 x 10. As a bonus, the printers will also print on printable CDs and DVDs.
Not only will the inkjets cut the tether between computer and printer for processing photos, but they can clip the cord for other functions as well with built-in WiFi. Ethernet networking is also supported and so is Bluetooth--although an optional adapter is needed for that.
Another shared feature of the duo is the use of six-color Ultra Hi-Definition Claria ink, which Epson claims will produce prints with fade resistance four times greater than photo lab prints. What's more, the units use Epson's MicroPiezo print head which can deliver ink droplets in five sizes, some as small as 1.5 picoliters.
The Artisan printers are scheduled to reach retailers next month; the 800 at $299.99 and the 700 at $199.99.
