Back in January, we wondered whether the new Kodak ESP 3 could read the minds of photo printing enthusiasts with its innate ability to touch up images using intelligent software developed by photo professionals. Features such as lower ink costs, a simplified two cartridge system, copy and scan functions, and convenient PC-free photo printing options would indicate that Kodak isn’t just grasping at straws in assessing what consumers want in a photo printer. A few reviewers have recently tried the ESP 3 for themselves and their opinions are split on its overall value.

Ken Sander of Laptop Magazine gives the Kodak ESP 3 an impressive 4 stars out of 5 for its affordable cost per print, quality photo output, and easy-to-use editing software. However, document and graphics quality could use improvement and Sander finds that the ESP 3’s unconventional design makes changing ink cartridges a little awkward. He recommends the Epson WorkForce 500 as an alternative if you don’t mind higher ink costs and you put a premium on speed and better document quality.

Photographer Robert Jensen likes the ESP 3’s low ink costs, easy operation, and quality output. His review assesses each and every function this MFP performs, and it gets impressive marks across the board. However, Jensen recommends upgrading to the ESP 5 if you need an LCD screen for previewing your photos. He also warns that if you print in any mode other than ‘Draft,’ the ESP 3 uses “too much ink,” which may give your output a “wavy look in areas of solid colors.” Otherwise, the Kodak ESP 3 provides excellent overall value in every important area.

On the other end of the spectrum, Justin Yu of CNET and Melissa Riofrio of PC World put a different spin on the same general pros and cons introduced by Sander and Jensen. Yu gives the ESP 3 3 stars out of 5 and likes the photo editing software, but docks points for the slow speed and “[u]nacceptable text and graphics prints.” He also adds that the Windows Vista drivers are “buggy,” although the Mac commercials on TV make me wonder whether it’s all Microsoft’s fault. Riofrio gives the ESP 3 a solid 75/100 but echoes Yu’s sentiments on the slow speed and unimpressive graphics and document quality. She says you can get more features for the same price with the HP Photosmart C5280.

• High Quality at a Low Price: The word “Compatible” means Okidata didn’t make it, which can actually be a good thing considering the king’s ransom that original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) charge for cartridges these days. In fact, you can currently save close to 40% off the OEM price if you buy a compatible cartridge from LD Products. But just because you pay a lot less doesn’t mean you get a lot less - in fact, compatible cartridges offer similarly high print quality to their pricey counterparts, so there’s really no catch or tradeoff for you to agonize over.
• High Yield: Simply put, buying an Okidata B6500 High Yield Compatible Cartridge is like buying a 12 pack of paper towels at the grocery store - you’ll be using it a lot in the foreseeable future, so why not buy as much as you can and save yourself a trip or two to the consumables store? Also, when you buy a High-Yield Cartridge, you can save some serious money on a cost per page basis.

In the end, it’s a simple decision. Stock up on Okidata B6500 High Yield Compatible Cartridges from LD Products and pay less to get more.

In the printer industry, sometimes less is more. HP apparently knows the old tenet as well as anyone, and they’re applying it to a T as they reconfigure their Imaging and Printing Group (IPG). More specifically, HP is reducing the number of divisions that comprise the IPG from six down to four, and delegating the duties of the old standalone supplies division (aka HP Supplies) to the new divisions in charge of the printers that utilize those supplies. It’s all part of an effort to transform HP from “a printer company to a printing company,” according to IPG chief Vyomesh Joshi. What that actually means makes a little more sense after generally assessing the new-look IPG.

As we mentioned, the four new IPG groups are basically mini-conglomerates made up of their predecessors. First off, the Ink Jet and Web Solutions group will cover consumer inkjet printers, ink cartridges, supplies, and web-based operations like Snapfish. The LaserJet and Enterprise Solutions group will take over LaserJet printers, toner cartridges, supplies, Edgeline color copiers, and Halo, which offers full-service video conference rooms to corporations. The Graphic Solutions division will cover larger-scale professional printing operations, including wide-format printing, Web Press, Indigo, and the Light Production business group. Finally, the Worldwide Sales and Service organization will handle sales to big corporations.

So what are the implications of the new business model? On the downside, reorganization has resulted in job cuts for domestic employees as recently as late August. At the same time, media and industry experts are buzzing about the demise of HP Supplies, and I think it actually makes sense to give control over ink and toner to the people who already work with the printers that use them. In my opinion, the main benefit really comes from the time, money and frustration you save in reducing the communications gap between separate, yet closely-related departments by combining them into a single entity that can address issues internally. Then again, who knows if each new division might be biting off more than it can chew with its extra responsibilities. At the very least, look for HP’s IPG to operate a little more smoothly within its own offices for the time being. The bottom line implications may take a little longer to assess.

(Story via Lyra Research; Photo via Morguefile)

• They Play Well with Others: The ML-D2850B works with three top printers in the Samsung laser lineup: the ML-2850, the ML-2850D, and the ML-2851ND, which won an Editors’ Choice Award from PC Magazine for its high-quality output and excellent print speed.
• Excellent Value: Compatible Samsung ML-D2850B High Yield Black Laser Toner Cartridges produce top-notch prints at a fraction of the price of consumables made by the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM). Don’t get held hostage by high cartridge prices - buy compatible products and roll out premium-grade pages for a lot less money.
• More Ink at a Lower Cost Per Page: When you buy anything in bulk, you typically pay less per unit. The same goes for High-Yield Toner. One Compatible Samsung ML-D2850B High Yield Black Laser Toner Cartridge can roll out 5,000 pages for the low price of $69.99. This comes out to a more than affordable cost per page of 1.4 cents.

Some shopping decisions are pretty obvious, and others require some thought. In this case, Compatible Samsung ML-D2850B High Yield Black Laser Toner Cartridges offer pretty much every benefit in the book when it comes to printer consumables. Make the clear choice and stock up today.

When it comes to all-around home office functionality, the HP Photosmart C4480 All-in-One does just enough to help you do whatever needs to get done. It scans, copies, and prints at 23 ppm in color and 30 in black and white. While it lacks network connectivity, the HP Photosmart C4480 does offer four memory card slots for PC-free photo printing, along with a 1.5” color LCD for previewing what you print. Based on the $99.99 MSRP and relatively extensive set of specs, the HP Photosmart C4480 looks like a solid overall choice for users looking to maximize productivity at home without paying more for features they don’t need. But do the experts see enough value in the HP Photosmart C4480 to recommend it to consumers? The current consensus around the web is yes.

Josh Norem of Computer Shopper Magazine gives the HP Photosmart C4480 a strong 7.8/10 for its quality photos and text, intuitive set up and interface, and its affordable consumables. Norem reports that he was “very impressed by the color accuracy, saturation, and overall quality” of test images and that “[t]ext reproduction… was equally rich, jumping off the page.” That said, print speeds are noticeably slower than advertised, there’s no networking, no USB cable, and the included photo printing software isn’t exactly a snap to use. In other words, if you want more than your meat-and-potatoes inkjet feature set, get ready to spend more.

Melissa Riofrio of PC World gives the HP Photosmart C4480 a 77/100 for its output quality and PC-free photo printing via memory card. On the flipside, color output takes awhile to print and the simple feature set doesn’t do you much good beyond general home use or printing at school. Again, it all comes down to how much more you’re willing to spend for more advanced functionality.

Last but not least, Ken Sander of Laptop Magazine gives the HP Photosmart C4480 a solid 4 out of 5 stars for slightly different reasons than Norem and Riofrio. Sander actually finds that the print speeds come pretty close to HP’s estimates. He likes the memory card slots, and the included software prints web pages just as you see them on your screen. However, Sander isn’t as fond of the photo quality as the previous two reviewers. In addition, the diminutive 1.5” LCD doesn’t quite cut it when it comes to pinpoint photo editing. But despite the shortcomings, Sander concludes that the HP Photosmart C4480 provides a “strong low-cost choice for home and photo printing.”

In addition to its versatility, the best part of buying a Compatible Kyocera Mita TK-70 Toner Cartridge is that it provides high quality prints at a fraction of the price that OEMs charge. So why pay more for the same toner cartridge? Stock up on LD Products’ Compatible Kyocera Mita TK-70 Laser Toner Cartridges today and re-fill three quality printers with one quality product.