The Hindu : National : New multi-function inkjets ditch personal computer

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Dec 23, 2007
ePaper

National

National

New multi-function inkjets ditch personal computer

Anand Parthasarathy

They print wirelessly — or direct from cameras; HP launches first model with a DVD writer

— Photo: Special Arrangement

Multi-function marvels: New print-copy-scan machines suit all budgets.

Bangalore: Rapid advances in technology and equally rapid falls in pricing have made the multi-function inkjet printer one of the most popular personal computer-related peripherals, at the end of 2007. Industry watcher Gartner estimates that almost 3 out of 4 inkjets sold are printer-copier-scanner models which these days cost little more than print-alone versions.

And there’s an irony! Because, while most lay users buy these all-in-one models as a PC accessory, the latest Multi-Function Printers (MFPs) as they are called, have un-tethered themselves from the PC for their key applications. You can use them to copy documents, albeit more slowly than dedicated dry copiers, without connecting to a PC. And many new photo printer models available in India, allow you to directly download the contents of a digital camera, view the contents on a small screen and roll out glossy prints using a PC-less technology called PictBridge, first deployed by Canon, but now an industry standard.

A new model launched in India earlier this month by Hewlett Packard, can claim another first for an inkjet printer: The Photosmart C 8188 features a built-in CD/DVD burner. This is useful in two ways: You can insert a CD or DVD and etch text or an image on its non-writing surface, using HP’s proprietary LightScribe technology. Or you can save the contents of your digital camera by creating an archival DVD. This function too is PC-free.

The C8180 like so many semi-professional inkjets takes rather than four inks (additional light magenta and light cyan) — which makes for better photo prints. Document printing speeds of 33 pages per minute makes this almost as fast as comparable laser printers and if you do need to connect to a PC or laptop, you can do so wirelessly. A nice touch is a 3.5-inch touch screen to preview print material and do some basic picture editing. This is the top end of HP’s multi-function inkjet line-up for the festive season — and while it costs just under Rs. 20,000, there are five other models going down to Rs. 5,000.

Epson has always held that its ‘cold’ micro piezo process to squeeze the ink drops on to the paper, saves wear and tear of the print head and makes for finer drops. Of the two Photo MFDs launched this month in India, the RX690 is slightly faster with documents at 40 ppm. PC-less printing using PictBridge is possible and like the HP model, the picture can be enhanced using the 2.5 inch LCD screen and some automatic tools. The provision of double paper trays with a total capacity for 300 sheets of A4 paper will appeal to those who want to do double-sided printing. For wireless connection to a PC one has to install an option Bluetooth dongle. The RX 690 costs Rs. 14,500 which places it in the middle of today’s multi-function printer price range.

Entry level

For our entry-level example, we chose Canon’s Pixma MP145 — a Rs. 6,000 all-in-one that has an interesting choice of cartridges: Occasional photo enthusiasts can opt for the PG-830/CL-831 combo while the PG-40/41 combination is better for large volume printing.

A 6-by-4 photo prints in about one minute and documents at about 20 ppm — both about 3 times slower than the top-of-the-line printers from all three makers ... but that is the price you have to pay for affordability. But then Canon has always steered away from being the ‘cheapest’ option, touting instead its enhanced colour technology like ‘double gamut.’ Whatever your budget, there is a printer available that will allow you to join the ‘freedom struggle’ of the printer after decades of domination by the PC.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National