Rating: Summary: Fantastic Printer Review: When I bought a new computer and new software, I didn't really think about my old printer not being able to "keep up." (I also had an old scanner that was not Windows XP compatible and had to buy a new scanner.) I print a lot of photos, both b/w and color, and after scanning in a few photos and printing these, I discovered that I now needed a new printer. The new scanner was scanning at higher resolutions that my old printer could not handle. I have always liked HP printers and decided to buy the HP Photosmart 7550. However, a magazine article I read stated that the 7350 printed just as well as the 7550 and the 7350 cost $150 less. Needless to say I bought the Photosmart 7350. It was one of the best decisions I have made.This printer does a phenomenal job printing photos, both black and white and color. It does a great job with anything you ask it to print, photos, graphics, or text, and the colors are very true to the original. There are a few drawbacks I have found thus far: 1) it is not a speedy printer. For example, I recently had to print a two-sided, legal size flyer. The flyer had a color photograph, color graphics and text on one side and straight text on the other side. I printed 200 copies and it took 5 hours to do the job (1.5 pages every minute). I had the print quality set at 'Normal.' When I set it to 'Best', it took almost twice as long to print one page. The 'Best' setting obviously gave the better looking results but for the flyer I was doing, the 'Normal' setting was fine. For the photos I print I always use the 'Best' setting; 2) it only holds two print cartridges at a time so you have to switch between the photo and black ink cartridges, depending on what you're printing. The printer does not come with a black ink cartridge although, according to the instruction manual, you don't need a black ink cartridge. Buying a black ink cartridge is more economical if you print a lot of regular documents; and, 3) the 7550 has an LCD screen for previewing pictures, the 7350 does not. I don't consider this a necessity but some people might. All-in-all you have to consider what your top priority is as far as printer specifications are concerned. My first priority is quality of print, speed is secondary. Therefore, the length of time it takes to print something out is not an issue for me. Something else to consider is the software and scanner you have; they do make a difference. If you do a lot of photos then definitely get some good image editing software. The software will improve the photos you will print, particularly if you plan to print older or damaged photos. As a final note, the Photosmart 7350 does have memory-card slots located on the front panel - CompactFlash/IBM Microdrive, MultiMediaCard/Secure Digital, Memory Stick, and SmartMedia. It also has a digital camera port located on the front that you can use to print photos directly from your camera; you don't have to use your computer.
Rating: Summary: Couldn't be better Review: Wow, it seems the reviews on this machine range a lot. Well I can only say good things about this printer. First of all, I am an Epson person, I never use any printers outside of Epson, but Im tired of my Epsons always breaking down, and promising what they dont deliver. I was very impressed with the small things, like the individual holding tray for 4x6 glossy paper, plus the fact that it is a reader for 4 different types of portable media, including MMC, SmartMedia, and Compact Flash. It has a very easy to use and yet effective built in control panel so one can print pictures right off their cameras, bypassing the PC all together. I couldn't give this printer a better rating. And I never thought an inkjet printer can have such *superior* printing abilty. If i didnt do it myself, i would swear that those pictures i took off my cheap digital camera were made strait from the photo shop, and imagine what this thing can do with a high megapixel digital camera. Only shame is I cannot find any non-HP manufactured inks for this printer, gotta get em' from HP. I am using a 850 mhz machine w/ windows 2000 pro and I have never seen such a good printer, plus I have to admit, it has a nice look and feel to it. GET THIS PRINTER!
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