SCOOP! Is this HP’s photo printing saviour?

11th May - 2002
By Ian Burley

UPDATE - 3rd June - 4 new HP ink-jets revealed, click here.

The first look at HP’s next generation photo ink-jet printers

Courtesy of the Croation Web site, Adriatix (click here), above is the first look we’ve had of an example of the much rumoured next generation Hewlett-Packard ink-jet printer family.

4800dpi and photo inks at last

According to Adriatix, the new HP Deskjet 5550 incorporates new photo printing capabilities, including new 6 colour ink technology to replace its outmoded 4 ink Photoret III system, 4 picolitre droplet sizes and 4800dpi printing resolution (see HP release concerning 4800dpi from last month - click here).

Separate print heads?

It’s not yet clear if the new platform employs individual ink tanks per colour. However, there has been much rumour that HP will employ a separate ink tank and print head system compared to its current combination design.

We at DPN certainly think it’s an object of some beauty (for a printer!) and very much hop its printing capability matches its looks.

Playing catch up

HP has been steadily left behind by its ink-jet print competitors, especially in the photo printing stakes. Our tests show that the ageing Photoret III system HP devised several years ago to squeeze as much as possible out of just three base colours just doesn’t compare with the latest advances from Canon and Epson especially. (Click here to see print analysis comparisons.)

HP will be showing the press and trade its new printer line up and other imaging-related goodies at a big European launch event during the coming week and we look forward to bringing you further news as soon as we can.

www.hp.co.uk

UPDATE - 3rd June - 4 new HP ink-jets revealed, click here.
 

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