SUBSCRIBEHP Photosmart 7960
Initially, I was thinking of getting a Canon Pixma ip5000: 4 colors with additional black ink for text, 1 picolitre (!) micro nozzles, the smallest in current printers, 9600×2400 resolution and with a 12 month zero % interest if purchased via credit card. I have already read the forums and reviews and found it to be a good deal as well as enough for my current needs of printing my photos. These, plus mid priced ink and paper almost convinced me to get this baby.
Until I made a last ditch search in online articles and found Vincent Oliver’s very informative site Photo-i and came upon his review of the HP Photosmart 7960: 8 color ink with a very much touted grey ink (#59) for that faithful rendition of black and white tones that in other printers without the grey ink is bound to be cursed with a color cast. Since I will be printing usually in black and white, this capability attracted me most to this printer. Nevermind if the ink is a bit expensive and HP papers are a bit hard to find, well, I can address that, but first and foremost, I go for quality b/w prints which I believe this equipment will be able to give that.
While reading other articles, my choice got more muddled when it was said that there is the latest version of the 7960: the HP Photosmart 8450. With almost the same specs including the grey ink but this time, it has network capability and uses HP’s new Vivera inks that does not fade fast. With these in mind, I went to Glorietta in Ayala and checked prices. I came upon HP Home and Business and they had the two printers available at the same price! But the 7960 was 6 months zero % interest with extra free #59 and a webcam that whetted my appetite. Right there and then, I decided to get it. Well, I don’t need networking capability and with photoquality of the two printers just at par, 7960 was enough for me.
HP Photosmart 7960: P18,900.00 with free extra #59 grey ink, webcam and 40 sheets everyday photo paper
HP Photosmart 8450: P18,900.00
Canon Pixma ip5000: P15,000.00++
*photo from HP
