HP Design Jet 130 - DPChallenge Forums

11/22/2006 08:53:26 PM · #1

Does anyone own this printer. Reviews aren't bad, and the price is alot cheaper than 24" wide Canon or Epson printers. What's the catch?

11/23/2006 08:13:32 AM · #2

bump

12/06/2006 09:43:44 PM · #3

Anyone??

Richie23

Nikon D70

12/13/2006 06:22:41 PM · #4

I have one of these (owned since Feb 06). If you get one, I recommend you go for the 'nr' version with the rollfeed, networking and stand. Print quality is superb, much better than either Canon & Epson offerings in the price range, but (and it is a 'huge' but), only if you stick to the few HP papers designed for the Vivera dye inks. This is not a pigment printer, so other papers will not hold the dye stable for long (a few months maybe), which rules out all fine art papers.
Ask yourself why you are needing a 24" printer before purchasing. Cost wise, this printer will repay itself in a very short time if you are printing commercial output on HP roll media (the dye cartridges will last you for many prints), prints will last 80 years plus without fading, the HP customer support is superb, and the printer will produce stunning images, (and is easy to profile and set up). However, I'm talking from a commercial view, and my clients love the quality of the HP semi matt papers above any other paper ever printed previously.

For home use, this printer might not suit your needs. If you want to experiment with papers, fabrics, plastics, metal, or any other printable surface, then don't go for the HP 130nr. A pigment A3 or A2 printer might be better (Epson 2400, or 4800 for instance). Some of these allow material 1.5" through the back. Also, pigment printers are starting to catch up in terms of image quality. All the bronzing, and messy profiling are things of the past. Take a look at Vincents site at //www.photo-i.co.uk/index.html for detailed info.

However, if you need cost effective A1+ output, quick investment returns, the best in photo print quality for a printer under 2K, then the 130nr is unbeatable in my opinion (several thousand prints produced without any problems)