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DPChallenge Forums >> Hardware and Software >> What does the stats on printers mean?
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01/24/2003 03:45:25 PM · #1
I am looking for a new printer and am a little confused at what some of the stats mean.
Exsample:
Canon i550 Color bubble Jet printer has
18 ppm black
11ppm color
600 by 600 dpi black
4800 by 1200 dpi color

HP Photosmart 7350W Photo printer has
up to 17 ppm black
1200 by 1200 dpi black
4800 by 1200 dpi color

What does all this mean and which is the better printer???

01/24/2003 03:51:08 PM · #2
The ppm means "Pages per minute" -- so that's simply telling you the overall speed when printing in B&W and color.

The DPI is dots per inch... the higher the resolution, the better the prints. So as quality goes, it looks like the HP is slightly better given the info you posted... while it is slightly slower (at 17 pages per minute b&w compared to 18 for the Canon).
01/24/2003 03:56:31 PM · #3
PPM is (claimed) printing speed in each mode (pages per minute)

DPI the the number of ink spots sprayed on the paper per inch -- higher resolutions will generally yield better detail.
However, the question of which is the "better" printer actually has very little to do with these numbers, and everything to do with color accuracy, papers accepted, driver setup, etc.
PLEASE read printer reviews (Cnet.com online or Consumer Reports at the library) and in any computer magazines you can find. Try taking a disk with a tricky photo (or whatever you're most likely to print) to the store and see if they'll print a test page on their floor model.
01/24/2003 04:03:04 PM · #4
The Feb. 2003 MacWorld compares
Canon S830D
Epson Stylus Photo 960
HP Photosmart 7550

These are all 6-color dye-based photo printers, which have better color but lower archival qualities than pigment-based inkjets. They felt that the Epson and Canon printers had significantly better-looking output. I have no idea if that will relate to the printers you're considering, but it underscores the necessity of doing the research (as you are) before buying.
01/24/2003 04:30:16 PM · #5
You might try this link:
Steve's Digicam Site Printer Reviews
for reviews of numerous printers. I just recently purchased a Canon S900 based on reviews from the site above and numerous others. FYI, when you start adding printing to the equation you open up a whole new can of worms when dealing with color/contrast/resolution/etc between monitor/printer/camera lcd/web images. Take your time and familiarize yourself with the printer you're most interested in. You will probably find that there are as many opinions on "best" printer as there are for "best" camera, "best" car, etc. You will find the opinions numerous, confusing and based on part fact/part perception. Let us know what you chose and if you need help I'm sure that many here will be willing to put forth their belief as to what to do. In the end you might just want to take samples of your favorite photos to CompUSA or whatever and see if they will print them for you and pick the printer that gives you the prints you like the best.

Message edited by author 2003-01-24 16:56:39.
01/24/2003 05:01:28 PM · #6
For what it's worth, I bought an HP 7350 for myself this Christmas and am amazed at how good it is, especially with Kodak papers. My office walls are now awash in pictures!
01/24/2003 07:25:23 PM · #7
Thanks all, you have been a big help. Now it is just finding a place to take a sample photo. I live in a small town and Walmart doesn't do that here. And that is the only place to get anything. :-( Is there a place on line that I can get sample prints with my personal photo?
01/24/2003 09:06:26 PM · #8
I am using a HP Deskjet 895C series printer purchased three years ago before I even thought about photography or printing photos. At first I thought it was doing a terrific job printing beautiful colors. Now I am looking closer as I learn more and realize that I really don`t have a "photo printer". In my users guide it shows for color resolution EconoFast: 300X300 dpi - Normal: PhotoRetII - Best: PhotoRetII. What?

Is there someone that can tell me on a scale of 1 - 10 where my printer sits for printing photos? I am buying a new computer this summer. Do I get a new printer too?

P.S. I get DSL in two weeks! Yah me!!!

01/25/2003 12:07:14 AM · #9
clicker, I have the same HP printer. I also bought a Canon S820 for myself for christmas (6 inks in separate cartridges as compared to the HP's 3 color all-in-one cartridge).

From as little as 5 feet away its very hard for me to tell the difference between prints.

The Canon is A LOT faster (impulse vs. Warp 6) and closer inspection does reveal more detail (though not by much) in the shadow areas of the canon prints. Also, the overall look of the Canon prints is smoother--they look more like 'real' photographs.

The HP 895 is kinda slow, but it's still a great printer. On a scale of 1-10 I'd give it a solid 8 for print quality.

Message edited by author 2003-01-25 00:09:59.
01/25/2003 12:43:56 AM · #10
Thanks for the link to Steve's DigiCam site. I'm starting to look for a printer too.
01/25/2003 12:59:49 AM · #11
Don't forget //www.tomshardware.com where the advice is deep and wide.
01/25/2003 03:31:22 AM · #12
I wouldn't trust tomshardware if i were you. they've been slapped with countless lawsuits for reviews of non-existing products, completly wrong benchmarks, and spreading of complete misinformation. Sure, there *might* be something true on the site, but you never know what that might be considering their track record.

Message edited by author 2003-01-25 10:58:35.
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