HP Photosmart printers -- general opinions

[john_van_v]

I just want to see the latest opinions for photosmart printers.

I have an officejet 6500 that produced unbelievable color and sepia pictures on art matte paper. (Those are my two priorities.)

I considered the bigger 7000 that uses the same ink, and then discovered the B8550 photosmart that seems to have more available third-party inks.

Just fishing for ideas, as these printers are on the auction block for a lot less than my total out-sourced printing costs will be!

[ampguy]

I like these, but only use HP inks, I get the "XL" packs at Costco when they have sales. Avoid the "Combo packs" that come with paper for 02 inks, as these cartridges have less ink than both the normal cartridges, and much less than the XL carts.

[john_van_v]

Originally Posted by ampguy

I like these, but only use HP inks, I get the "XL" packs at Costco when they have sales. Avoid the "Combo packs" that come with paper for 02 inks, as these cartridges have less ink than both the normal cartridges, and much less than the XL carts.

I guess I should ask if you have a basis for comparison. I have probably spent a few hundred comparing papers in different printers (mostly papers). The comparisons have to be disciplined, or the money and time invested are wasted -- just like metaphysics vs Science, Merlin vs Einstein!

I have found CIS, which are external ink feeds, for both, but as I said, the third party inks specifically for the photosmarts (and some epsons) claim to be more archival than OEM.

[ampguy]

I haven't tested CIS systems or ink sources for them. I'd be wary, very wary.

Some results may not show for decades, and you'd need to do chemical analysis of the CIS inks to verify they are of the same quality as the HP inks.

Originally Posted by john_van_v

I guess I should ask if you have a basis for comparison. I have probably spent a few hundred comparing papers in different printers (mostly papers). The comparisons have to be disciplined, or the money and time invested are wasted -- just like metaphysics vs Science, Merlin vs Einstein!

I have found CIS, which are external ink feeds, for both, but as I said, the third party inks specifically for the photosmarts (and some epsons) claim to be more archival than OEM.