Hewlett-Packard is offering more bang for the buck in its digital imaging line with a new color inkjet printer and color scanner, due before the end of the month. The HP DeskJet 920c color inkjet and HP Scanjet 5400c boast estimated retail prices of US$99 and $199 respectively.
“There is a growing interest and market in digital imaging,” George Brashear of HP told MacCentral. “But people have questions. How do I get my digital image into my computer or directly to a printer? How do I manipulate a digital photo? How can I do digital input and output without a lot of cost? Our new printer and scanner, coupled with HPs new photo paper, are ideal for value-conscious consumers who want high quality.”
Both new products are compatible with Mac OS 8.6 and above, including Mac OS X. And for the first time, HP is enabling consumers to print greeting cards, banners, brochures and photos at 2400 x 1200 dots-per-inch (dpi) color resolution on HP photo paper in a printer priced below $100, Brasher said.
“The sub-$100 printer market is exploding,” he added. “HP’s best printing technology was previously at least $149, is now down to $99, which puts us in the in the heart of the market.”
The HP DeskJet 920c prints at speeds of up to nine ppm in black and up to 7.5 ppm in color. The printer also offers a 100-sheet fold-up paper tray to conserve desktop space and a print-cancel button and low-ink indicator.
The new Scanjet 5400c features HPs innovative scanning technology, which was previously only available in HPs higher-priced scanners. It lets you scan at up to 2400-dpi with true 48-bit color to produce fast preview scans in as little as eight seconds, Brashear said. Plus, it includes technology that features two sensors that enable consumers to quickly and easily capture detailed color photos and lower resolution text, he added. The scanner’s front panel buttons offer access to routine tasks: Scan, Photo Reprint, E-mail, Copy, Share-to-Web, Cancel, Options and Power Save.
“Previously, it would cost $299 for a HP scanner of this quality,” Brashear said. “We’re dropping that price $100 with the Scanjet 5400c. It’s targeted to the SOHO [small office/home office] customer or power home user.”
You can also add a document feeder for an extra-lighted media adapter as your needs grow.
HP is also announcing an update to its HP Premium Plus Photo Paper, Glossy. With a sturdy nine-mil thickness, the photo paper offers better image quality and contrast, including more brilliant colors and glossier, deeper blacks, Brashear said. The improved photo paper — available in a variety of sizes, including 4 x 6 inches and 8.5 x 11 inches — is ideal for high-resolution digital photos and reprints, he added. Estimated retail prices range from $7.99 to $39.99 depending on size and quantity.