While digital cameras offer you the convenience of viewing your photos instantly, ink jets and dye-sublimation printers give you sharp prints to keep in your wallet and share with friends. Here are some models to consider:
Acer FotoPrisa 300P
This compact dye-sub printer produces photos with glossy stock and rich colours. Its 4 x 6in maximum print size and dye-sub engine mean that it's good only for photos (whether full-size or tiled onto sheets of stickers); you can't use it to print a resume. However, its pass-through port could accommodate another printer. This model was difficult to install but simple to use afterward. At $499, the FotoPrisa is an affordable option if you don't need to print text-based documents. A pack of 50 sheets of paper with a 50-print ribbon costs an extra $40.
Acer Peripherals
Price: $499
Distributed by Servex
Phone: (02) 8762 3500
URL: www.servex.com.au
HP PhotoSmart P1100
The P1100 provides SmartMedia and CompactFlash slots so you can print photos without a PC. Its $999 price is mitigated by great speed and exquisite photos. This dye-sub's straightforward menus make it easy to use, too. An infrared port talks to laptops and IR-equipped cameras.
Hewlett-Packard
Price: $999
Phone: 13 1347
URL: www.hp.com.au
Sony Digital Photo Printer MS-300
The easy-to-use MS-300 delivers impressive postcard-sized prints and has bays for PC Cards and Sony's Memory Stick. You can also plug the MS-300 into a TV to view or capture images. The $1299 price doesn't include paper (a pack of 30 costs around $80), ink ribbon, or even a container for the paper.
Sony
Price: $1299
Phone: (02) 9878 9712
URL: www.sony.com.au
