Press Release: HP breakthrough ink based printing platform
HP today announced a breakthrough ink-based
printing platform, the result of a five-year, $1.4 billion strategic investment
that the company believes will catapult its leadership in the printer market
years ahead of its competitors. At a press conference here, HP unveiled its
first products built on the new scalable printing technology, which is designed
specifically to deliver high-performance printing for high-volume users. These
include the world's fastest home photo printing devices - 4 x 6-inch digital
photos in as fast as 14 seconds, speed comparisons in default and fastest modes,
when printing from a computer, based upon HP internal testing of comparable
consumer photo printing.
HP measurement method
Print Laser-quality speed is an HP measurement
method representing the print speed of typical office documents in default mode;
compared to published color speeds by laser manufacturers as of May 2005.) and
30 percent lower cost-per-page than color laser printers. Cost per page (cpp)
laser supplies comparisons based on published manufacturer specifications of the
highest capacity cartridges available for color laser printers under $500 and
mono lasers under $250 as reported by Current Analysis, Inc. as of May 2005.
Officejet Pro K550 series cpp based on HP 88 Large Ink Cartridges (not included,
sold separately) estimated street price and published yield.
HP's 21-year printing history
"Today marks a milestone in HP's 21-year
printing history," said Vyomesh Joshi, executive vice president, Imaging and
Printing Group, HP. "This technology is the next step in our business
transformation - the master key that unlocks new market opportunities and
further growth in our printer business. Today's announcement will create a new
perspective and experience around printing in the home, in the office and for
the entire industry needing digital prints."
Digital photography products
Bringing new levels of choice to customers
while meeting their diverse printing needs and budgets, HP additionally
announced a range of digital photography products, including the industry's
first compact photo printer capable of printing 5 x 7-inch photos and storing up
to a year's worth of photos (more than 1,000 images). Total number depends on
many factors including, but not limited to total file size.
HP Innovation drives growth
HP's new technology is a breakthrough in the
architecture and manufacturing of the inkjet printhead. The sophisticated
assembly of the new printhead enables a faster development cycle at an estimated
50 percent lower cost, giving HP an efficiency of scale for its substantial
research and development investment.
Improves the accuracy of ink drop
placement
The printhead components are
fabricated as one unit via a photolithographic process, rather than welded
together in post-production. This results in the precise alignment of the
chamber, nozzles and heating element, which then improves the accuracy of ink
drop placement. This unique design also supports an increased density of
nozzles, with 3,900 nozzles or more on a single printhead. More nozzles and
increased dot placement accuracy translates into faster, high-quality prints.
Additionally, the new printing system ensures that users will never run out of
ink mid-page - eliminating a source of wasted ink and paper.
HP Three technical way
Because the new platform is scalable, HP is
able to address the diverse needs of the printing market, from high-volume
consumer users and small to medium-size businesses all the way up to the
commercial market. This is made possible in three technical ways. First, HP can
increase the size of the swath - the area the printhead covers with each pass
over a page. With larger swathes, the printhead needs to make fewer passes over
a page, thus leading to increased speeds. Second, HP can increase the number of
nozzles on the printhead to allow for higher quality, larger prints. And third,
HP can increase the number of inks per printhead, providing a richer color
gamut.
High-volume printers based on the
new platform
The HP Photosmart 8250 Photo
Printer, priced at $199, and HP Photosmart 3000 All-in-One series, priced from
$299 to $399. These are designed for consumers who want to quickly print batches
of photos, unattended, in the convenience of their homes. These world's fastest
photo printers feature six individual HP Vivera ink cartridges and produce
beautiful photos and crisp text at blazing speeds -- 4 x 6-inch photos in as
fast as 14 seconds for as little as 24 cents a print. The HP Photosmart 8250
Photo Printer is available this month via hpshopping.com and major retailers.
The HP Photosmart 3000 All-in-One series is expected to be available this fall.
HP Single-function printers
The HP Officejet Pro K550 Color Printer
series: These single-function printers are designed to deliver superior color,
laser-like quality text and water-resistant prints - all at up to twice the
print speed and half the purchase cost of competitive color lasers printers.
Expected to be available in the fall, this printer series will also set new
standards in total cost of ownership, with substantially lower cost-per-page
than laser printers.
New ink and media
supports printing system
HP's new printing
technology has been designed to work as a system with new HP Vivera inks and
media; New ink formulations work with HP Advanced Papers: The ink formulas used
with two new porous papers are designed to deliver instantly dry,
water-resistant photos for the home and smear-resistant pages for the office
using HP's patented color lock technology. Auto Sense technology provides
another way to eliminate wasted ink or paper: Paper sensing via barcode-like
technology identifies the size, orientation and type of photo paper for
accurate, best-quality prints.
More
capture and printing choices for consumers
HP
introduced six new portable photo printers - creating the industry's broadest
line of portable printers - including two industry first capabilities: The HP
Photosmart 475 GoGo Photo Printer, priced at $279, is the first compact photo
printer capable of printing 5 x 7-inch photos, in addition to 4 x 6-inch and
panorama prints. The HP Photosmart 475 is also the first compact photo printer
to have PC-like power with the ability to store a year's worth of photos (more
than 1,000 images).
HP Photosmart 420
Another highlight is the HP Photosmart 420
series GoGo Photo Studio, which includes a camera and a printer with a dock.
This gives consumers a complete portable photo system and the ability to print
photos in three steps - snap, dock, print. Pricing begins at $299. HP has also
extended its portfolio of printing systems to offer its most affordable supplies
and printer combination ever. Designed for lower usage applications and
optimized for ease-of-use and budget-conscious customers, these systems provide
a new entry point of $14.99 and $17.99 for HP 21 (black) and 22 (color)
cartridges, respectively, matched with printers starting at $49.99.
HP Photosmart digital cameras
Adding to its award-winning line of digital
cameras, HP introduced the HP Photosmart R818, R817 and M517 digital cameras,
which range in price from $149 to $399. The HP Photosmart R818 and R817 digital
cameras feature new HP Real Life Technologies so consumers can not only preview
panorama photos, but can now stitch them together inside the camera, allowing
for easy printing of panorama photos without a computer.
HP alliance with Walgreens
HP also announced an alliance with Walgreens,
extending HP's recently acquired Snapfish online photo services into the retail
arena. Millions of Walgreens customers can now enjoy Snapfish's easy-to-use
tools for online photo ordering, sharing and storage via Walgreens website.
Walgreens also is rolling out on a market-by-market basis the ability for
customers to upload photos to the site and pick up prints at the Walgreens store
of their choice in as little as one hour. The service will be available by
September in all markets where Walgreens operates. Customers can also opt for
mail delivery of prints made from their uploaded photos.
Posted: Mon - July 11, 2005 at 01:02 PM