HP adds three Web-connected printers to ePrint lineup

Following last week's Apple AirPrint announcement, today HP introduces three new printers featuring HP's ePrint technology that lets you print any document or picture from the Web using the unique e-mail address assigned to it.

Each printer takes drastic leaps away from previous consumer models inside and out, but each has the capability to connect to the Web through one-touch print apps for maps, movies, tickets, coupons, coloring books, and so on--as we first saw on last year's HP Photosmart Premium TouchSmart Web. The new line of printers thankfully have shorter names as well, so let's take a look at the offering:

HP Envy 100 e-All-in-One

The HP Envy 100 e-All-in-One appears to be the simplest of the three in terms of aesthetics, but the in-person briefing blew us away with the subtle design that hides it in a simple black rectangle when not in use. You'll notice it lacks that ugly paper tray marring most printers today because both the input and output trays extend and retract mechanically, like a CD tray on a desktop computer.

The eAll-in-One can print, scan, copy, and connect to the Web (hence the e-prefix) with print speeds rated by HP at 30 pages per minute for black ink, and 25ppm for color, and distributed by two ink cartridges (one black, one tricolor cyan, magenta, and yellow) hidden inside. The Envy 100 is a boon for the environment, as well, with zero PVC used to build the printer for easy recycling and reduced waste. Finally, you get a 3.45-inch touch-screen display with HP's TouchSmart integrated control panel for browsing and installing Web apps. The Envy will sell for $249 when it comes out on October 4.

HP Officejet Pro 8500A Plus

Next up is the HP OfficeJet Pro 8500A Plus, a juiced-up version of the OfficeJet Pro 8500 Wireless that earned our Editors' Choice award last year for excellent performance speeds, a functional touch screen, and several networking options. This time around, the 8500A Plus gets a whole new look with eFeatures to back it up.

Instead of the small 3.45-inch screen on the old model, the A-Plus version upgrades to a 4.3-inch color graphics touch screen for flicking through the latest apps on the HP ePrintCenter app store, which now has partnerships with sites like Google Docs, Google Maps, Yahoo, PBS, Kraft.com, and more.

The all-in-one inkjet also gifts you the usual array of connectivity options including USB 2.0, an Ethernet port, PictBridge USB support, and 802.11 b/g/n wireless support. Techy details include 4,800ppi scan resolution, a 250-sheet input tray with a 50-sheet auto-document feeder, and a wider scanner bay for legal-size sheets of paper. The OfficeJet Pro 8500A comes out on September 13 for prices ranging from $299 to $499, depending on your choice of add-ons.

HP Photosmart eStation

Finally, the crown jewel of the group is the HP Photosmart eStation that offers print, fax, scanning, and copying duties and controls by way of a detachable 7-inch touch-screen tablet that you can also use as a "digital companion" in conjunction with the aforementioned ePrintCenter. We demoed a preproduction eStation, and the tablet makes it easy to print whatever you want from the Web using only the touch pad and ePrint.

Users can still operate the printer with the tablet detached, so multiple users can print to the eStation and make edits while another person commands the tablet portion. Since this appears to be HP's new flagship printer, the eStation is capable of printing at resolutions up to 9,600x2,400 dpi prints, thanks to the five-ink cartridge bay. The extra tablet is going to cost you, though--the HP Photosmart eStation retails for $399.