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HP photo printer carries entire photo collection

HP photo printer carries entire photo collection

Lori Grunin Senior Editor / Advice
I've been reviewing hardware and software, devising testing methodology and handed out buying advice for what seems like forever; I'm currently absorbed by computers and gaming hardware, but previously spent many years concentrating on cameras. I've also volunteered with a cat rescue for over 15 years doing adoptions, designing marketing materials, managing volunteers and, of course, photographing cats.
Expertise Photography, PCs and laptops, gaming and gaming accessories
Lori Grunin
One promising product to come out of today's HP announcements is the new high-end compact photo printer, the Photosmart A716. The A716 includes 4GB of memory--admittedly, a relatively small amount--for image storage, plus a USB connector for attaching an external CD/DVD writer. Add the optional battery pack, a full complement of card slots, and wireless networking options, and it's pretty much an all-you-can-eat imaging solution. Yes, Lexmark was the first to offer these capabilities in the Lexmark P450, but Lexmark isn't the first brand that comes to mind when I think of quality photo prints. Or the second. Or at all.

It's still a three-color model, but it uses a new formulation of inks that HP claims yields more durable, water-resistant photos. This model also includes HP's Real Life autofix technologies, and the company claims 39 seconds to print a 4x6, for a cost of 29 cents per print. The printer itself will cost $249 when it ships in August.

update: A second version of the A716 will be available exclusively from Best Buy. The only difference between the A716 and the A717 will be the color: the latter is black and silver.