Digital BW, The Print

I just went through this.  If you are mainly interested in b&w you 
might as well go with the 7660.  It uses the same inks, nozzles (of 
course) and driver (that from HP which counters at least what is on 
one independant website).  The 7960 does use 8 colors for color 
images and thus gives you a wider gamut of colors.  I have the 7660 
and for snap shots the color looks really good, beating one hour 
digital or film output so my family is thilled (after years of b&w 
only they finally feel like we joined the real world).  The swapping 
part is almost trivial since hp put a place for the odd cart out.  
The printer seems pretty cheezy, but it seems to work fine... just 
don't want to snap off any of the flimsy plastic parts on the paper 
tray!  I think you'll be happy with any of them.

The b&w prints are pretty much neutral and there is zero 
metamorism... nothing to complain about, but I'd prefer a warmer tone 
myself.  If this stuff took off you could imagine #59w, #59mw, #59n 
and #59c... well, you can dream right? :)  I was asking about how 
popular it was at CompUSA and they looked at the computer when I was 
buying my #59 cart and they told me that it was only the 6th one they 
had sold all year... guess they aren't hot items, though HP must 
think it is a big deal because they have the b&w capability featured 
heavily in the store displays.

mark

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Editor P.O.V. 
Image Service" <editor@p...> wrote:
> Time for a real digital B&W issue.
> 
> My mom is outgrowing her Lexmark Z51.  She's been printing photos 
for 
> her classes and Botany Club (she teaches) all of a sudden (wonder 
where 
> she got that idea?).
> 
> I want to get an HP for her as I want something she can also print 
B&Ws 
> from.  She prints only from the computer, so the LCD on the 7760 
and the 
> 7960 is pointless.
> 
> So, the choice is down (I think) to an HP PhotoSmart 7660 :
> 
> 1)   How do the B&W prints from the #59 cartridge compare to other 
B&W 
> prints regarding issues of neutral hues and metamerism?
> 
> 2)   Is there a significant advantage in having the 7 or 8 inks 
> installed at all times (as they are in the 7760 and 7960  
respectively) 
> instead of swapping them into and out of the 7660?
> 
> 3)    Does anyone know if all 8 colors are used by the 7960, or all 
7 by 
> the 7760, when printing photos?
> -- 
> 
>  
> Keith Krebs
> 
> "Just some guy," caretaker of the Multiverse's largest EPSON 
printer 
> User Community (highly recommended by Vogon Poets and MegaDodo 
> Publications), at:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EPSON_Printers/
> and  the Multiverse's largest Canon printer User  Community at:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Canon-printers
> "For the rest of you out there, the secret is to bang the rocks 
together 
> guys"