Digital BW, The Print

Tim,

If you're making the jump to HP, you might want to take a smaller step
and try the Photosmart 8750.  This has been my main printer since
December and I've been quite satisfied with it, especially for b/w
work.  Same print size as your 1800. No hissy-fits regarding
head-clogs, and, to my eyes, no issues with bronzing. gloss
differential, or metamerism.

And, right over the horizon, is HP's upcoming B9180: same format as
the 8750, except (1) it uses larger-capacity ink carts, and (2), the
Vivera inks are pigment instead of dyes.  The dyes used in the 8750
*are* highly stable (Wilhelm gives them the thumbs-up), but they
aren't terribly waterfast.  This hasn't been an issue for me, but it
is to others.  Lightfastness is a much bigger issue for me, and the
8750 delivers on this count.  It's also awfully cheap (I got mine for
around $370 shipped, but that was over the holidays, so now it's
higher), but with robust build-quality.

(Boy, after all my years with Epsons, do I feel like an infidel!;-)


- Barrett