Functions in addition to printing as such are certainly a plus, but aren't an essential choice criterion for printers for which quality is the primary consideration. Epson is clearly aware of this, since its Stylus Photo R800 is very wanting in this area. There are no memory slots and no PictBridge connector. On the other hand, there is the possibility of printing on roll paper, which is an interesting function for producing banners, for example.

At the other end of the scale, the Photosmart 8450 follows HP's general policy of providing extra features on its photo printers. There's an LCD display and numerous possibilities for processing images directly from a memory cartridge. But it's not enough to counteract the deficiencies regarding printing time. The Pixma IP8500 is halfway between the others, offering a PictBridge connector but no memory-card slots or LCD display. Also note that the Canon and Epson models are able to print directly onto printable CDs and DVDs.

When it comes to drivers and software, on the other hand, Epson goes farther than the others, providing numerous applications and a driver that offers very complete maintenance functions. HP offers only the ImageZone software, which manages images on your hard disk effectively but has no retouching functions.

Conclusion

The conclusion is easy to draw: If you're looking only for quality, the Stylus Photo R800 is the only choice. In all areas - including black and white - it is the printer with the best fidelity of reproduction. It's closely followed in this area by the Canon Pixma IP8500, which claimed the record for printing speed and a has very advantageous cost per page. The Photosmart 8450 has only its numerous additional functions and excellent printing quality in black and white to recommended it. But these two points are offset by its mediocre printing speed and extremely high cost per page.