Recommend me a photo printer

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Icepick

Diamond Member
Nov 1, 2004
3,663
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Guys, I'm ready to buy a photo printer. I'm leaning towards the Canon line. I have a chance to get an iP3000 for $60 or an iP4000 for $130. The iP4000 comes with a built in parallel port. The iP3000 only has USB so I'll have to buy a cable if I go with this one, which will raise the cost. Should I get one over the other or avoid these altogether and get something more high end like iP5000 or iP6000? I want to print out good looking photos in 5x7 or 8x10 as well as general text documents.

Help me decide please!

Edit: 4/12 - POLL ADDED!!!
 
GTaudiophile

GTaudiophile

Lifer
Oct 24, 2000
29,767
33
81
The Canon PIXMA iP3000 seems to be quite popular for the value it offers.

I personally think USB printing is faster than parallel but that could just be me.
 
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Macro2

Diamond Member
May 20, 2000
4,874
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RE:"The USB cable should be supplied. And they are cheap... and USB is much more handier."

ONLY if you buy at Sams club or Costco. Otherwise you don't get the USB cable.

USB cables are cheap if you buy then from online distributors or have one local.

Buying them at retail is highway robbery.

If you're going to to go $130 I'd spring for another $25 and get a ip5000 but the ip3000 and ip4000 are great printers too.

http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDesc.asp?description=28-102-156&depa=0
 
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MobiusPizza

Platinum Member
Apr 23, 2004
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werid cause when I buy printers and scanners the cablers are supplied inside the box package of the printers and scanners, but not given by retailers separately. And it shouldn't be. Cause the printers and scanners I bought are from Canon
 
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Ike0069

Diamond Member
Apr 28, 2003
4,276
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76
I've never had a printer come with the cable.
But you can get a 6' USB cable at Walmart for about $5, so it's not a big deal.
 
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Macro2

Diamond Member
May 20, 2000
4,874
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AnnihilatorX,
Where are you buying these Canon printers and what models? I've never seen a cable come in the box with a Canon printer unless its the "s" model from Sams or Costco.
 
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tallman45

Golden Member
May 27, 2003
1,463
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Canon printers do not come with USB cables unless their is a bundle special (like Costco's). A USB cable can be had for cheap online. Buy.com has them for $60 bucks or so delivered free.

The IP4000 is a very fast printer, much faster than the IP5000. The Ip5000 offered finer droplets which will result in slightly better photo pictures.

I have both the IP3000 and IP4000, they are fast and the large ink cart (black) lasts a very long time.

The parallel cable option is good to have if you have a laptop which either has no USB or a USB that is being used by an external mouse.
 
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Icepick

Diamond Member
Nov 1, 2004
3,663
4
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Since you own both, which would you recommend? the ip3000 at $60 or the ip4000 at $130? Does the ip4000 get better print quality?
 
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BigJimbo

Golden Member
Aug 4, 2002
1,193
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I have the ip5000

Great printer. It has more DPI and when gettinga photo printer thats what you want.

As for printing word documents and such draft printing in greyscale is plenty fast, just not as fast as the lasers we have at work
 
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MobiusPizza

Platinum Member
Apr 23, 2004
2,001
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Originally posted by: Macro2
AnnihilatorX,
Where are you buying these Canon printers and what models? I've never seen a cable come in the box with a Canon printer unless its the "s" model from Sams or Costco.
Click to expand...


Sorry my printer was bought from HK (I don't live in USA) and indeed it was a S model...
 
S

SilentRunning

Golden Member
Aug 8, 2001
1,493
0
76
Of the two, ip3000 and ip4000, the ip4000 would be better for photo printing. The ip4000 has both a pigment based black and a dye based black. The ip3000 has only a pigment based black.

The dye based black in the ip4000 is used for photos.

 
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Ike0069

Diamond Member
Apr 28, 2003
4,276
2
76
If you must have "high quality" color prints, then don't buy a $60 printer.
If you're fine with just decent color prints, then the ip3000 will be fine.
 
C

CraigRT

Lifer
Jun 16, 2000
31,440
5
0
Originally posted by: AnnihilatorX
The USB cable should be supplied. And they are cheap... and USB is much more handier.
Click to expand...

this day & age, it's really hard to find any printers that are supplied with a USB cable.
and best buy and future shop GOUGE on the prices of those cables. so brutal.
 
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alrocky

Golden Member
Jan 22, 2001
1,771
0
0
Go to CompUSA or another B&M and print out test photos. IIRC' Fry's has had the iP4000 for $100 AR a couple times. Amazon has it for ($140 - $20 current rebate =) $120 with free shipping and possibly no tax for you. I'm happy with my iP4000 and suggest it or the iP5000 over the iP3000.
 
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Zepper

Elite Member
May 1, 2001
18,998
0
0
Yes, you should be able to get the iP3000 for under $50. AR and the iP4000 for about $100. AR (Staples has $30. off all printers that retail over $130. in April ( and Canon has a $20. rebate on the 3k, 4k, and 5k thru May). I have the iP3000 and would have bought the 4k if I had the extra $$$s at the time. Though I doubt you'd be unhappy with any of the three.
. And printers don't come with cables in most stores - allows the stores to make their nut off the cable add-on sale.

.bh.

:moon:
 
Googer

Googer

Lifer
Nov 11, 2004
12,576
7
81
Umm Get a Canon! WOW What a great selection of makers that we get to choose from Woooo Hoo!
 
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Zepper

Elite Member
May 1, 2001
18,998
0
0
Hey Brob,
Newegg usually has the best price on the iP3000, but it doesn't hurt to try pricegrabber, shopping.com, etc. to be sure. Staples was coming close to Newegg for a while except for sales tax - not now. Not sure what their price is on it now. Right now Amazon has some new ones for $45.+sh from folks who already did the rebate. Be sure to get a copy of their invoice or receipt for warranty purposes. Those will end up being a better deal than newegg as you don't have to wait for your rebate.

.bh.
 
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