What's the best way to print off digital pictures?

[Booty]

I pretty much just store all my pictures on my server, but my parents just won a digital camera at some auction (a Kodak CX6330) and so now I have to figure out the best way for them to use their new toy. My parent's aren't completely computer illiterate, but they're definately newbies, so with that in mind, what's going to be the best/most practical/easiest way for them to use their camera, in your opinion?

At this point, they have a fairly old computer and no printer at their house. They also live far enough outside of town that they have to use dial-up, so once we all moved out they cancelled their internet account, so basically if they want to email pictures and all that they'll just do it from work.

My mom asked whether buying one of those little docking stations is a good idea, and since I haven't ever used one, I didn't know if they made sense, economically. Last time I really checked, nice photo paper was pretty expensive, but that was a while ago. So, as far as money is concerned, does it make more sense to print them off at home (cost of ink, paper, hardware), or is it better to just take the memory card into the local drug store's photo development center? Convenience isn't as much of an issue here. If it makes sense to DIY at home, should they go with one of the special docking station/printers, or just get a newer color inkjet?

I think I'm going to get them a new(er) PC, one way or the other, so they can store the pictures and mess with photo editing if they want. The main question is whether to print them off at home or not, and if so what kind of printer to get.

 

[NumbaJuan]

buy this and print at home

 

[thawolfman]

I know Walmart does digital prints for .29cents +/- a cent or two.

The stations are really simple - They have the media readers, so all you do is pop your card in and select which images you want printed, etc. They also do it at the local drugstores around here as well for about the same price.

I'm not sure what prices are for photo paper/ink/printers, etc - But for me it's easiest to take the camera to the store, pick what I want, and let them do the rest!

-Ben-

 

[SeTeS]

Costco is like 19c a print.

But re NumbaJuan's post, I agree. I picked up a canon i900d printer at christmas and am astounded at the quality of the pics it produces.

4mp images printed on it are practically indiscernable from film prints.

 

[Booty]

Originally posted by: SeTeS
Costco is like 19c a print.

But re NumbaJuan's post, I agree. I picked up a canon i900d printer at christmas and am astounded at the quality of the pics it produces.

4mp images printed on it are practically indiscernable from film prints.

Think you could give a rough estimate of about how much it costs you per print... like how much the print cartridges cost and how many pictures they're good for, etc?

 

[SeTeS]

Hard to say... I've yet to replace the cartridges.

The photo paper isn't too expensive. I think I paid like 7 bucks for 50 4x6 sheets. That's, uh 14c a sheet. So the 19c costco thing isn't bad, I suppose. All depends on whether you want the convenience of printing your own versus driving somewhere.

I've never had any digital prints done at Costco so I can't attest to their quality. I will say, however that there is no comparison between my home printed shots and Shutterfly prints. The canon's quality is evident.

 

[vegetation]

Take to a developer unless you want to print at home and find the prints fade away after a few years. I had printed a bunch on my epson just two years ago, to hang up on my walls and all of them rapidly faded, probably due to the sunlight. I never had this problem with shutterfly pics, even those from over four years ago.

 

[skiersteve]

Get the Epson Picturemate if you are planning on using it for 4x6" prints. Photos are rated to last 100 years and print each picture for $.29. Here is CNET's review of it.

 

[hifisoftware]

Costco all the way. You can start printing with no pre-processing. Later you can download color profile for the Costco printer near you and apply it (profiles at http://www.drycreekphoto.com/). Applying profiles is an advanced proces
For a larger prints and excelent quality you can buy high end Epson (2200 I think, but it's pricey).
I belive that you should not get a printer unless you cant get what you want from regular processing at Costco, Wallmark, whatever.
Epson has archival inks that last a long time, but they still last less then regular prints at Costco and others.