The ESP 9250 offers the ability to print from Apple iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch devices, as well as an intelligent bar code system for optimizing printer settings.
Printing and imaging expert Eastman Kodak Company announced the
newest addition to its line of All-in-One (AiO) Inkjet Printers, the
ESP 9250, which is designed to deliver professional levels of
performance while maintaining Kodak's low-cost ink system. The printer,
aimed at consumers and SMBs (small and midsize businesses), is
currently available for $249.99.
The ESP 9250 Printer features Kodak's proprietary pigmented inks for
sharp colors and permanence, which is designed to deliver richer, more
vibrant colors that bond more effectively with paper to provide fade
resistance. To reduce paper use, the ESP 9250 Printer handles
double-sided, duplex printing. The printer also features an intelligent
bar code system that optimizes settings for printing performance. The
printer automatically detects and adjusts for printing documents or
photos and features a bar code reader that works with Kodak photo paper
to customize the printer's ink output to produce the ideal result for
the selected paper.
Kodak AiO Printers also actively monitor and display how much ink and
paper are available both on the printer LCD screen and remotely on the
computer screen, and an intelligent paper tray holds three sizes of
paper. WiFi and networking capabilities on the ESP 9250 allow users to
print from anywhere in the home, as well as off Apple's iPhone, iPod
touch or iPad.
Using Kodak Ink and Photo Papers, prints dry immediately and don't
smear or smudge and are water resistant even when using a highlighter
on documents. The company noted its propriety ink system has achieved
Wilhelm Imaging Research (WIR) Display Permanence and album / dart
storage ratings of greater than 120 years and WIR Unprotected Ozone
Resistance ratings of more than 100 years. WIR's image fade resistance
testing included the five major longevity-testing factors: Light,
temperature, unprotected exposure to ambient ozone, high humidity and
contact with water.
Kodak's printer announcement is coupled with advancements to its Kodak
All-in-One Printer Home Center Software (v 5.4), including social media
photo printing from Facebook, Picasa, Photobucket and Flickr sites, and
Kodak Gallery, enabling consumers to manage these photos from one
place. Additionally, the software also features Perfect Page Image
Processing Technology that maximizes image quality right at the
scanner, and Kodak Perfect Touch Technology, which allows consumers to
reduce the appearance of skin blemishes and enhance facial features.
"Over the past three years, Kodak has established itself as the
consumer champion in the inkjet printer market, bringing fair pricing
to ink while delivering high-quality output and ease of use," said
Susan Tousi, general manager of inkjet systems and vice president of
the Eastman Kodak Company. "With the introduction of the ESP 9250
Printer, we are building on that promise by unveiling advanced
functionality and quality enhancements that continue to challenge the
industry for performance and value."
With the ESP 9250 Printer, Kodak is aiming at delivering the lowest
total ink replacement cost in the industry, claiming users get up to
425 black text pages for $9.99 using the company's black ink cartridge
10B, up to 770 black text pages for $16.99 using the company's black
ink cartridge 10XL and up to 420 color pages for $17.99 using the
company's color ink cartridge 10C. The results were based on average
ink costs of leading consumer inkjet printers using an average page mix
of 52 percent black text documents, 35 percent mixed-color graphics and
13 percent photos, a company report noted.
"From low running costs to no-compromise, high-quality output and
one-touch simplicity, the ESP 9250 Printer is a high-caliber printing
machine designed to improve every aspect of the printing experience,"
said Tousi. "Consumers demand printing excellence and Kodak delivers
with this new, advanced system."
Nathan Eddy is Associate Editor, Midmarket, at eWEEK.com. Before joining eWEEK.com, Nate was a writer with ChannelWeb and he served as an editor at FierceMarkets. He is a graduate of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.