eWEEK content and product recommendations are editorially independent. We may make money when you click on links to our partners. Learn More.
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.”