HP upscales its printing

BEIJING, CHINA--Hewlett-Packard on Tuesday launched a series of 14 new printers which included products from both the Deskjet and Photosmart series.

As part of the launch of more than 70 printing and imaging products, the new inkboxes come under HP's drive to take advantage of the anticipated growth in printer usage as more consumers migrate from analog to digital printing solutions. According to the Palo Alto company, some 5.2 trillion pages will be printed via digital printing by 2010, which is roughly a 41 percent increase from 2005's 3.68 trillion pages.

	Small and stylish. HP's new range of compact photo printers

Among the key products at the launch was the HP Photosmart D7360 photo printer, which features a touch-activated 3.4-inch display panel that helps to simplify the user experience when printing without a computer. According to Christopher Morgan, senior vice president for HP's Asia Pacific Imaging and Printing group, the D7360 will assist in creating a photo kiosk-like feel and lower the number of steps between the camera and the final printout.

For instant storage, the mobile HP Photosmart A716 compact photo printer offers a built-in 4GB hard drive for storing and printing on-the-go. It also comes with in-printer photo-editing functions, negating the need for a PC.

Morgan also spoke on the Snapfish online photo printing site launched in the US, which will roll out in Asia Pacific at an unspecified date. "HP will eventually go beyond the home and expand into the retail and online printing space."

In response to questions on how Snapfish competes against photo-sharing sites like Flickr, Morgan explained that the US model for Snapfish leverages the synergy between the site and its retail partners by offering Snapfish photo kiosks in their outlets. Morgan also explained that the graphical user interface in HP's Photosmart printers will be in its Snapfish photo kiosks as well.

Photosmart photo printers | Photosmart All-in-Ones | Compact photo printers | Deskjet printers

Model name	In a nutshell
HP Photosmart D7360 Click for more details	Who is it for? For those who prize fast photo printing speeds above all. What is it? Photo inkjet printer Notable features: 12 seconds of printing time for 4 x 6-inch photos 3.4-inch touchscreen Basic photo editing on printer itself Panoramic printing up to 8.5 x 24 inches Price: US$199 (S$314.12)
HP Photosmart D7160 Click for more details	Who is it for? Home offices which require lab-quality photos fast. What is it? Photo inkjet printer Notable features: 12 seconds of printing time for 4 x 6-inch photos 2.7-inch touchscreen Basic photo editing on printer itself Panoramic printing up to 8.5 x 24 inches Price: US$149 (S$235.20)
HP Photosmart D6160 Click for more details	Who is it for? Home-based users who need fast print speeds but not the touchscreen. What is it? Photo inkjet printer Notable features: 12 seconds of printing time for 4 x 6-inch photos Basic photo editing on printer itself Panoramic printing up to 8.5 x 24 inches Price: US$129 (S$203.63)
HP Photosmart D5160 Click for more details	Who is it for? Consumers looking for a simple printer that's capable of fast print speeds in the home. What is it? Photo inkjet printer copier Notable features: Direct printing of photos onto CD and DVD media Basic photo editing on printer itself Panoramic printing up to 8.5 x 24 inches Availability: In most of Asia Pacific in October 2006 Price: US$99 (S$156.27)