Hi All. I am new to digital cameras (Toshiba PDR-M1). I want to print my pictures on a computer color printer. I need to buy one. I have researched a lot and have narrowed my choice down to the HP722C or the ALPS 1300. My question is "Can anyone tell me why you would NOT recommend the ALPS?" I can't find much on it's downside. Especially I am worried about the cost per print since this machine uses RIBBONS instead of inkjet liquid. It looks like a great machine (super quality, doesn't smear like inkjet, doesn't fade like inkjet, prints can automatically be coated with a clear sealant, and costs about the same). So why doesn't everyone have one? Do they cost a lot to operate (can't find any data on this), break down a lot, or do the stores just not make any profit on them and so don't push them? I would appreciate any insights. Thank you, BOB

-- BOB EASON (EASONBOB@JUNO.COM), December 22, 1998

Answers

I have the Alps 1300 a few months and love it. I previously had an epson Stylus and feel the Alsp is better. Real photo quality. Good luck.

Ken

-- Ken Weissblum (kenweissblum@iname.com), December 24, 1998.

I too have switched to the Alps. Previously a HP1120C user (similar to the 722C, only wider carraige), I found that the smearing and color fade of the injet was unacceptable. True, cost per print for the Alps is more, but the end result is a picture, one that side by side with photo finishing labs is virtually indistinguishable(sp) in quality. My costs are running about $2 per 8x10 sheet to print on the Alps, this including paper and ribbons. That's not so bad considering you can print four 4x5 prints on a single page, two 5x7's, etc. I get my ribbons and paper from buycomp online. Once you've seen the prints this Alps produces, you'll see for yourself! I only wish Alps made a printer capable of 11x14 printing.

Hope this helps.

-- Brad L. Bates (beabates@mindspring.com), January 03, 1999.

I don't see any reason why you shouldn't purchase the ALPS. I used HP 560C, Epson 500 and Epson 600 and none of them is close to the ALPS 1300. The pictures are excellent, the B/W are near perfect. The cartridges are separate, so when you're out of Cyan for example you only need to purchase cyan, not the whole bottle. However I see some of the reason why people still avoid this printer: - too slow, paper is in and out 4 times to print - photo paper cost too much compare to photo paper for inkjet - weak advertisement

-- dennis ly (dennis.k.ly@juno.com), January 08, 1999.

One important factor to bear in mind regarding the dye sub mode is that storage of the dye subs is problematic. If you store in plastic, the prints WILL blur and smudge. This doesn't seem to be a problem with the micro-dry prints. However the quality of micro-dry with the MD-1300 is quite poor in comparison to the dye-sub mode. Micro-dry with the MD-5000 looks like it might be decent however if the samples I've seen at CompUSA are typical.

-- Derek (renoderek@mindspring.com), July 25, 1999.