HP Photosmart Printer and Photo Books

Anyone who reads my regular blog knows I am a photo whore. Four children equals, literally, thousands of photos. I also got a Rebel a couple years ago, so ever since I sold my soul to the devil to buy that sucker, the photo-taking frenzy hit high intensity.

And I scrapbook. I know…roll your eyes if you must.

So, I have always had an intense interest in having the best photo options at my disposal. From camera to photo editing technology to printing capabilities. I like it to do a good job, be user-friendly and make my photos turn out as well as humanly possible without me having to get a degree in Photography.

In the interest of full disclosure, I have always been a fan of HP products. The computer and PSC I currently have are HP. Thus, testing this newest offering from HP for PBN wasn’t exactly torture.

Setup on the photo printer was pretty darn simple. Plug it in, follow the few steps offered in the instructions, and you’re off and running. Actually, I’m not sure I’d have even needed to worry about the instructions, it prompts you as each step goes along. I would say the only downside is that the required USB cable doesn’t come with it. Just my opinion, but include the cable, HP. It makes the consumer like you more when you can buy something and everything is in the box. Kind of like Christmas Eve when you're putting together toys and realize you don't have the right kind of batteries to make the sucker operate. Same frustration level when one pesky cord doesn't come with the product but is necessary to make it work.

The touch screen is pretty cool. I feel very Star Trek using it. Partially because the handy dandy little stylus is so easy to nab and pop all over the touch screen, negotiating thru various screens is quick and easy. And I guess I’m “pro-stylus”, I just think they’re slick not to mention, the word “stylus” hits my go button. Go ahead, I’ll wait while you say it aloud - STYLUS. As far as comparing it to other touch screens, I usually find them annoying because they don’t seem to “read” commands being given in that way so I resort to mousing my way thru instead. However, this touch screen works effectively.

I like what's in the photo editing options. Currently, I’m a very novice Photoshop user and I can tell you that taking a photo and doing even just the one task of red-eye removal would require more steps to complete and print than it would on the HP printer. When it comes to a lot of projects on the computer, I do try to complete it in the most efficient way possible. Period. For accomplishing something in an efficient manner, this little printer will help in leaps and bounds.

Oh, and I even forgot to point out the best feature! LITTLE. It’s so compact, as I had it sitting next to my PSC, I thought, if my PSC had somehow mated and had a preemie, this would be the result. Doing some of the printing and editing tasks on something so small and cute would be akin to driving a ginormous SUV that takes $100 to fill the gas tank and somebody handing you the keys to a Prius and telling you to relax and enjoy the ride. Same thing.

Once I played around initially with adding some special effects to a couple of photos that were still on a memory stick I had in one of my cameras, I was anxious to move on to seeing just how quickly I could conquer one of the Photo Books.

Start your stopwatch. I got the software added. Worked around in the software to familiarize myself with the options, finding picture folders to add to the Library. Then, literally TWENTY MINUTES LATER, I had a completed 5x7 photo book, with theme pages, printed, ready and popped into the binder. Officially, this is the quickest photo project I’ve ever done on my computer (because I can never manage to keep anything simple) and also, this is a gift that will receive the most rave reviews when I give it to the recipient at Christmas.

I went on a chick trip to New York City in October and one of my girlfriends brought, brace yourself, a disposable camera with her. To New York City! Was she high? I took two cameras and ended up with about 300 photos which I loaded onto the Photo Book software and made her a Photo Book of our trip in no time flat. I almost feel guilty because I know she’s going to be beside herself with joy at receiving it and will think I spent tons of time and money. I’m a SUPERSTAR! Well, I play one on TV, or, uh, the internet. Thanks to this slick little printer. I’ve always used Shutterfly to do photo books and other projects and I love their services. However, I don’t have to wait for the mail to come now to see the finished product. I can create a photo book in, literally, minutes. It opens up a lot of options to know I can accomplish a project quickly and easily.

For absolutely anyone who takes photos, even if they aren’t that adept at using certain components that go with computers, this little printer is a great starting point for editing, printing your own photos at home and creating projects and gifts with ease. For more seasoned photo editors, it is a nice addition to your arsenal to enhance the flexibility of completing various tasks.

Great gift idea for somebody extra special, check Sunday circulars for specials on the printer.

Additional links:
HP Home & Office
HP Fact Sheet
HP Photo Books

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