OK, sure. I work for Kodak, now. I suppose I can perhaps be accused of being partial, but then again, if you’re from Rochester and you’re not partial to Kodak, what does that make you?
I’ve had the opportunity to check out Kodak’s new product lines for the digital market since working for the company, and I have to say, I’m quite impressed. I am equally disappointed in our local media for not doing a better job of covering technology news, which might perhaps assuage some of the cynicism about the company and focus the public’s attention on keeping them here in Rochester rather than joking about their imminent departure.
The most exiting one I’ve found thus far (and the one I plan on purchasing immediately upon getting my first paycheck) is the new EasyShare line of All-in-One printers. Perhaps with Kodak’s help, the days of getting “prison love” in the pursuit of those pricey ink cartridges will be a thing of the past:
Printers With a Thrifty Eye Toward the Cost of Replacement Ink – New York Times
Kodak has been all about color for decades, but right now they want you to think about green — as in money. The company is introducing a line of EasyShare all-in-one inkjet printers and selling replacement ink at a price that it says will cut the cost of printing supplies up to 50 percent, without compromising on quality or speed.
The secret here is that, with normal printer cartridges, the print head is built into the cartridge. That’s expensive. With the new Kodak line, the ink cartridge is just that: an ink container, nothing more. I presume that the reason previous incarnations kept the two together was largely to avoid spillage, and I further presume that Kodak has found a way around this problem. Let us hope, but I have not seen any reviews of note, yet.
But there’s more features than just a cheap cartridge (although that’s enough, as far as I’m concerned). For example, even the cheapest model in the series, the 5100, is compatible with BlueTooth. That’s a handy little option for you, eh? They also all support PTP/IP connections. That means you could potentially print out pictures directly from your BlueTooth- or PTP/IP-enabled camera, from a distance of up to 100 yards!
OK, so you may have very little reason to use these particular technologies, right now. But don’t you feel better (and just a weencie-bit more manly) knowing you have the option?
The 5300 (why do companies insist on odd-numbered models?) goes one step further by adding the option to print directly off a camera’s mem card. It offers a handy little 3-inch window for just such occasions, so you can easily crop the image before printing. Finally, the 5500 offers a feed bed and faxing capabilities, for those of you who have a need (or a perceived need. You da man) to fax files from time to time.
The camera lines are getting pretty interesting, too. Especially the Z-series, which feature extra zooming capabilities with a killer Schneider-Kreuznach Variogon lens. Curiously, however, the model with the highest zoom in the series has the lowest pixel resolution. Still, the prices of the Kodak cameras is comparable to my Canon camera, which along with what I hope is a still-respected name, should serve Kodak well in the months ahead.
Technorati Tags: Kodak, Camera, Printer, Technology
powered by performancing firefox
