Canon Puts Efficiency On Press
If you want to make more advanced edits to your images, you'll have to use the HP Photosmart Essential software that's included on CD. The software lets you offload photos from your memory card to your PC, organizes them into a library, and lets you peruse your library by date, tags, or via a file tree. Editing options include crop, rotate, flip, red-eye removal (allow you to pinpoint the area you want corrected), resize, and add color effects. You can also use the software to share photos via Snapfish (HP's online photo-sharing service) or e-mail.
Similarly priced offerings from the competition offer a lot more by way of onboard features. Both the Canon Selphy CP740 and the Epson PictureMate Pal let you do a Print All or select multiple photos (with varying numbers of prints) before starting the print job. They also let you make an index print or do layout prints, which let you vary the number and size of photos on a single sheet of photo paper. The Epson also lets you enhance photos, crop, or apply color treatments via the printer's control panel.
Performance
The HP Photosmart A526 trailed its competition in CNET Labs' print tests. Printing from a PC attached by USB cable, it produced 4x6 prints at a rate of 0.70 page per minute, while the Canon Selphy CP740 was able to do 0.92 page per minute, and the Epson PictureMate Pal accomplished 1.0 page per minute.
(Longer bars indicate better performance)
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4x6 Photo |
The quality test prints showed that the A526 produced prints of decent quality--good enough for casual snapshooters. The colors were pleasing, but we would've liked to see sharper details. We noticed some slight graininess in color blocks, particularly in faces. We also saw a lot of compression in the dark end of the grayscale, and as a result, lost some details in the shadowy areas of the photos. Overall, we preferred the prints produced by the Canon Selphy CP740 a bit more.
Service and support
HP backs the Photosmart A526 with a standard one-year warranty. Toll-free phone support is available 24-7, or you can chat live online with tech support, also 24-7. HP's site has drivers, software downloads, FAQs, and troubleshooting guides, as well.
