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HP Photosmart Pro B9180
Reviewed by
Lori Grunin
on 03/06/2006

See all HP products

Price range:

$436.94 - $742.40

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  • Quick specs
  • Printer Type: Photo printer - Ink-jet - Color
  • Max media size: Super B (13 in x 19 in)
  • Connectivity technology: Wired
  • See full specifications

Add to my list Product summary

Some of the interesting innovations that HP makes in its B9180 tell us we shouldn't count the company out of prosumer photo printing quite yet.

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CNET editors' take

  • Reviewed by:
    Lori Grunin
  • Reviewed on: 03/06/2006
After the resounding silence that met the Photosmart 8750, its first foray into the enthusiast/pro photo-printer space, HP valiantly tries again, this time having learned from its past mistakes. The HP Photosmart Pro B9180 uses a new set of eight pigment-based Vivera inks with preliminary 200-plus-year fade-resistance ratings (on select papers) from Wilhelm Imaging Research.

Upside: HP's Scalable Printing Technology (SPT), first introduced in the Photosmart 8250, takes a few innovative steps forward with this implementation. First, HP creates a closed-loop calibration system--that is, between the printer and the display--for the device by incorporating a densitometer in the printhead. You print out a calibration page, then feed it back in, and the printer generates the relevant profile for each paper type. The eight-ink set includes gray and the five basic photo primaries (CMY, Mphoto, and Cphoto), as well as photo and matte blacks. Unlike other models, however, the printer can use both blacks simultaneously for a deeper tone. The inks use a resin-encapsulation technique combined with an electrostatic charge to presumably produce smoother, more evenly dispersed droplets. And for cost-conscious users, the printhead performs continuous nozzle checking and can clean an individual nozzle, minimizing ink waste. The new model offers a lot more software color-management tools, as well, including a printing plug-in for Photoshop.

Downside: HP claims a rather zippy rate of 1.5 minutes for a 13x19 photo and 10 seconds for a 4x6. I've seen HP's New Math when it comes to print speeds, however, and this model's no different. Those times are for draft mode, which very few users in this segment ever use. Instead, HP quoted a time closer to 6 minutes for a 13x19 in Best mode. Furthermore, the printer produces rather large 4pl droplets. Also, sample prints we saw from a preproduction unit showed some gloss deficit in the blacks, an issue that plagued the first generation of Epson's Ultrachrome inks.

Outlook: Slated to ship in late spring for $699, the HP Photosmart Pro B9180 looks like it'll be an interesting product to test, at the very least.

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Reviews from around the WebPowered by alaTest

  • alaTest.com

    Editors' rating: 100

    Summary: alaTest has collected and analyzed 305 reviews of hp photosmart Pro B9180 from international magazines and websites. Experts rate this product 91/100 and users 73/100. Comparing these reviews to 213039 other Printers reviews gives this product an overall alaScore™ 100/100 = Excellent.

    Read full review

  • stuff.tv

    Editors' rating: 100

    Read full review

  • whatdigitalcamera.com

    Editors' rating: 93

    Summary: Though the printer we have here is a beta version and still needs the Windows drivers to be tweaked, the quality of printing so far is outstanding, especially on a Mac. We're sure the final retail version will give other manufacturers something to ...

    Read full review

  • dpexpert.com.au

    Summary: For anyone producing prints for display the HP B1980 must be a top consideration. However, we do have one big complaint - how can a printer that costs $700 (AUD $853) in the US sell here for $1500? Accustomed as we are to paying premiums for living in ...

    Read full review

  • macworld.com

    Editors' rating: 90

    Summary: HP has been the dominant presence in the consumer and business printer markets, but it hasn't been as successful in the high-end photo market, which has more demanding users. Photographers, graphic artists, and imaging specialists want consistent ...

    Read full review

  • personal computer world

    Editors' rating: 100

    Summary: The Photosmart Pro B9180 is aimed at professionals, but anyone who wants to print large professional-quality photos won't be disappointed.

    Read full review

HP Photosmart Pro B9180

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