New Kodak wireless printers fix old mistakes
Kodak ESP 7
(Credit: Kodak)After our mediocre experience with Kodak's last offerings, the ESP 3 and ESP 5, we're happy to see Kodak fixing some of its old mistakes.
On Monday, the company announced two new products in the ESP line of desktop All-in-One printers. The ESP 7 and ESP 9 both feature secure Wi-Fi print servers for wireless connectivity and Kodak's newest intelligent paper tray system. The printers can approximate the amount of paper in the tray and automatically adjust print settings to increase productivity in the office or home. Both printers are available now and will be tested and reviewed by the CNET team soon.
The $200 ESP 7 is a step above its cousins and has integrated Wi-Fi as well as an autoduplexer for printing on both sides of a sheet of paper. The front panel hosts a 3-inch LCD and the buttons feature a visually appealing blue backlight similar to the stylish Samsung's SCX-4500.
Kodak ESP 9
(Credit: Kodak)The printer also ships with Kodak's Home Center Software with the highly regarded facial autoretouch software. We used the desktop client with both the ESP 3 and ESP 5, with satisfying results. Professional Photoshoppers will definitely notice disparities in the retouch algorithm, but overall the software will appeal to consumers as an effortless way to touch up blemishes and enhance facial features with a single mouse click.
The $300 ESP 9 takes the printing experience a bit further with additional features such as a dedicated fax machine with autodial buttons on the front of the machine, Wi-Fi and Ethernet capabilities, an autodocument feeder for larger-size media, a duplexer, and a larger 10-inch front control panel with the aforementioned blue backlit buttons.
We are also happy to report that Kodak fixed the strange plastic arm that plagued the older ESPs; an industry standard hinge now holds the hood open on both models, so kudos to Kodak for taking user critique into consideration.
Justin Yu covers desktop computers, printers, and peripherals for CNET. When he's not scouring eBay for useless ephemera or eating hot dogs for breakfast, he spends his time making fun of Internet culture every morning on The 404 podcast. E-mail Justin. 
Robert
The ink is very affordable (Cheap!!!), and it prints incredibly vivid color with it's six tank system.
The best part for me is it's reliability. Previously I had the BIG MAJOR BRAND (hp) all in one, and the first one was DOA out of the box, and the second died within the first month. The third lasted just over a year before it too bit the big one.
Kodak has hit a home run with this line of printers and their charge the real price for the printers AND the ink philosophy .
The ink is very affordable (Cheap!!!), and it prints incredibly vivid color with it's six tank system.
The best part for me is it's reliability. Previously I had the BIG MAJOR BRAND (hp) all in one, and the first one was DOA out of the box, and the second died within the first month. The third lasted just over a year before it too bit the big one.
Kodak has hit a home run with this line of printers and their charge the real price for the printers AND the ink philosophy .
- by dsimmo July 18, 2009 9:42 AM PDT
- I recently brough an ESP9 Kodak all in one printer, loaded al the software and drivers on to our Pc's and laptops. It works fine with Windows XP Pro, but will not work wifi on the vista machines. After 16 emails and trying anumber of fixes they suggested it still won't work wifi.
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(6 Comments)Can anyone help, before send the whole lot back to Kodak and tel them to stick it and their company where the sun doesn't shine.
Their help desk and online support is about as good as a broken arm.