Digital Trends

HP PhotoSmart 475 October 9th, 2005 | by Rebecca Day

Performance

HP quotes a minimum 4 x 6 print time of 60 seconds with the Photosmart 475. Their images must have been simpler than mine. My best print time was 1:35 for a 4 x 6 with the automatic redeye fix turned off. In redeye reduction mode, the same image emerged after 2:09. I printed a 5 x 7—with no redeye fix—in 2:30. Those won't break any speed records, but at least it got the red out.

Print quality was for the most part good for a portable printer. You wouldn't trust the big-time family memories to the GoGo but it churns out prints with decent detail and rich color. In a comparison of the same image printed on the GoGo and Epson's PictureMate portable, I found the Epson print to have a smoother surface but less vibrant colors than the HP prints. I needed to step up the brightness on the HP which had a hard time with whites and skin tones. The HP prints were sharper but showed texture on the paper around outlines. Both printers displayed digital artifacts when presented with difficult backgrounds.

The HP prints came out sticky to the touch compared with the Epson's that were dry on delivery. For those concerned about withstanding spills, the Epson pics could repel water while the HP's smudged.

Conclusion

HP has taken the portable printer from an output device to a multipurpose machine that stores images, presents slideshows and prints in various sizes and formats. At $279, it's a bit pricey given its average quality and light plastic construction, especially given the ever-plummeting price of full-size photo printers offering better quality.

But it's a handy little digicam peripheral that offers extra convenience on top of simple functionality. It may be the start of a whole new category.

Pros:

-          Very portable

-          Simple to use

-          Works great with a digital camera

-          Supports various size formats

Cons:

-          Average picture quality

-          Expensive

-          Cheap construction