Yesterday Kodak announced the ESP 7 and ESP 9, the two new wireless inkjet multifunctions. Kodak claims these multifunctions can print up to twice as many photos and documents for the money they cost. This feature saves around $110 a year on ink compared with other leading consumer inkjet printers on the market.

Both the ESP 7 and ESP 9 use Kodak’s pigmented inks that come in a simple two-cartridge setup: a black cartridge for $9.99 and a five-ink color cartridge for $14.99. Based on independent testing by Wilhelm Imaging Research, prints from the two printers should last for at least 120 years in dark storage such as in an album.

The ESP 7 All-in-One Printer costs $199.99 and bolsters a 3-inch color LCD display as well as memory card and USB slots so you can view, edit and print images without use of computer. The ESP 7 supports Wi-Fi and Ethernet connectivity and can perform double-sided printing with built-in duplex unit. According to Kodak, it takes only 28 second to produce a 4×6-inch photo on the ESP 7. When it comes for document printing, the device speed reaches up to 32 pages per minute in black and 30 ppm in color.

The senior model, Kodak ESP 9 priced at $299.99, offers larger functionality: it has fax capabilities, an auto-document feeder, and a 10-inch one-touch control panel.

Kodak’s Home Center Software includes facial retouch capabilities that enable consumers to enhance their personal photographs by automatically reducing blemishes and augmenting facial features. Both printers have an intelligent paper tray system, which automatically adjusts settings based on paper type, size, and amount.

“A reasonable compromise between quality and functionality”, that’s what James Hutchinson from PC World Australia called HP LaserJet P3005x color laser printer.

According to James, the P3005x makes an imposing printer both literally and metaphorically. The printer stands 474 mm tall with the third paper cassette attached. It supports USB and Ethernet connection and an embedded Web server for remote administration. The HP LaserJet P3005x has 80 MB of memory onboard that can be upgraded to a maximum of 320 MB. Automatic duplex is standard on this printer. For the environmentally conscious business, the P3005x is Energy Star certified.

Like all high-end laser printers, HP’s P3005x is a durable workhorse. The monthly duty cycle of this printer estimates dramatic 100,000 pages. The printer is quite efficient in terms of consumables: 6500 pages from a regular yield toner cartridge and 13,000 from a high capacity toner cartridge. Using a high yield toner you can get a cost per page of 2.8 cents.

The P3005x can also bolster its speed, another area in which it shows good results. The printer has four quality settings, ranging from 600 dpi draft mode to 1200 dpi with 170 lines per pinch (LPI). Regardless of the quality setting the P3005x achieves speeds of 35 pages per minute, with the first page out in 12 seconds, which is decent for rapid high quality printing.

Altogether with automatic two-side printing, expanded paper capacity and an Energy Star certification, the HP LaserJet P3005x proves a reasonable compromise between quality and functionality.

Informations for the inquisitive minds.

Print CEO blog published a video on the history of printing that Frank Romano, Professor Emeritus, School of Print Media, Rochester Institute of Technology, created with his students a few years back. In the video, Frank walks you through major milestones in the history of printing. From Johann Gutenberg to papyrus to important contributors in the development of type to Ben Franklin to Mergenthaler to Frederic Ives.

Kodak’s advertising claim that buyers can “Save up to 50% on everything you print” with its EasyShare line. Among other things, Canon claimed that Kodak didn’t make it clear that the savings claim was based on ink costs only. This week Canon it lost its challenge when the National Advertising Division of the Council of Better Business Bureaus ruled that Kodak “provided reasonable support for the advertising claim.”

Last year, Kodak introduced a brand new low-cost ink strategy with the launch of the EasyShare multifunction printer line. Kodak offered cheaper inks for a higher upfront cost of a printer.

This strategy seems to have bothered Canon USA, which recently filed a complaint with the NAD of the Council of Better Business Bureaus. There are reasons for Canon to worry, even when Kodak has less than 1% of the market for consumer multifunction printers.

First, printer manufacturers hand around the hardware at little or no cost, making major profit on the ink. Second, Kodak’s ink is indeed cheaper.

Kodak’s new pricing strategy that breaks the current business model for consumer printers. Also, it is aiming at those who do a lot of printing of photographs at home — a selected group of Canon’s most profitable customers.

Mass adoption of EasyShare printers and word of mouth about the advantages of using low-cost ink could turn upside down the today market’s business model.

Speaking of the market. Of 61 millions sold printers, Kodak’s share is only 520,000 units. Kodak’s distribution channels are also not so broad. So why would that make a difference to Canon? Because Kodak doesn’t need to get a large overall market share to cause trouble. Approximately, 10% of consumers do 80% of printing, so all it takes is capture a significant portion of that small group to put pressure on the rivals. Perhaps that’s what Canon is worried about.