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History

George Eastman introduced the camera to the consumer market in 1888. Since those early days the Eastman Kodak Company has been a leader and innovator in the rapidly evolving imaging industry. While many consumers still enjoy taking snapshots with standard film cameras the proliferation of high quality, affordable digital cameras combined with computers and home printers have taken the development lab out of the store and put it into the home. In 2007, Kodak jumped into the crowded field with its line of EasyShare inkjet printers, papers and ink cartridges.

Function

Most home photo printers make use of ink jet technology. The process starts when a digital photograph is downloaded or a physical photo is scanned into the computer. The operator uses a computer program to direct the printer to produce the finished photo on either plain or specialty photographic paper. The printer controls the position of the print head which forces tiny droplets of ink onto the paper in the precise location to create the photograph. Kodak's line of EasyShare printers use a permanent print head and the ink cartridges are sold separately resulting in a significantly lower price than their competition.

Features

Kodak's EasyShare line of inkjet printers, inks and papers is designed to provide consumers with high quality photo and document reproduction but with the added benefit of significant cost savings. The ink cartridges were developed by Kodak and feature premium, pigment-based inks rather than the more common, industry standard, dye-based inks. Kodak utilizes a two-cartridge system in its EasyShare printers--one black ink cartridge and one multicolor ink cartridge. Kodak's ink cartridges come separate from the permanent print head.

Size

The average family prints around 1,500 pages each year on their home printer. The average cost for ink cartridges runs around $180. By utilizing a Kodak EasyShare printer with Kodak ink cartridges, the Eastman Kodak company estimates the cost for ink cartridges would only be $70 per year--a significant savings. Because Kodak ink cartridges use pigment-based ink, which does not fade under normal display conditions, the photos will last a lifetime, eliminating the need to reprint.

Considerations

The cost savings on Kodak ink cartridges can be significant--the company promises to save consumers up to 50 percent on everything they print compared to similar consumer ink jet printers. The initial cost for the print cartridges is cheaper than their competition, and tests by independent laboratories show Kodak ink cartridges can print up to three times more documents than comparable ink cartridges. But because the print head is permanently installed on the EasyShare printer, the initial cost of the unit can be considerably higher than comparable printers in the consumer market.