Help me choose a printer for a co-worker...

Hello,

A co-worker of mine recently purchased a Kodak printer from Fingerhut without knowing much anything about printers. I've told him time and time before that he will overpay with Fingerhut...but he never listens . Anyhoo, he ended up canceling his order and asked me to help find him a cheaper printer (he was ready to shell out $159).

He doesn't have a computer, just a digital camera, so he would need to directly be able to print straight from the camera (by connecting it via USB or other). I will try and find out what model camera he is using...I looked it up a couple weeks ago when he bought it from Fingerhut (he overpaid about $60 for that vs. buying from amazon.com). As well, he would like to be able to print 4x6 as well as 8x10ish sizes. I seriously doubt him paying $159 would be his best bet when I know something cheaper and possibly better is out there!

Wow, no computer? I would try to talk my friend into some sort of a computer first if for nothing else as a means to store the digital images.

I'd tend to agree with the above -- even an inexpensive laptop would be a boost to not just his storage and his approach to photography but to his ability to print photos without the frustration that many of us remember from the film days -- getting back all our failures in print!

I've done printing using card slots because I could play with that option, but it was after some going over on a computer first. Then, a printer, although the cost per print adds up to more for a 4x6 than you'd pay at a one hour printer!

I agree in the importance of a computer for storage, photo-editing, etc. I myself would never print a photo straight from my card; I always use CS4 to tidy up my images. But I am not my co-worker. He has a simple point-and-shoot...I have various DSLR's, a 500/4 IS, 180 f/3.5 macro, 70-200 f/4, and plenty of other lenses, external flashes, software, tripods, etc. He wants things rather simple. Learning CS4 would give him a stroke. He is older and has never been into technology. It took a long while to teach him the basics of learning his simple P&S camera. Rather frustrating for me, haha. So he's just looking to plug a memory card into a printer, press print, and badaboom have a photo. We might not like this method so much here on a photography forum, but it is what he desires. Remember, I am not here to change him into a photographer, but rather to save him money on buying a printer.

I haven't received any suggestions yet, but how about the Epson Stylus NX 420? It seems to be a helluva printer for a helluva price....I can grab one for ~$60, brand new....which would be a $100 savings for my co-worker. As he has very little money, I feel it is worth the effort on my part to help him out.

I really like the Canon SELPHY dye sub printers they only print 4x6 but the quality is very good plus you don't have to worry about your print heads stopping up if you don't print for a while
I found some new pink ones cheap on Ebay I guess because the pink ones are hard to sell
I don't really care what color they are if the price is right

I have a new Epson printer, it's a little loud but makes very nice prints. I'm hoping it last longer than my Canon printers, which seem to last 2-3 years before needing to be thrown out (usually with full sets of ink).