Easy setup, variable print quality

I got this unit as a Christmas present from my girlfriend as I never would have purchased one for myself. I've used cheap internet digital photo services (Ofoto, PhotoAccess, Walmart, etc) for the rare occasions when I actually wanted a hardcopy photo and therefore didn't feel any strong desire to own one.

Now that I've used one for about 4 weeks printing a variety of photos on my Mac (OS X user), my feelings are still mixed as it isn't quite straightforward to use with inconsistent results. However, I do want to mention that with certain precautions, it'll produce AWESOME and PERFECT pictures indistinguishable from 35mm glossy prints.

Setup
The unit is easily portable given it is the size of a hand (6.7x4.7x2.2) and weighs only 29 ounces. To connect to my computer, I had to purchase a standard USB cable (it doesn't come with one) and install the printer driver which is all very quite simple and straightforward. That's it. The computer treats the CP-200 like a regular printer. It really is as easy as I just described it.

Printing
Here it gets a bit tricky. At first, I decided to use the programs I already own (iPhoto, PhotoShop) to print photos from instead of using the recommended Canon ImageBrowser program. I dislike adding unnecessary programs on my computer if other programs can do just as well. Regardless of what program is used to print photos, these steps need to be followed in order to print correctly on a Mac:

1) Go to Page Setup under the File menu and Select CP-200 from the "Format for" menu.
2) In the same dialog box, go under "Paper size" and select the 4X6 option. Then close the box.
3) Pick the photo you want to print.
4) Perform the print command. When the print dialog box comes up, make sure the Printer displayed is the CP-200. Make sure the correct paper size is selected.
5) Print.

Failure to perform any of these steps will result in printing a tiny part of the photo you wanted (and wasting expensive photo paper), or printing to the regular printer you already own, or printing a less than optimal size on the CP-200.

I don't own a Canon digital camera, so I can't comment on how easily the process is to print directly from a camera.

NOW, if you wanted to go back to printing on your regular printer, you have to go through the above steps again, this time selecting your regular printer.

Printing
The printing process involves the paper being fed into the unit and coming out the backside partially in a series of 4 maneuvers to add color to the picture, with the final pass laying a protective coating giving it that true photo feel to the print. A single 4X6 print takes about 1 minute. Nothing spectacular about this process except one must make sure to leave plenty of room in the back of the printer.

Quality of Pictures
Printing from iPhoto or Photoshop produced terrible pictures. Though it would look perfect on the screen, the pictures (for me at least), uniformly came out much too dark with poor contrast and brightness. Even after adjusting, it still didn't come out quite right. At this point, I decided to install the Canon ImageBrowser program and print from that program instead. The pictures came out much better. I guess this Canon program has been optimized for use specifically on the CP-200 to produce good pictures, though I still noticed that the pictures still didn't look quite the same between the computer screen and the printed photo.

However, the images on the screen and printed photos came out almost exactly the same (PERFECT) if I took the original pictures at the highest resolution possible and the pictures were taken in good lighting. These pictures truly came out wonderfully.

ADDENDUM: I recently upgraded my iPhoto software to the most recent version 4.0. Printing directly from this program to the CP-200 was excellent. No need to use ImageBrowser software now (it doesn't work in the Panther environment anyway).

Pet Peeves
- I wish the printing process was a bit more automated without going through so many steps to print.
- I wish I didn't have to use the Canon ImageBrowser program to print, but use the programs I already own to print pictures...and get consistently high-quality prints.
- I wish there was a power button on the unit (only the CP-300 model has one).
- I wish that what I see on the screen is exactly reproduced on the photo print without taking into consideration the pixel size of the original picture, lighting, etc.

Benefit of the Doubt
To be fair, the quality of photos produced from commercial digital photo services are mixed as well though they overall produce usable prints. However, the inconsistency and variability of photo quality produced by the CP-200 is greater than that produced by commercial services. Also, I understand that the computer can't predict where you want to print, but at the very least, the computer should automatically adjust the paper size to 4X6 instead of leaving it at 8.5X11 when selecting CP-200 as the output printer. Canon should update its CP-200 printer driver to make that happen.

Supplies
The printer comes with a cartridge and paper to make 5 prints included. Unlike regular printers, the cartridge is made for a specific number of prints which one has to buy in a package with the paper. SO, after the 5 prints are up, the cartridge needs to be replaced as well. Thereafter, whenever you need more paper, you will need to replace the cartridge as well. Thankfully, Canon sells paper and the cartridge together as a package. I won't go into the economics as it'll constantly change over time as prices go down for both the commercial services as well as Canon supplies. Furthermore, I believe (and I may be wrong), the whole point of owning one is for instant gratification. Economics is used to justify that experience which I feel silly since one had to first of all PURCHASE the printer and whatever savings may be obtained through supplies will take FOREVER to recoup the cost of buying the printer in the first place.

NOTE: Supply cost breakdown provided below as addendum. Bottom line, it is MORE expensive to use the CP-200 than to have prints made by commercial developers.

Conclusion
Would I have personally purchased this unit with my own money?
No
Would I use it since I have received it as a gift instead of the commercial digital photo services?
Yes
Would I consider upgrading to another and potentially better photo printer?
No, as I don't require the instant gratification of seeing printed photos. It is just as well for me to upload my pictures and have the prints mailed to me.

Addendum:
I have been asked to provide a cost breakdown regarding supply costs. SO, on 2/1/04 at 6:30PM, a dealtime search reveals the cheapest price for a 36-pack of paper (Canon Part Number: KP-36IP) is $18.09. This means $0.50 per print. Ofoto and PhotoAccess prices are $0.29 per print. Snapfish is $0.25. Walmart is $0.24.

Hhhhmmmmm. It seems that it is currently more expensive (by 2X!) to have instant gratification than to have commercial prints made. I guess one may never recoup the cost of the printer as it certainly is NOT cheaper to print your own photos with the CP-200.