Buy a printer vs. online printing

[dengar]

I was ready to buy a photo printer when 2 of my friends highly recommended going the online printing route instead of buying a printer. I did a bit of research and it looks like I can save 50% by online printing. Winkflash can print my 4x6 photos for 16 cents as opposed to a typical photo printer which is around 35 cents per print.

What are your thoughts about this? Online or buy a printer? Thanks in advance. :)

[George Riehm]

I was ready to buy a photo printer when 2 of my friends highly recommended going the online printing route instead of buying a printer. I did a bit of research and it looks like I can save 50% by online printing. Winkflash can print my 4x6 photos for 16 cents as opposed to a typical photo printer which is around 35 cents per print.

What are your thoughts about this? Online or buy a printer? Thanks in advance. :)

For 4x6 snapshots online printers and places like Sams Club work fine. For 5x7 and 8x10 you might want to invest in a printer (Epson 200/300, Canon 900 families, or HP Photsmart).

I do both, and also have an older Epson 2000P for 13x19 prints (fairly sow but also fairly cheap used).

[Dave Dilks]

I'll echo Ray's comments, they both have their place. For bulk printing of 4x6" prints, I use my local Sam's Club. For larger prints, or for those occasions when I want the print right away, I still rely on my old Epson Stylus 870.

For you, the question may come down to how often you plan to make prints larger than 4x6" and how often you're going to want to have prints in your hands within minutes.

[Huagan]

I dont know if this will help but you can buy a hp psc for £30 from belkoo.com (http://www.belkoo.com) and you can still print at photo quality plus printer over a hundred photos on one ink rather than paying $30 for the ink cartridges that prints only 15 pages? Plus they have pictbridge connections now so isnt that more economical??????

[aparmley]

I agree with George and Dave here... I suggest doing both. I really enjoy it when I have the ability after taking a great picture to turn around and have a print in my hand nearly instantly. But, I have to tell you, friends and family are going to like that too and ask for prints. If you do like I did and come through for them you are going to go through paper and ink like it was Milk in a house full of cereal eaters! So this is where I would recommend having a great online lab you are happy with and trust for those bulk 4x6s and having the confidence to stear our friends and family to for their prints.
The option of being able to send your photos to a local 1 hr photo lab is another option for those nearly instant gratification moments and may be a more economical vs convenience solution. One great reason to research online and local photo labs is because you can find some that use Fuji Archival Crystal paper for longer lasting prints...