Digital BW, The Print

I haven't used a 1280 with VM inks so I can't say whether or not the 
curves you are using are as perfect as you claim, but the curves for 
my 1160+VM were very far from WYSIWYG so in comparison the 7660 seems 
great.  If all I have to do is anticipate a little bump in contrast 
it's a peice of cake.  Sure, the 2200+IP is more precise, but it's a 
freaking $1000!

I don't have anything else to add, so let's leave it off here.  The 
easiest thing for anyone to do who is interested in one of the HP 
printers is to take a memory card into BestBuy or any other 
electronics mega-store and get the sales dweeb to let you print off a 
couple images.  Then people can make up your own mind.  That's what I 
did and *I* am more than satisfied with my 7660 even given that it 
isn't absolutely perfect... but what is?

mark

...
> I can say this.. If I send the EXACT same image to the 7660, a 1270 
with 
> VM or VM-S, and a 1280 with UT2, UNLESS I change the contrast 
setting in 
> the 7660 driver, or specifically balance my monitor to replicate 
the 
> 7660 B&W output,  I get blocking of my shadows. 
...
> no valid reason why the HP 7660 defaults should increase the 
contrast 
> of  a B&W  image when printing it.  What I see on a a calibrated 
and 
> profiled monitor should be what I get on output..  That happens 
with the 
> 1270 and 1280.. on the 7660 it doesn't...
...