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Ease of Use (7.50)
Despite the poor documentation, the HiTi 731PS is a relatively easy printer to operate. The menu configuration is different and awkward enough to make it confusing in the first few uses, but it quickly becomes rote. Loading the paper tray is super easy, when it’s either in or out of the printer. The printer will not recognize very large files, so users need to stay within the normal range for compact and prosumer model cameras.
Value(6.50)
Comparing the value of the HiTi 731PS with other home dye sub printers is difficult because no other dye sub can print in the sizes the 731PS can—5-by-7-inch and 6-by-8-inch. Generally speaking, consumers will be spending at least $150 more for this ability. Other dye sub printers range in price from $149 to $249. If all you’re looking for is 4-by-6-inch prints, it would be more economical to go with another printer, even the HiTi S400, which sells for $249. But if you like the look of dye sub prints and want the larger sizes, the 731PS may be your only option.
Comparisons
As we’ve noted in the Value section above, no other dye sub home printer can print the sizes that the HiTi 731PS can, so direct comparisons are not possible. As a result, we’ve only included 4-by-6-inch dye sub printers and one inkjet printer in the list below. If you absolutely want / need the 5-by-7-inch and 6-by-8-inch print sizes, then pass this section on by. But if you think you may only need the 4-by-6-inch print size, then read on.
 The Canon Selphy ES1, like the other dye sub printers on this list, can print at a resolution of 300 x 300 dpi, practically the same as the HiTi 731PS, which apparently produces 301 x 301-dpi prints. Both printers have the same LCD screen size and both stand upright, passing the paper through the printer vertically. The ES1 has no separate paper cassette to assemble, fill, and attach. Paper and ribbon are combined into one cassette and loaded into a slot on the side of the printer. The Selphy ES1 has the option of battery power for $99 above the base $249 price, which still keeps it below the 731PS’s $399 cost.
 The Sony PictureStation DPP-FP90 is in the mold of many other home dye sub printers, a small, rectangular, box-like design that lays flat on the table. Where this printer wins out over all others is in the size of its LCD screen, at 3.6 inches. Print quality generally scored better than the other dye sub printers we’ve tested, other than the HiTi models, and it costs $50 less than the ES1 and $200 less than the 731PS.
 If you like Hi-Touch Imaging’s printer designs and don’t need the larger size prints, then you should check out the HiTi S400 Dazzle. This miniature version of the 731PS is all black and has the same-sized LCD screen on its remote-control-like LCD controller. It produces only 4-by-6-inch prints with HiTi’s OEEE Image Processor at 403 x 403 dpi resolution, greater than any other dye sub printer, even the 731PS. The S400 is comparably priced to the Canon Selphy ES1, at $249.
 We’ve included the Epson PictureMate Flash (PM280) in this list for those of you still wavering between dye sublimation and inkjet printers. For $199, consumers can print 4-by-6-inch prints at a quality unmatched by any other compact printer. Epson includes a CD burner in this model for archiving and image sharing. With a lunchbox-like design, a carrying handle, and an optional battery, this printer wins out in the portability and durability category. Consumers who can live without the CD burner can get the same quality and design in the PictureMate Snap (PM240) for $100 cheaper.
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