printer suggestions?

[Zehda]

I could use some advice. I am re-doing my school portfolio in the hopes of attaining an internship. I need a reliable way to output my portfolio pieces. Instructors recommended fiery output on a laser earlier on, now printers recommend using an inkjet printer for portfolio pieces because they are higher DPI than they used to be and better output.
I think Epson is usually recommended but which ones???
I have read reviews and some recommend the photo printers and some the other wide format printers. It seems some of the photo printers are better designed for just photography but can give dull results for print work. HELP! What do you recommend??

[PrintDriver]

What programs you outputting your portfolio pieces from?
If Quark or InDesign have anything to do with it you want that Postscript Rip (doesn't necessarily have to be Fiery) to output your images in high quality. Most off the shelf inkjets don't have Postscript rip capability though a very few have emulation software, or they used to. Not sure Epson still carries their Stylus Rip. Seems last I looked, they didn't. Or at least not for OSX.

Inkjets have come a long way and they have a certain look that is different from a laser print. Not as slick or waxy depending on the paper and the color gamut, IMO, is a little better.

Is this something you want to buy or are you looking for a vendor? Cuz pricing is all over the place for both.

PrintDriver is a large format digital print dude. His advice/opinions may not apply to the 4color/offset/web world of printing

Post Edited (PrintDriver) : 6/16/2004 1:01:19 AM GMT