While I adore the instant gratification that comes from taking pictures with a digital camera, I’ve not been so quick to jump on board the photo printer bandwagon. I’d like to think that I’m so digitally entrenched that I’ve fully adopted the online viewing and CD storage paradigm, but it would be closer to the truth if I just admitted that I’m lazy. It’s also why I’ve never gotten into scrapbooking.

HP might just have enticed me to change my mind - both about printing photos at home and organizing them into lovely little books.

The HP Photosmart A626 compact photo printer is what I never thought a photo printer could be. It really is compact; no permanent desk space required - just get it out when you need it, put it away when you’re finished. And it’s so versatile - with functions ranging from basic photo printing (from a memory card or USB cable connection) to actual photo editing within this teeny tiny printer and its touch-screen and stylus. My love for instant gratification has come full circle; I’m hooked.

But wait - it gets better! Now I can take those printed photos and immediately pop them into cloth-bound HP Photo Books. I don’t have to slide them into flimsy plastic holders like those in traditional photo albums. And if I feel really creative, I can break out the design software that comes with each book and turn those prints into real scrapbook pages.

Twenty of our bloggers each received an HP Photosmart A626 printer and HP Photo Books to evaluate, and they’ll post their reviews (and hopefully some of their handiwork too!) over the next few weeks. The printer will be on special at various retailers through the holidays - check your Sunday circulars - and you can get 20% off the photo books with the coupon found here.

Whether you’re looking for a gift for yourself, or the means to create fabulous gifts for others, check out these reviews.

Fri 11/30 - Island Review and In the Trenches of Mommyhood
Mon 12/3 - Formula Fed and Flexible Parenting and Toddler Planet
Tues 12/4 - Lawyer Mama and Suburban Oblivion
Wed 12/5 - Rookie Moms and Soul Gardening
Thurs 12/6 - Little Bird Reviews
Fri 12/7 - PunditMom
Mon 12/10 - Jumping Monkeys, Ruth Dynamite, and Mid-Campaign Post on PBN
Tues 12/11 - Ebony Mommy and Lipstick to Crayons
Wed 12/12 - Lather Rinse Repeat
Thurs 12/13 - Karianna
Fri 12/14 - Views from the Pants
Mon 12/17 - One Plus Two
Tues 12/18 - Mrs Dub Reviews
Wed 12/19 - Marketing Mommy
Thurs 12/20 - Round-Up Review on PBN