Kodak Getting out of Printing?

[RattyMouse]

Here in China, there are many small Kodak kiosks that sell prints to people who bring in digital files. There was one by my house until recently. This one, along with many others have recently been rebadged as HP print centers. They are quite busy places as I guess Chinese folks dont often by photo printers. Business is brisk and I often have to wait in line. The Kodak kiosks are very old and look like they are crumbling. The new HP ones have a fresh and modern look. It would appear that Kodak is selling off these kiosks to HP. Why would they do that when printing is supposedly the future for Kodak? Is there any part of Kodak that wants to sell to consumers?

To me it just looks like Kodak selling off another useful asset to cash out of. Sell off everything until what is left is crushed by the debt load.

 

[Prof_Pixel]

>>Why would they do that when printing is supposedly the future for Kodak?<<

This: http://graphics.kodak.com/US/en/Product/Printers_Presses/default.htm is the kind of printing Kodak seems to be 'getting into'.

 

[RattyMouse]

>>Why would they do that when printing is supposedly the future for Kodak?<<

This: http://graphics.kodak.com/US/en/Product/Printers_Presses/default.htm is the kind of printing Kodak seems to be 'getting into'.

I guess they have no interest in selling to consumers then. With such a strategy no one will remember what Kodak is anymore.

 

[bsdunek]

But, that may be where the real money is, and where there is a market for them. Too bad, though.

 

[ParkerSmithPhoto]

One thing to note is that Kodak Endura paper pretty much owns the professional portrait lab market in the US. I've seen many labs switch from Fuji to Kodak over the past several years.

This would have to be one of their most valuable patent/product holdings should they be forced to liquidate.

 

[RattyMouse]

But, that may be where the real money is, and where there is a market for them. Too bad, though.

I dont know. There's 1.3 billion Chinese and they appear to like printed photographs. Looks like a very smart move by HP to buy Kodak out.

 

[lxdude]

Maybe Kodak can't afford to redo the kiosks, so decided to make some money off them, let HP do the upgrading, and just sell the consumables.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Maybe Kodak can't afford to redo the kiosks, so decided to make some money off them, let HP do the upgrading, and just sell the consumables.

That way HP can carry the torch and go into chapter 11, too.

 

[lxdude]

Yeah, first they could hire back Perez and make him CEO.

 

[Sirius Glass]

That would serve them right. Both of them.

 

[RattyMouse]

Maybe Kodak can't afford to redo the kiosks, so decided to make some money off them, let HP do the upgrading, and just sell the consumables.

Well the Kodak printers are gone, replaced with shiny new HP ones, so I doubt Kodak has anything to do with the print shop that is by my house. Nice prints I must say. Very sharp and vibrant. I am just getting started printing there and only have a few Kodak shots so I cant really compare what difference there is if any.

 

[RalphLambrecht]

i don't need kodakfor anything than getting tmax film!the grat yeollow box is now a legend.

 

[benjiboy]

Kodak are getting out of existence.