Maximum PC

Well, for Professional Digital Photography, most will suggest Epson first, Canon second. I whole heartily agree. $250 celling still allows a very good selection of photo printers. I'm using CompUSA links, since Epson's website uses sessionID cookies (meaning you need to visit the site):

Epson R300M: $229.99 Retail This is nice especially if you want to print from your card without using the computer. It has a decent menu on it's LCD screem.

Epson R300: $179.99 Retail This is the same printer, without the LCD screen. NOTE: unlike previous Epson Printers, you cannot add the LCD at a later date!

Canon i960: $169.97 Retail

Canon i900D: $199.97 Retail Same printer, but with Camera slots and LCD

Canon Pixma IP3000: $99.97 Retail This is the replacement for the i560.

Canon also has a new Pixma IP4000 on their website for $149.97, which appears to be the successor for the i860.

In a later post, you asked about using other manufacturer's papers. I highly recommend against this practice. The manufacturer's papers are coated to bond well with their inks. The chemical reaction when the ink hits the paper will give the best results if the paper and ink are of the same manufacturer. We've tested this theory at CompUSA, and got some incredibly odd results by using, for example, Epson Paper in a Canon printer. Colors weren't accurate, and on occasion, the inks never fully dried. They remained tacky for about two weeks before flaking.

Epson Photo Papers

Canon Photo Papers

SuperChip64
CompUSA Imaging Specialist