one way to get some comparative ability is to look at the reproductions in a newer, high-end fine art book of photographs, almost all of which are prepared these days using digital methodology. of course, the image sizes in books are typically, not larger than 7x9" or so, but it does give you a good idea of how nice even a 300dpi print can look on a variety of various nice papers. the book, photographs of oregon and the columbia river, which uses 300dpi hell laser scans of carleton watkins mammoth plate prints from his work in oregon in 1867, is simply wonderful. the book, phtography and architecture: 1839-1939 (my favorite book!), uses similar scanning and printing, but uses a very toothy paper - also extraordinary quality. the 4-color reproductions of bw images seem so much richer than plain half-tones.
Bookmarks