Dead Epson; on the market for new printer

  • Thread starter Thread starter Stephan Carydakis
  • Start date Start date
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Stephan Carydakis

Hi All,

I have recently had a bad experience with an Epson printer. Its a Photo
Stylus 915 I purchased about 20 months ago. About 3 months ago I changed the
colour cartridge(genuine) for the first time and it wouldn't print any
yellow. I did the recommended things - multiple clean cycles etc. I also
sprayed some Windex on the pad thingy and left it over night. It then
wouldn't print anything at all. I may have killed it! It sat there for a
couple of months and I recently decided to take it in for a quote. Ends up
not only is the print head dead but the main board is gone too. A trash
case!

Anyways, I would like to buy a new printer and was wondering what folks
would suggest. I don't want to spend more than $400 (AUD) and I wouldn't
mind direct to CD label printing.

Thanks in advance.

Stephan Carydakis.
 
I have recently had a bad experience with an Epson printer.

Not as bad as mine. Same problems as you except after it refused to
print it leaked many ounces of ink on my desk, and mine was only 6
months old.
Anyways, I would like to buy a new printer and was wondering what folks
would suggest. I don't want to spend more than $400 (AUD) and I wouldn't
mind direct to CD label printing.
Click to expand...

Near as I'm aware. The only options for direct CD label printing are
Canon and Epson. The Canon multifuctions also sport CD printing. I'm
not up on AU models but near as i'm aware Epson's AIO units do not.

* denotes things I have and use.

-Epson
-Dye 6 color-
*STYLUS PHOTO R210 -
STYLUS PHOTO R310 - like the r210 but with PictBridge and memory slots
LCD screen

-Pigment 8 color-
STYLUS PHOTO R800 -
STYLUS PHOTO R1800 -

Canon - Duplex printing
*iP3000 -4 color 2pl
iP4000 -5 color 2pl (two blacks)
iP4000R - wireless
iP5000 -5 color 1pl
iP6000D-6 color -2pl- LCD screen
iP8500-8 color 2pl? More than you want to spend
[note I get confused which canon models offer 2pl and 1pl sized drops]
-Multi Fuction-
mP-750- ADF feeder
*mP-760 - slide scanner no xD slot - a little more than you want to
spend
mP-780 ADF feeder - FAX - even more than you want to spend.

The R200 is the equilivent model to the R210. Worked great for 6
months before it dumped all it's waste ink on my desk. Not sure if it
was a flaw in the wipe, or at what point the suction tube came loose,
or if the ink waste bin counter was off. But I had been routing all my
waste ink to a starbucks mug when I was aware it had diaper issues. I
averaged 1 5*5 print a day for 6 months. I'm not fond of Epson
presently. I found the out of the box color settings to be adquate, so
pleased I it got me to start buying photo paper.

The iP3000 I bought in a pinch. The Epson was in the shop, still is
actually, and needed something to do CD printing and took the risk I
could enable the feature. Also my HP 950 was start to flake out and
the cost of the iP3000 was less than replacement ink. It was only like
$66 or so US or roughly AUD$87 or AUD$60 if I get the rebate. I
think it's triple the price where you live. Because the US models
don't officaly support CD printing the cost is much less. My first
impression is the Epson had better out of the box color accuracy, but
have yet to tweek with it. Not overly fond of the black on this, and I
might have been wiser buying at least the iP4000. I'm not fond of the
black background with white text with smaller fonts.

The MP760 is based on the iP4000 engine, so it has your pigmented and
dye based black. I have not enabled CD printing on it yet, still need
the manual to found out how. Even without CD printing the 35mm
scanner is very useful. First impression is pretty good, though out of
the box I found it's reproduction of sky blue closer to a dark
periwinkle but I'm told they lean tward red and this can be adjusted.
 
Hi,

Thanks for the info.

I have looked at the iP5000 ($285) and the iP8500 ($485). I'm definitely
leaning to the 5000 as this seems to be good enough for what I will be doing
most of the time. I suppose the main difference will be quality of image and
with the extra colours, better colour matching? I also notice the 8500 is
slow for it's price but apparently because quality is the main aim of this
printer.

Yep, the 3000 is $249 RRP in Australia.

I might check out HP's as well although you say they don't have direct to CD
printing. I'll go check them out.

Steph.

zakezuke said:
I have recently had a bad experience with an Epson printer.
Click to expand...

Not as bad as mine. Same problems as you except after it refused to
print it leaked many ounces of ink on my desk, and mine was only 6
months old.
Anyways, I would like to buy a new printer and was wondering what folks
would suggest. I don't want to spend more than $400 (AUD) and I wouldn't
mind direct to CD label printing.
Click to expand...

Near as I'm aware. The only options for direct CD label printing are
Canon and Epson. The Canon multifuctions also sport CD printing. I'm
not up on AU models but near as i'm aware Epson's AIO units do not.

* denotes things I have and use.

-Epson
-Dye 6 color-
*STYLUS PHOTO R210 -
STYLUS PHOTO R310 - like the r210 but with PictBridge and memory slots
LCD screen

-Pigment 8 color-
STYLUS PHOTO R800 -
STYLUS PHOTO R1800 -

Canon - Duplex printing
*iP3000 -4 color 2pl
iP4000 -5 color 2pl (two blacks)
iP4000R - wireless
iP5000 -5 color 1pl
iP6000D-6 color -2pl- LCD screen
iP8500-8 color 2pl? More than you want to spend
[note I get confused which canon models offer 2pl and 1pl sized drops]
-Multi Fuction-
mP-750- ADF feeder
*mP-760 - slide scanner no xD slot - a little more than you want to
spend
mP-780 ADF feeder - FAX - even more than you want to spend.

The R200 is the equilivent model to the R210. Worked great for 6
months before it dumped all it's waste ink on my desk. Not sure if it
was a flaw in the wipe, or at what point the suction tube came loose,
or if the ink waste bin counter was off. But I had been routing all my
waste ink to a starbucks mug when I was aware it had diaper issues. I
averaged 1 5*5 print a day for 6 months. I'm not fond of Epson
presently. I found the out of the box color settings to be adquate, so
pleased I it got me to start buying photo paper.

The iP3000 I bought in a pinch. The Epson was in the shop, still is
actually, and needed something to do CD printing and took the risk I
could enable the feature. Also my HP 950 was start to flake out and
the cost of the iP3000 was less than replacement ink. It was only like
$66 or so US or roughly AUD$87 or AUD$60 if I get the rebate. I
think it's triple the price where you live. Because the US models
don't officaly support CD printing the cost is much less. My first
impression is the Epson had better out of the box color accuracy, but
have yet to tweek with it. Not overly fond of the black on this, and I
might have been wiser buying at least the iP4000. I'm not fond of the
black background with white text with smaller fonts.

The MP760 is based on the iP4000 engine, so it has your pigmented and
dye based black. I have not enabled CD printing on it yet, still need
the manual to found out how. Even without CD printing the 35mm
scanner is very useful. First impression is pretty good, though out of
the box I found it's reproduction of sky blue closer to a dark
periwinkle but I'm told they lean tward red and this can be adjusted.
Click to expand...
 
Canon IP4000 and use OEM ink. It is faster and produces better results
than the Epson. It also has dual paper feed and duplex printing. The
Euro version does CDs as well.
 
If text and business document is less important than photo results than
look at the IP4000. Somewhat better photo results over the IP5000 and
faster.

Stephan said:
Hi,

Thanks for the info.

I have looked at the iP5000 ($285) and the iP8500 ($485). I'm definitely
leaning to the 5000 as this seems to be good enough for what I will be doing
most of the time. I suppose the main difference will be quality of image and
with the extra colours, better colour matching? I also notice the 8500 is
slow for it's price but apparently because quality is the main aim of this
printer.

Yep, the 3000 is $249 RRP in Australia.

I might check out HP's as well although you say they don't have direct to CD
printing. I'll go check them out.

Steph.


I have recently had a bad experience with an Epson printer.
Click to expand...
Not as bad as mine. Same problems as you except after it refused to
print it leaked many ounces of ink on my desk, and mine was only 6
months old.


Anyways, I would like to buy a new printer and was wondering what folks
would suggest. I don't want to spend more than $400 (AUD) and I wouldn't
mind direct to CD label printing.
Click to expand...
Near as I'm aware. The only options for direct CD label printing are
Canon and Epson. The Canon multifuctions also sport CD printing. I'm
not up on AU models but near as i'm aware Epson's AIO units do not.

* denotes things I have and use.

-Epson
-Dye 6 color-
*STYLUS PHOTO R210 -
STYLUS PHOTO R310 - like the r210 but with PictBridge and memory slots
LCD screen

-Pigment 8 color-
STYLUS PHOTO R800 -
STYLUS PHOTO R1800 -

Canon - Duplex printing
*iP3000 -4 color 2pl
iP4000 -5 color 2pl (two blacks)
iP4000R - wireless
iP5000 -5 color 1pl
iP6000D-6 color -2pl- LCD screen
iP8500-8 color 2pl? More than you want to spend
[note I get confused which canon models offer 2pl and 1pl sized drops]
-Multi Fuction-
mP-750- ADF feeder
*mP-760 - slide scanner no xD slot - a little more than you want to
spend
mP-780 ADF feeder - FAX - even more than you want to spend.

The R200 is the equilivent model to the R210. Worked great for 6
months before it dumped all it's waste ink on my desk. Not sure if it
was a flaw in the wipe, or at what point the suction tube came loose,
or if the ink waste bin counter was off. But I had been routing all my
waste ink to a starbucks mug when I was aware it had diaper issues. I
averaged 1 5*5 print a day for 6 months. I'm not fond of Epson
presently. I found the out of the box color settings to be adquate, so
pleased I it got me to start buying photo paper.

The iP3000 I bought in a pinch. The Epson was in the shop, still is
actually, and needed something to do CD printing and took the risk I
could enable the feature. Also my HP 950 was start to flake out and
the cost of the iP3000 was less than replacement ink. It was only like
$66 or so US or roughly AUD$87 or AUD$60 if I get the rebate. I
think it's triple the price where you live. Because the US models
don't officaly support CD printing the cost is much less. My first
impression is the Epson had better out of the box color accuracy, but
have yet to tweek with it. Not overly fond of the black on this, and I
might have been wiser buying at least the iP4000. I'm not fond of the
black background with white text with smaller fonts.

The MP760 is based on the iP4000 engine, so it has your pigmented and
dye based black. I have not enabled CD printing on it yet, still need
the manual to found out how. Even without CD printing the 35mm
scanner is very useful. First impression is pretty good, though out of
the box I found it's reproduction of sky blue closer to a dark
periwinkle but I'm told they lean tward red and this can be adjusted.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Stephan, If you haven't already done so, email me privately for my Epson
Cleaning Manual. I make no guarantees but the instructions may help you
to resurrect your printer at little to no cost.

The manual is free of charge, the cleaning product are usually available
at your local grocery, and it is probably worth the try.

You can contact me via my email address from this email, just mention
the model and problems.

Art
 
I would like to buy a new printer and was wondering what folks would
suggest.
Click to expand...

You've had a reply from (e-mail address removed). Suggest you check on his
history in the conference before evaluating his response.

Jon.
 
I might check out HP's as well although you say they don't have
direct to CD printing. I'll go check them out.
Click to expand...

Very wise, i'm in another country, one where CD printing on Canons is
diabled.
I suppose the main difference will be quality of image and
with the extra colours, better colour matching? I also notice the 8500 is
slow for it's price but apparently because quality
is the main aim of this printer.
Click to expand...

Keep in mind I don't own these two, and i'm going by the specs and what
i've seen in the stores.

The ip8500 has the black, cyan, magenta, yellow, light cyan/magenta,
red, green. I imagine it would be nice not to have use magenta and
yellow to get a nice deep red common in many logos. The light inks i'm
told are more for filling then color matching, in theory providing more
continious tones. I liked them on my Epson r200. But the trade off is
the larger drop size vs the ip5000.

The ip5000 gives you the smaller drop size and the big ass 25ml
pigmented black (BCI-3eBK). I must admit, I text output on the iP3000
and mP760 both using the pigmented black. Not as nice as laser, but
damn close. From what I see you don't get this on the iP8500, but
those buying that printer are likely more interested in photos than
text.

It would be best for one go to your local shop and test your own images
using Pictbridge or card slot printing, well except on the r800 which
offers no such features. Now for me doing this, my pic was the Epson
R300 which is like the R200 but having the LCD display. Since I was
looking mostly for a CD printer, and if you make CDs you might as well
make covers, and white text on black is common, the Epson did this the
best... for a few months anyway. Now slightly over a week later the
shop finally looks at my printer and says "oh it would be best if Epson
replaced this". I would have thought the three plastic bags with a
pool of ink at the bottom would be a dead giveaway.

Toms hardware guide has a soso review on these printers. What is most
useful are the images of each printer's output giving a fair
comparison. The text quality at 2point is very interesting.
-Text @ 2point -
http://www.tomshardware.com/consumer/20041025/images/ip4000_corps_2_big.jpg
http://www.tomshardware.com/consumer/20041025/images/ip5000_corps_2_big.jpg
http://www.tomshardware.com/consumer/20041229/images/ip8500_corps_2_big.jpg
-Whole reviews with images-
http://www.tomshardware.com/consumer/20041229/index.html
http://www.tomshardware.com/consumer/20041025/index.html
 
Hey thanks everyone for your time and information. I am about to run through
the suggestions in Arthur's manual and if I my printer doesn't do a Lazarus,
I will be purchasing a Canon PIXMA 5000.
 
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