Epson Stylus CX5400

[Bill Martin]

Anyone out there have experience with the CX5400? What do you think of it?

Thanks....

Bill -- (Remove KILLSPAM from my address to use it)

 

[NCHA]

Anyone out there have experience with the CX5400? What do you think of it?

Thanks....

Bill -- (Remove KILLSPAM from my address to use it)

I have 2 and never had a problem with either. They are good for text
and text image. If your looking for photo quality and want a work horse
like the 5400 look at the 6400 most people can't tell a difference between
it or a photo printer.

 

[Bill Martin]

Anyone out there have experience with the CX5400? What do you think of it?
-----------

I have 2 and never had a problem with either. They are good for text
and text image. If your looking for photo quality and want a work horse
like the 5400 look at the 6400 most people can't tell a difference between
it or a photo printer.

-----------

I'm not looking for a photo printer. Text and general office use is what I'm
interested in. A few questions if you don't mind:

1) I see that many people buy various printers these days and then are
frustrated to discover in the fine print that they won't work over a network.
This is a minor mystery to me since manufacturers must know that home
networks are becoming common. Do you know if this is a problem with the
CX5400? My old Lexmark Z51 prints nicely over the network, but I fear it's
finally dying. I've crawled through the Epson web site, but I don't see
networking prominently mentioned anywhere -- pro or con.

2) Also, have you tried to send a fax using it? Does it come with its own
fax software or does it work amicably with the Windows XP fax software? Or
something else?

3) And finally, have you played with the OCR software? Does it work
reasonably well? Or have you sucessfully used some other OCR package with
it?

Thanks....

Bill -- (Remove KILLSPAM from my address to use it)

 

[NCHA]

of it?
-----------
-----------

I'm not looking for a photo printer. Text and general office use is what I'm
interested in. A few questions if you don't mind:

1) I see that many people buy various printers these days and then are
frustrated to discover in the fine print that they won't work over a network.
This is a minor mystery to me since manufacturers must know that home
networks are becoming common. Do you know if this is a problem with the
CX5400? My old Lexmark Z51 prints nicely over the network, but I fear it's
finally dying. I've crawled through the Epson web site, but I don't see
networking prominently mentioned anywhere -- pro or con.

I see alot of people useing a usb network set up. I do not run a network
all my machines(some are never on the net and will never be on the net,
security issues) have there own printer.. I only mentioned the photo side
because friends of mine in property management and sales like the output
...

2) Also, have you tried to send a fax using it? Does it come with its own
fax software or does it work amicably with the Windows XP fax software? Or
something else?

As for faxing it is software based, you would need a fax program of some
sorts .. I don't fax enough for the need to have an in home fax

3) And finally, have you played with the OCR software? Does it work
reasonably well? Or have you sucessfully used some other OCR package with
it?

I have used that a few times, it has worked for me, it came with abby
fine reader

 

[Clark W. Griswold, Jr.]

Anyone out there have experience with the CX5400? What do you think of it?

Bought one around Thanksgiving and think it's fabulous. Replaced a Deskjet 950
that did an OK job, but liked the idea of combining the scanner and printer into
a single unit to save spave on the desktop.

The individual ink carts are a bonus, although I'm not convinced there is *that*
much savings. My color printing tends to be pretty even for all three colors.

It seems to be miserly with ink. I'm just about to exhaust my first black cart.
Replacement Epson blacks go for about US$30 and the individual colors go for
$10. That's a bit high considering they are ink olny - no print head. I did find
a Rhino black cart at CompUSA for $20 and will give it a shot. All the carts are
chipped, so refilling isn't an option (right now). For what I use, refilling is
more trouble than it's worth.

My only critiscm - and it's minor - is that the interface is USB 1.1 and not USB
2.0. Print speed is fine (they got rid of the infamous Epson clunk & clean prior
to every print job), but scanning, especially at high resolutions, is noticably
slower than my older USB 2.0 scanner.

 

[Clark W. Griswold, Jr.]

They are good for text
and text image. If your looking for photo quality and want a work horse
like the 5400 look at the 6400 most people can't tell a difference between
it or a photo printer.

AFAIK, the only difference between the 5400 and the 6400 are the memory card
slots. Print quality (and ink) is the same.

 

[Clark W. Griswold, Jr.]

1) I see that many people buy various printers these days and then are
frustrated to discover in the fine print that they won't work over a network.
This is a minor mystery to me since manufacturers must know that home
networks are becoming common. Do you know if this is a problem with the
CX5400?

The only interface is a USB port. Haven't tried it with a print server (wired or
wireless) though.

2) Also, have you tried to send a fax using it? Does it come with its own
fax software or does it work amicably with the Windows XP fax software? Or
something else?

It comes with a TWAIN driver, so it works fine with any fax software package. I
use the stock Windows XP fax program with no problem.

3) And finally, have you played with the OCR software? Does it work
reasonably well? Or have you sucessfully used some other OCR package with
it?

Haven't tried the OCR software that was provided with the printer. It's
something called ABBYY Fine Reader Sprint, version 5.

 

[NCHA]

AFAIK, the only difference between the 5400 and the 6400 are the memory card
slots. Print quality (and ink) is the same.

The ink is different in the 6400 it uses the "new" Durabrite ink...
It doesn't print well on regular glossy paper

 

[wayne]

I've had the CX5400 for 2 weeks now and am more than happy with the
quality of the printer. It feels/looks very well assembled and I
expect it to last for many years. I bought the unit from circuit city
for $149 with a $20 rebate and a $30 gift card. So it only cost me
$100. For the price you can't beat it. The only thing comparable
within the $100 price range is the HP PSC1210 which doesn't even come
close in performance.

Actually, I had purchased the HP PSC1210 and returned it after I saw
the Epson CX5400 price had dropped. The big selling point for me was
that there were individual ink tanks for each color. The HP PSC1210
requires you to replace the whole color cartridge if you run out of
one color which is a drag.

Color copies are virtually the same as the original (actually, I can't
tell the difference). And its very fast.

The software package is comparable to many higher end multi-function
printers.

The only gripe I have with Epson is that the unit is advertised as a
48-bit scanner. However, their Epson Smart Panel software package
only allows up to 24-bit scanning. When I asked Epson about this they
said that only three 3rd party software applications support 48-bit
scanning (adobe photoshop 7 being one of them). I think they should
have had the 48-bit software scanning built into the package if
they're going to advertise it as a 48-bit scanner. Truthfully, I
don't know how much of a difference it will make however unless I can
see a comparison of the two formats.

Bottom line: I love this multifunction printer and have no regrets
whatsoever about purchasing it.

 

[wayne]

Actually, I believe there is no performance difference between the
cx5400 and cx6200. Except, that the cx6200 has media slots and has
security features that allow only certain people to use it... such as
in a Dorm room environment where you don't want your roommates to be
able to use the printer without your consent.

The comparison sheet is at:
http://www.epson.com/cmc_upload/0/000/025/863/CX5400_FamilyComparison.pdf

Another point I wanted to share with the previous post is that the ink
on each print is completely dry by the time it finishes printing
thanks to epson's pigment based Durabrite ink. I printed a color
picture and rubbed the paper with my thumb and No SMUDGES!

 

[Clark W. Griswold, Jr.]

The ink is different in the 6400 it uses the "new" Durabrite ink...
It doesn't print well on regular glossy paper

Which is exactly what my CX5400 uses and it does photos quite nicely. Perhaps
you are thinking of the CX5200?

 

[NCHA]

Which is exactly what my CX5400 uses and it does photos quite nicely. Perhaps
you are thinking of the CX5200?

Yes they are both Durabrite. But, the newest line in the C series of
Epson printers uses a new Durabrite ink.. Much brighter, in fact it has its
own glossy paper now, if put on regular glossy paper the ink will sit in
the gloss layer not on the actual paper.

 

[Clark W. Griswold, Jr.]

Yes they are both Durabrite. But, the newest line in the C series of
Epson printers uses a new Durabrite ink.. Much brighter, in fact it has its
own glossy paper now, if put on regular glossy paper the ink will sit in
the gloss layer not on the actual paper.

I will have to try the Epson paper. I've been pleased with the JetPrint photo
paper I've been using.