ofc2- said:
I just use it whenever I have to -- which is once every 1-2 months. It has
never clogged yet, and I am still on the original cartridges. My printer is
a HP Photosmart 7350.
EPSON:
I dont recommend any EPSON printer unless you are going to use it every
few days, and NEVER un-plug it, and NEVER hook it to a power strip that
will be switched off. If you have a power outage that lasts more than a
few hours, make sure to run a cleaning cycle on any Epson printer.
Being plugged into a live outlet is of PRIMARY IMPORTANCE, as even
though the printer is switched off, the circuitry is keeping track of
the printer. (this uses power at the rate of PENNIES a month even with
the most expensive utility companies) If Epson printers are left un-
powered long enough, they will run a complete purge cycle to clear the
heads... Thats the same as the cycle they run the very first time they
are fired up, and it uses BUCKETS of ink.
For every person who has never had a clogged-up EPSON there are ten who
have had 'em clog up. (mostly for the above reasons)
If I dont use my EPSONS for more than a day or two, I just run at least
one cleaning cycle on them before printing, It prevents wasting
expensive paper.(I prefer wasting 25 cents worth of ink over wasting a
$3.00 sheet of archive grade Matte paper which I sometimes use).
CANON:
Not nearly so touchy as the EPSONS, but still sensitive to laying around
un-used. I try to make sure I use my CANON printers at LEAST every other
day for something or other. Also NEVER un-plug or use a power strip to
shut it down, for pretty much the same reasons as above.
Same thing goes with the Canons, as with the Epsons for treatment after
non-use or long power outage, but with the Canons I run the cleaning
cycle after a WEEK instead of after a couple of days.
There are methods and products for clearing bad clogs on BOTH Epson and
Canon heads, but since this seems to be what you are trying to avoid, I
wont go into them here
For only occaisional use I recomend,
HP:
The reasons for these printers being so reliable is directly connected
to the high cost of ink cartridges for them.
Since the print-head is an integrated part of the ink cartridge, it gets
replaced when the cartridge wears out or clogs. For a printer that will
lay un-used most of the time, the HP line is the way to go, but be
aware, unless you get into re-filling the cartridges, consumables for
the HP are VERY HIGH IN PRICE!
You are far more likely to have an HP die by wearing out the paper feed
mechanism than any other failure (burned out power supply is 2nd).
I only mention these failures because they are the only way I know of to
kill an HP printer not because of frequency, as they dont seem to happen
often.
LEXMARK:
I dont recommend LEXMARK to anyone, for any reason EVER.
I own, and still use at least 2 (in some cases 3 or MORE) of each brand
mentioned in this post.
Larry Lynch
Mystic, Ct.
