Replacement printer comments

[Mickey]

Recently got a new and much nicer camera and was giving thought to
replacing the old Canon i860. It's still printing well but does have
some miles on it.

Was thinking of going with a 6 color printer. This past week I looked
at the Canon 6700D. Pictures looked fantastic and from all I read these
are much improved over the older 6 color models. On the newer model
with the latest print engine I understand there has been a lot of
progress in blk text printing over previous models. The down side is
fussing with the chipped cart if you are a refiller and I am. What's
the latest on the chipped front?

Noticed someone not far away has a Canon 6000D for sale on Craigs list
and has only been use a couple times. Asking $50. Have read a lot of
favorable user comments on this model. It doesn't have the latest and
greatest printer engine but also doesn't used chipped carts. Haven't
contacted the selling party as I'd be interested in knowing how long
since last used and whether carts are still in place. Concerned about
plugged PH. Might hang onto the i860 for text printing if I bought
something like this.

While into Fry's last week I noticed they had a pile of Epson R260 a dye
based printer for $50. Did some reading up on them as I've never been
an Epson owner. Read a couple reviews and numerous user reviews.
Reviews say picture output is top qlty. Carts are somewhat small. On
the user reviews it was either love or hate. Most all the glowing
comments came from people that mostly used it for printing on CD/DVD's.
Almost universally the negative comments came from the more serious
users. The printer is an ink hog and due to recent changes to the chip,
no 3rd party carts or even refilling. One in depth user review said the
printer was using so much ink that with using OEM ink at retail prices
prints were costing >$3/ea. I don't know! Wondering what the story
actually is.

Just beginning to give thought to changing printers but if I stay in the
$100 price range, it might be smart to stay with the i860 I currently have.

Mickey

 

[Michael Johnson]

Recently got a new and much nicer camera and was giving thought to
replacing the old Canon i860. It's still printing well but does have
some miles on it.

<snip>

Just beginning to give thought to changing printers but if I stay in the
$100 price range, it might be smart to stay with the i860 I currently have.

I would keep the i860 and run it until the wheels fall off of it. There
are four Canon BCI-6 cartridge based printers in our house and I plan to
use them all until they die. When that happens I'll probably try and
find used or refurbished replacements of the same model.

If you by new then Canon is the best choice, IMO, for lowest cost
operation. The chipped cartridges can be refilled easily and the
printer will accept them and run normally with the exception of the low
ink warning system being disabled.

 

[zakezuke]

Recently got a new and much nicer camera and was giving thought to
replacing the old Canon i860. It's still printing well but does have
some miles on it.

Was thinking of going with a 6 color printer. This past week I looked
at the Canon 6700D. Pictures looked fantastic and from all I read these
are much improved over the older 6 color models. On the newer model
with the latest print engine I understand there has been a lot of
progress in blk text printing over previous models. The down side is
fussing with the chipped cart if you are a refiller and I am. What's
the latest on the chipped front?

Noticed someone not far away has a Canon 6000D for sale on Craigs list
and has only been use a couple times. Asking $50. Have read a lot of
favorable user comments on this model. It doesn't have the latest and
greatest printer engine but also doesn't used chipped carts. Haven't
contacted the selling party as I'd be interested in knowing how long
since last used and whether carts are still in place. Concerned about
plugged PH. Might hang onto the i860 for text printing if I bought
something like this.

I was not a fan of the ip6000D. It had a smaller head than the older
i960. but still $50 is a reasonable price.

The i860 is still a fine printer, on par with the ip4000 in many ways
save some extra features like dual trays. Text has not really
improved for many years, though the ip4300/4500 does have a larger
head and text print times would be improved.

Near as i'm aware there is still no consumer chip reset option.

While into Fry's last week I noticed they had a pile of Epson R260 a dye
based printer for $50. Did some reading up on them as I've never been
an Epson owner. Read a couple reviews and numerous user reviews.
Reviews say picture output is top qlty. Carts are somewhat small. On
the user reviews it was either love or hate. Most all the glowing
comments came from people that mostly used it for printing on CD/DVD's.

The epson store offers referb printers cheaply, but not as cheap as
$50.
http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/BuyEpson/ccProductCategory.jsp?BV_UseBVCookie=yes&oid=-13267

My reference was with the r200 which in all fairness usually did a
better job on cd printing than my ip3000/ip5200 with less tweeking.
I've not seen the r260 in action but based on past experience Epsons
are rather stellar on photos. I have a beast 1520 still in service
and a 1280.

Almost universally the negative comments came from the more serious
users. The printer is an ink hog and due to recent changes to the chip,
no 3rd party carts or even refilling. One in depth user review said the
printer was using so much ink that with using OEM ink at retail prices
prints were costing >$3/ea. I don't know! Wondering what the story
actually is.

Technically both are rather inkhogs for different reasons. The epsons
use a pump to suck ink out of the head. Canons seem to use a lighter
dye and seems to use more of it. To prime the epson you waste a good
deal of ink.

I'm out of touch with the current generation of Epsons, I imagine they
have new chips requiring a new reset procedure.

Just beginning to give thought to changing printers but if I stay in the
$100 price range, it might be smart to stay with the i860 I currently have.

The main reason I went canon over epson was I needed a general purpose
printer, something to do CDs, Text, and photos. The current
generation of Canons is an improvement over the i860 series in terms
of color rendering, esp skin tones. The reason I upgraded to the
ip5200 was to see kanji at very small fonts on CDs.

The best thing you can do is try for your self, pickup some photo
paper and ask your friendly neighborhood store to print images from
your camera. Odds are they'll agree so long as you leave your images
there. See for your self if it's worth the investment.

 

[Mickey]

Fry's has refurbed 6700's for $89, not a bad buy. Asking $119 for new.
Not sure how much of a gamble going refurb Vs new actually is. refurb
only has 90 day warranty. Can get a 2 yr warranty for the refurb for
$20. This is a replacement for what every is the nearest current model
and not a repair warranty. One might come out on top if the refurb went
belly up near the end of the warranty period as I suspect there would be
a newer model out by that time.

I was not a fan of the ip6000D. It had a smaller head than the older
i960. but still $50 is a reasonable price.

Smaller in what way?

The i860 is still a fine printer, on par with the ip4000 in many ways
save some extra features like dual trays. Text has not really
improved for many years, though the ip4300/4500 does have a larger
head and text print times would be improved.

I wasn't thinking of replacing for another 5 color printer. Don't think
I'd see any improvements in print qlty.

Near as i'm aware there is still no consumer chip reset option.



The epson store offers referb printers cheaply, but not as cheap as
$50.
http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/BuyEpson/ccProductCategory.jsp?BV_UseBVCookie=yes&oid=-13267

I was mistaken on the $50 price for the R260. Was close by Fry's today
and went in for another look. Price is more like $75.

My reference was with the r200 which in all fairness usually did a
better job on cd printing than my ip3000/ip5200 with less tweeking.
I've not seen the r260 in action but based on past experience Epsons
are rather stellar on photos. I have a beast 1520 still in service
and a 1280.


Technically both are rather inkhogs for different reasons. The epsons
use a pump to suck ink out of the head. Canons seem to use a lighter
dye and seems to use more of it. To prime the epson you waste a good
deal of ink.

I'm out of touch with the current generation of Epsons, I imagine they
have new chips requiring a new reset procedure.


The main reason I went canon over epson was I needed a general purpose
printer, something to do CDs, Text, and photos. The current
generation of Canons is an improvement over the i860 series in terms
of color rendering, esp skin tones. The reason I upgraded to the
ip5200 was to see kanji at very small fonts on CDs.

The best thing you can do is try for your self, pickup some photo
paper and ask your friendly neighborhood store to print images from
your camera. Odds are they'll agree so long as you leave your images
there. See for your self if it's worth the investment.

Mickey

 

[zakezuke]

zakezuke wrote:

Smaller in what way?

[i960 printhead]
http://www.steves-digicams.com/2003_reviews/canon_i960_pg2.html
[ip6000 printhead]
http://www.steves-digicams.com/2004_reviews/canon_ip6000d_pg2.html

Fewer nozzles taking up a lower surface area meaning more strokes per
page, and a greater chance of inconsistency between strokes.

I wasn't thinking of replacing for another 5 color printer. Don't think
I'd see any improvements in print qlty.

[Steve's digicams conclusion]
http://www.steves-digicams.com/2005_reviews/canon_ip5200_pg4.html
"The iP5200 is another of Canon's 5-color printers that leaves me
wondering why I own and use the 8-color i9900. When I see just how
good the photo prints look when using only the three primary colors
(cyan, magenta and yellow), I don't know why I need those other ink
colors, or the added expense."

This being said, I can at least see an improvement with the ip6600D...
more over an equal distribution of nozzles, vs the 5 take models which
only offer smaller drops on cyan/magenta, not small black or yellow.
This can be seen on some photo papers.

I don't have an 8 tank canon to fairly contrast, so I can't dispute or
concur with Steve's conclusion.

I was mistaken on the $50 price for the R260. Was close by Fry's today
and went in for another look. Price is more like $75.

Ok, the epson store offers that model, referbished for $60. I have to
check on the current price of ink, but in the past they offered models
like the r200/r220 for less than the ink it came with.

 

[Cal Bubba]

Anything to keep out of the Fry's madhouse or especially to avoid the
madness of dealing with them after the sale is fine with me.

Bubbbbba

 

[Mickey]

Thanks for the links.

Mickey

zakezuke wrote:
Smaller in what way?

[i960 printhead]
http://www.steves-digicams.com/2003_reviews/canon_i960_pg2.html
[ip6000 printhead]
http://www.steves-digicams.com/2004_reviews/canon_ip6000d_pg2.html

Fewer nozzles taking up a lower surface area meaning more strokes per
page, and a greater chance of inconsistency between strokes.

I wasn't thinking of replacing for another 5 color printer. Don't think
I'd see any improvements in print qlty.

[Steve's digicams conclusion]
http://www.steves-digicams.com/2005_reviews/canon_ip5200_pg4.html
"The iP5200 is another of Canon's 5-color printers that leaves me
wondering why I own and use the 8-color i9900. When I see just how
good the photo prints look when using only the three primary colors
(cyan, magenta and yellow), I don't know why I need those other ink
colors, or the added expense."

This being said, I can at least see an improvement with the ip6600D...
more over an equal distribution of nozzles, vs the 5 take models which
only offer smaller drops on cyan/magenta, not small black or yellow.
This can be seen on some photo papers.

I don't have an 8 tank canon to fairly contrast, so I can't dispute or
concur with Steve's conclusion.

I was mistaken on the $50 price for the R260. Was close by Fry's today
and went in for another look. Price is more like $75.

Ok, the epson store offers that model, referbished for $60. I have to
check on the current price of ink, but in the past they offered models
like the r200/r220 for less than the ink it came with.

 

[measekite]

Recently got a new and much nicer camera and was giving thought to
replacing the old Canon i860. It's still printing well but does have
some miles on it.

Was thinking of going with a 6 color printer. This past week I looked
at the Canon 6700D. Pictures looked fantastic and from all I read
these are much improved over the older 6 color models. On the newer
model with the latest print engine I understand there has been a lot
of progress in blk text printing over previous models. The down side
is fussing with the chipped cart if you are a refiller and I am.
What's the latest on the chipped front?

There may be some improvement of this model when compared to the IP4300
but that depends on the photo and if the colors present require the
additional shades. It also depends of using Canon ink. If not it
really does not make any difference.

Noticed someone not far away has a Canon 6000D for sale on Craigs list
and has only been use a couple times. Asking $50. Have read a lot of
favorable user comments on this model. It doesn't have the latest and
greatest printer engine but also doesn't used chipped carts. Haven't
contacted the selling party as I'd be interested in knowing how long
since last used and whether carts are still in place. Concerned about
plugged PH. Might hang onto the i860 for text printing if I bought
something like this.

While into Fry's last week I noticed they had a pile of Epson R260 a
dye based printer for $50. Did some reading up on them as I've never
been an Epson owner. Read a couple reviews and numerous user reviews.
Reviews say picture output is top qlty.

We tested the R300 (almost the same) against a Canon IP4000. The Canon
produced better results much faster.

 

[measekite]

Fry's has refurbed 6700's for $89, not a bad buy. Asking $119 for new.

For $30 I would rather have new.

Not sure how much of a gamble going refurb Vs new actually is. refurb
only has 90 day warranty. Can get a 2 yr warranty for the refurb for
$20.

Thats dumb. Noe you can get new for $10.00 more.

 

[zakezuke]

We tested the R300 (almost the same) against a Canon IP4000. The Canon
produced better results much faster.

The r380/r260/r280 are at least a leap forward. The drop size has
reduced to as low as 1.5pl and epson at least claims dark storage on
the new Claria inks as 200 years. Looks like they are offering low
and high capacity tanks. Not clear of the size vs last generation
single capacity option.

While you can get a good deal from the epson store referb, the r2600,
r280 & r380 are being offered with a $75 mail in rebate new, $90, $109
& $120 out of pocket including shipping.