Rant! Epson Printer

[CMonster]

2.5 years ago I bought an Epson Stylus Color 600 for $249

While it has served me well in it's light home use, the printhead has failed and a replacement part would cost (retail) $186...(if I do the labor)- the Epson 640 now sells for about $149 new... so I basically have only the shell of a printer.

I am going out today to buy an HP, they seem to hold up a little better from what I've heard.

[IRED]

HP's are junk,went through four brand new ones at work before we found one that lasted more than two weeks.That one lasted 32 days...2 days past the return date for the store.Can't remember the model # but it was in the $200 range.
Went out an got an Epson 440, prints B&W faster with better quality than the HP.Color was alot better to.Liked the 440 so much went out an got a 640.Have had no problems with either.

[This message has been edited by IRED (edited 08-20-99).]

[CMonster]

I used to recommend Epson printers. Once burned, always shy of a hot stove.

Needless to say I am pissed about my Epson and the excessive cost of replacement parts.

My new HP 812C ($199)works quietly and is quite fast (..and MUCH quieter than the Epson). The photo quality color detail is also good but, I must admit, not quite the same as 1440 of the Epson - the print heads are built into the ink cartridge, so I guess it is basically a high-end bubble jet. Replacement cartridges are $37-3color, and $28-B&W at local stores. I shall test this one over time...

On a more positive note for Epson, my neighbor's Stylus 400 still works after 3 years but they hardly ever use it.

[This message has been edited by CMonster (edited 08-20-99).]

[welsh wizard]

Hi
if of any help, I used to advise Epson but of late their quality control go to pot and I no longer supply with systems unless buyer insists,they now have the name HP had 2 or 3 years back, HP has come right back up in quality if you buying one make sure its not old stock, ( get the better quality controled manufactured ones)
Lexmark (IBM) are good quality and can be cheep or expensive depends on your pockets,
I also tend to advise customers to look for a printer that has the print head as part of the cartridge as it maintains the print quality longer, one draw back with HP and Lexmark is they both have long running patents on their cartridge design so you can't get cheeper pattern parts.
I hope this will help or activate some feed back

[smokin1]

I'm simply amazed that you had a computer part/peripheral that lasted 2.5 years
/forum/smile.gif

[rockinwy]

I used to have hp printers both older models one 640 and one 870cse, both worked were noisy and didnt print very well. I bought a lexmark z11 because of the price and may I say it has lived up to the reviews as the best printer under $200, and all for only $59, no rebate price at walmart, the one drawback is that it only uses one ink cartridge but for those wanting to spend a little more the dual ink model I have seen for around $120-$150 still less than a comparable hp or epson, print quality is comparible to an epson 740, I have the same pic printed on both on photo paper to prove it, only difference is a very slight line the lex leaves as the print head advances, but you really have to look to see that.

[Roy]

I've had continuing good performance from four refurbished Canon machines, three different models. One advantage with two models is separate ink tanks for each color and black. The downside with them is what CMonster has discovered. A new printhead costs as much as a new machine.

A new model from Canon is the BJC-6000. Faster, higher resolution and user replaceable printhead. I'm thinking about it.



[This message has been edited by Roy (edited 08-21-99).]

[CMonster]

Very funny Smokin1 /forum/smile.gif ..I know what you mean.

[welsh wizard]

To smokin1
You evidently never had an Atari or Amstrad
My 800XL. 130XE. Newal256XL,ST 520 and 1040's even AmstradXT are still clucking away, Newel 256 still running Eprom blower and the likes, however I must admit the following are dead Compact 286, 386, and Acer 486, strange all the latter IBM comp's are dead, while the so called lunatics computers are still clunking away! have we lost some thing with are tech advances.(you have to be an Atari fanatic to understand being called a loony :-)

[This message has been edited by welsh wizard (edited 08-23-99).]

[Carl Uman]

I have an Epson photo 700. No problems during the 1 year that I have had it but only used a little over 1 color and 1 black cartridge.

Two beefs that I have with the HP printers are 1) slow drying ink and 2) quality. They buy HPs at work and I really hate when I get that ink all over my hands. Also of the three that we have bought (that's all I know off) one has been replaced two times and still doesn't work. The first printed only a few pages before reporting empty black ink and the second reports a problem with some date stamp that they have placed in there new ink cartridges.

I would like to hear more about Lexmark printers. Do they have the problem the ink drying? the Epson is dry as soon as it comes out.

Carl