Getting SICK of Epson inkjets. Need advice big time.

[thirdlegstump]

Every single Epson inkjet I've worked with prints nasty looking horizontal lines unless I'm printing at max resolution etc. Problem with that is that the inks run out too fast and they aren't cheap to replace. Also I get pretty bad paper jams and misfeeds from time to time with Epson's heavy matte papers and other non standard paper. When they work, they are fantastic. But more often than that, I am having a problem of some sort and I am getting sick of it. So far I've owned the 1520, Photo EX, 1280 and the C80 and they all exhibit these stupid problems.

How are HP inkjets in general? I'm not talking about their real cheap crappy looking stuff. I'm thinking $150-400 range. I basically use inkjets to print high quality photos for brochures etc. The Epsons are just not cutting it. I've considered color inkjets but their output quality rather turns me off.

Thanks for any suggestions.

 

[AndyHui]

I always recommend Canon. The i860 for the midrange, and the i900D for the high end.

 

[MDE]

I've never had a problem with my Canon (S630). Ink is relatively cheap too (about $15 for black, $10 for each color) and the cartridges can be refilled if needed.

 

[holdencommodore]

Can't say that I've experienced this on my cheap C40SX, it does produce some pretty hairy looking text with bi-directional on, and sucks through the ink too. If I had the choice now, I'd definately go for a Canon.

Cheers

 

[Lonyo]

We got a HP 1160 to replace an Epson (we had 2 Epsons, one broke, the other wasn't too bad).

The HP is pretty good, and not too expensive. Not sure if it's high enough quality, but I haven't had a problem with HP (yet).

 

[Macro2]

Canon i560 (4 color), i860 (5 color) or i960 (6 color). Forget HP.

Canons can be run very cheaply by refilling or buying generics.

monsterinkjets.com
megatoners.com
tylermartin.com

Use ISO certified generics if possible.

Canon think-tanks also refill easily. these are the BCI-3 and BCI-6 tanks.

Lemmie know if you need refill supplies.

Mac

 

[Slogun]

I've considered color inkjets but their output quality rather turns me off.

Eh?

You will not be displeased with a Canon printer.

 

[thirdlegstump]

Originally posted by: Slogun

I've considered color inkjets but their output quality rather turns me off.

Eh?

You will not be displeased with a Canon printer.

Ack. It's a typo. I meant color laser.

So Canon is the way to go it seems....Last Canon I've owned was a BJ 610 many years ago. That thing was the biggest dunk of crap I've ever used. It would misfeed 9 out of 9.5 times I've printed...but I guess times have changed.

 

[Slogun]

Yea, Canon inkjets have apparently come a long way.
I hooked our S900 up to my wife's computer and she is ecstatic about how it prints photos.

I looked into a color laser recently. Entry level is $600 and is big and clunky, didn't even get as far as checking out picture quality.

A cheap monochrome laser is wise though for document output.
And at $99 after rebate, the Samsung ML-1710 is practically disposable.

 

[thirdlegstump]

Yea I've got an HP Laserjet 1150 for B&W use and it's surprisingly good quality and never a problem. If it does the same for color..then I wouldn't mind spending $4000 on one as long as output quality is decent.

The only problem with my laser so far is that rasterized images looks posterized. I wonder if color laserjets do the same or do they print more nicely like inkjets?

 

[Adul]

i'd stay away from HP

 

[sciencewhiz]

Originally posted by: Adul
i'd stay away from HP

Why? In my experience, HP's are the best supported, longest lasting printers. Ink costs more, but you have less problems. You get what you pay for.

 

[Macro2]

RE:"So Canon is the way to go it seems....Last Canon I've owned was a BJ 610 many years ago. That thing was the biggest dunk of crap I've ever used. It would misfeed 9 out of 9.5 times I've printed...but I guess times have changed"

Yes, they definitely have changed. Canons are the premire inkjets right now.

 

[Macro2]

RE:"Why? In my experience, HP's are the best supported, longest lasting printers. Ink costs more, but you have less problems. You get what you pay for."

HP support? I think that is an oxymoron isn't it? Long lasting? Hummm.

Never the less, Canon inkjets have many advantages over HP.

As far as get what you pay for, Canon inkjets tend to cost a bit more than the competition. Then again, they come with full cartridges and don't rape you on the costs of the cartridges. They don't even lie to you when they need to be replaced.
They are easily refilled and you can get generics for as low as $1.69 a cartridge. Meanwile at HP, you be paying about 12,000 dollars a gallon for ink and it will tell you you need a new cartridge when you have about 40% of your ink still left in the cartridge. Of course you can't see this because the tanks are not clear like Canons BCI-3 and BCI-6 INDIVIDUAL think tanks.

If you buy and HP and think you got a special deal just wait until you buy a couple of cartridges. You'll feel a little light in the wallet and like a real dumbkoff.

Other than maybe Lexmark, HP is the worse brand of inkjet to buy.


Mac

 

[thraxes]

C A N O N

I just love my i550

The newer consumer models that HP makes are really very cheaply put together. There are many reliability problems with them and cutomer satisfaction is not what it used to be with HP printers. Sure the high end is very good but otherwise they have gone downhill in the search of "Shareholder Value" - I just love that term -

 

[beatle]

Canon, baby! My i850 is a great piece of hardware. I haven't even put a dent in the ink tanks yet with my photo, map, and rebate printing in the 5 months I've owned it. The i860 is its replacement. The cartridges are replaceable and the print heads are as well.

 

[nanyangview]

HP = american capitalism at work

 

[JRez]

Another vote for Canon here! Yes, the BJC-6XX series had it's flaws (paper feed, poor ink management, non-end-user-replaceable printhead, etc), but that was a product of the late 90's. About 3 years ago, Canon brought out the BJC-6000 - the first in the line with the 6-color individual tanks which was superceded by the newest S and i series printers. The kinks of the past have essentially been ironed out. The low cost of consumables, high resolution, and small droplet size make Canon the best choice at this point.

As for HP - they USED to be the best. Back in the day of the LaserJet 4 & 5, they spent the money building a quality product that would stand the test of time. Their inkjets have become cheaper in build overall as time has passed. The last solidly built inkjet to come from HP, in all honesty, was the DeskJet 890C - they've been on a decline since then. Standard solid-color prints from the newer HP's pale in comparison to the competition.

Epson's current downfall is the amount of consumables used to produce a quality print. The print heads always need cleaned, theoutput is heavily dependent upon the medium used, and the ink is wasted if it's taken out of the print head prematurely. They're moving in the right direction with the individual inks (i.e. Canon), but they still have a way to go to get back up there...

Lexmark has just priced themselves way too high with respect to consumables. They used to be an attractive alternative to HP, but their cartridges (at full MSRP) are higher than anyone else's inks. B&W is incredible, but it just costs too much.

 

[oldfart]

I used to use Epson, and like everyone else, I got so sick of the clogged print head problems. They haven't changed. I was over a friends house recently and they were having the typical print head problem with their new Epson. I'll never touch one again.

I haven't ever owned a Canon printer, but will check them out next time I need one. I have a Canon camcorder, SLR, and two Canon digital cameras.

I have had great luck with my HP 970 that I have owned for ~ 4 years. I cant say a bad thing about it. Print quality is great, never a printing problem. It does warn me about low ink, but I just ignore it and keep on printing. Its 100X better than any Epson I ever owned.

 

[AndyK]

Another thumbs up for the Canons, I have an S820 (6-colour) which prints flawlessly despite the fact that I use a colour laser for everything bar photos so the 820 often spends a month+ between prints.
Ink is so cheap too, I pay £1.13+VAT per colour for generic carts in the UK.

Andy

 

[CraigRT]

Epson is such junk... I hate them so much... we have some here at work.... useless!

 

[SlickEddie]

I have an HP PhotoJet 7350. I've printed 2 reams of paper on my black cartridge (1000+ pages) and it just started telling me it's "low" i've been ignoring it and making it print. My photo and color ink haven't run out yet either. (HP gives full cartridges with their printers now) Quality is good. I've never had a problem with it. By far the best printer i've had. Had a Canon BJC 3000 before. And *shivers* a Lexmark before that(THE worst printer evar). I'll agree the HP customer service sucks. But in my experience, they're ink is a bit cheaper than others (used to work at Office Depot) except Lexmark. I like my HP. I liked my Canon.

 

[WalkingDead]

Just to make you feel better, the professional Epson large format inkjet printers that cost thousands also have all these problems.

Originally posted by: deathkoba
Every single Epson inkjet I've worked with prints nasty looking horizontal lines unless I'm printing at max resolution etc. Problem with that is that the inks run out too fast and they aren't cheap to replace. Also I get pretty bad paper jams and misfeeds from time to time with Epson's heavy matte papers and other non standard paper. When they work, they are fantastic. But more often than that, I am having a problem of some sort and I am getting sick of it. So far I've owned the 1520, Photo EX, 1280 and the C80 and they all exhibit these stupid problems.

 

[JohnPaul]

While I feel for you, I cannot say I have had any of the issues you have had with my CX3200 multifunction. Maybe yours is just a bit old.

 

[Chadder007]

I kinda like Lexmarks.
How is the consensus on them? Ive had trouble with HP's all the time at work, though the laserjets can't be beat.