[wheedwacker]

I'm looking at getting a printer.

I would like to get a wide format (11x17in) printer. The best two I could find were the Epson Stylus 1400 and the Canon PIXMA Pro9000. All of the HP printers for this size seemed to have really bad reviews.

Any comparisons for those?

Also, one of my goals is getting a printer that can print an 8x10" for around $2 (preferably less). I would like 11x17s to be less than around $4. Do those printers cost about that much per print?

Also, I need a printer that prints B&W text well. Most of my printers will be either B&W text or things like this ( Threadless T-Shirts - Victor Terrintop Print by Nicholas Tassone ), not actual photos.

Any comments on quality?

If it isn't possible to get them that cheap, I'll have to look into printers that only print up to 8.5x11in. Any recommendation on those?

Thank you.

EDIT:
I also need something that lets me print at reduced quality.

[tomson]

This is a great site for reviews - the guy really goes into a lot of detail and spends a decent amount of time using each printer. photo-i


You say the HP printers are getting bad press - got any links? I'm looking at getting something in the next few weeks and the HP B9180 is currently top of my list (big ink tanks being a major plus point) followed by the Epson R2880. But my main output will be photos.

[wheedwacker]

Thanks, great links.

For the HP B9180 I can only find good reviews. I should have said that there were no good HPs in my price range ($2-400ish)

For ones that didn't seem good I meant like the HP Deskjet 9800. The HPs in my price range just seem to be getting much worse reviews than the Epson and Canon. Newegg, Amazon, CNET, and more. Not the best place for reviews, but some people wrote really long negative reviews, which says to me that they had enough trouble with it to want to write those reviews.

And many of their negative comments are reflected in other comments. It is hard to go by what people's comments on sites like Newegg and Amazon, but if they have a lot of consistency, I tend to believe even those non-experts (in most cases).

If anyone else here has had a positive experience with the HP Deskjet 9800, please let me know.

[Do Gooder]

we have the epson 1400.

no complaints beyond the silly cost of ink. installing a CIS (contious ink system) this week. should keep the prices down.

here's the thread discussing it's purchase if it's any help.
anyone recommend an a3 inkjet?

[wheedwacker]

Originally Posted by Do Gooder

we have the epson 1400.

no complaints beyond the silly cost of ink. installing a CIS (contious ink system) this week. should keep the prices down.

here's the thread discussing it's purchase if it's any help.
anyone recommend an a3 inkjet?

How many pages of what type of prints do you go through for the ink?

Also, you said in your post something about cheaper paper. Does the Epson 1400 print fine on cheaper media? Like text or text with a few graphics?

And I posted this thread despite the many other Epson 1400 posts because I couldn't find anything useful on the Canon. However, It seems that everyone likes the Epson except for the price of ink. And I can't find a place that says about X amount for this kind of print, etc.

[Do Gooder]

it guzzles the stuff! but i gamble there's a good chance epson under-fill the inks supplied with the machine. so difficult to judge just now.

the thing asked for 'light magenta' after around 6 best quality A3+ posters. .. all with heavy ink coverage.

if you get a CIS system.. make sure it is one with a good 'chip' to fool the printers cash grabbing electronics

[wheedwacker]

Originally Posted by Do Gooder

the thing asked for 'light magenta' after around 6 best quality A3+ posters. .. all with heavy ink coverage.

Ouch.

The CIS looks great. I'm in the US, so I was looking at the ones at SuperToBuy: Continuous Ink System,CIS,CISS,Fish Motion Lamp,Refillable Cartridge,Trinket Box,Bulk Ink,Digital Photo Frame,Motion Light,Compact Mirror,Makeup Mirror,Fountain,Volcano Lamp,digital photo viewer,Crystal Base,Bulbs, Continuous Inking Syste

Only problem is that to buy the CIS and some refill inks would drive the price up to the $450 range right near the start.

I'll probably have to look at something more economical in the long run

[Do Gooder]

can say, that whatever you do... inkjets are expensive. the paper alone is bloody expensive.

our pitches now look stunning though. the hope is that it will pay for itself.

(crosses fingers)

[wheedwacker]

The CIS system looks great though. Seems like it would make the ink usage less costly than printers that would have been cheaper before.

The extra investment would probably pay off big in the long run

[tomson]

Originally Posted by Do Gooder

no complaints beyond the silly cost of ink. installing a CIS (contious ink system) this week. should keep the prices down.

Which one?

I had a read up on a few and the only thing that puts me off is the quality (accuracy, light fastness etc) of the inks - as expensive as they are, own brand inks usually perform better than 3rd party one, which is what a CIS will be using. The high end Epsons (3800 etc) have big ink tanks but the actual printers are a out of my price range. Bastards.

[Do Gooder]

in spades! [i hope, still to fit the thing.]

[wheedwacker]

At this site: photo-i • View topic - Actual Ink Use Calculations
Those prices don't look bad, and that's with buying actual ink. I could already afford that.

[Do Gooder]

Originally Posted by tomson

Which one?

I had a read up on a few and the only thing that puts me off is the quality (accuracy, light fastness etc) of the inks - as expensive as they are, own brand inks usually perform better than 3rd party one, which is what a CIS will be using. The high end Epsons (3800 etc) have big ink tanks but the actual printers are a out of my price range. Bastards.

Will dig up the details tomorrow.

I'm not worried about light fastness as we use it for pitch shit - but the accuracy will be interesting to see... i expect a slight degradation. i will keep you posted on how shit it goes!

[wheedwacker]

As long as the degradation isn't that bad, I'll be getting one. With the CIS, it would be well worth it.

I don't need perfect quality. Most of the stuff will be personal projects and photos and stuff for me.

[tomson]

I ordered a B9180 today. Found this CIS system for it. Seems to fit the bill in terms of ink quality so might splash out on one when funds allow.

[wheedwacker]

I got the Epson, not sure about the quality yet. Text quality isn't that good, but I have some lousy paper; I'm going to get some better normal paper and some non-generic photo paper and see the results then.

[Do Gooder]

guess it must be postscript processing.. but vector keylines and small type arn't great on inkjets i have used.. lasers are far better. the inkjets are pin sharp on the photo paper.. but BITMAP jaggy on close inspection.

[wheedwacker]

If the photo quality improves with photo paper and the normal printing improves with Epson Bright White paper, then I'll order the CIS and keep it.

However, with my current stuff it isn't that good at all. If it doesn't improve, I'll probably have to return it. It should get better though.

[Do Gooder]

the paper makes ALL the difference... hang in there!

[wheedwacker]

Found some Avery paper in the drawers and drawers of random paper I have. Printed a 4x6in, and it worked perfectly, first time. Looks splendid. Unlike the other cheaper (and older) glossy paper, this actually worked. Great results. Time to order more paper that's better, and it will be fine. I have a CIS to order too.

I'm not going to have to return it after all.