looking for a practical home printer

For serious work I take my files over to the photo shop and have them
print them on the big Kodak printer, but like most folks I
occasionally need to print stuff at home. I currently have a somewhat
elderly Epson C86 printer and every time I try to use the durn thing I
find the ink has dried up and I have to buy new cartridges. This
increases the cost-per-page to the point where I wonder why I have a
printer at all.

My in-laws have a different model Epson Stylus and has had the same
experiences -- the thing seems to use up ink whether you use it or
not, and the head cleaning routine can use up to a third of a
cartridge all by itself.

Is there a desktop printer out there that has a reasonable shelf life?
I looked at color laser printers, but they don't have the resolution.
What do you use?

I asked my supplier, and she thought the HP inkjets did better on ink
conservation. Any opinions?


Ron
-
http://www.christianfamilywebsite.com
http://www.ronaldchristian.com
Definition: Nelp: Contraction of "no help". Colloquial: Help
messages that are of no help whatsoever. Pertains to help files,
messages or documentation that convey no useful information, or
pedantically repeat the blindingly obvious.

I work for the electronics department of a major retailer and have previously
provided computer support professionally.

I tell all my customers this when asked.

Lexmark Ink - Most expensive ink.
HP Ink - Next most expensive ink.
Epson, Canon, Kodak - Least expensive ink.

I also tell them to print a test page at least once a month. If nothing else
works pick a certain day of the month and do it on that day.

Some thing I don't tell everybody is that Epson and Canon refill ink is
easily available along with refillable cartriages.

Have a good day.

William Hathaway

--
Message posted via http://www.photokb.com

Ronald O. Christian wrote:
For serious work I take my files over to the photo shop and have them
print them on the big Kodak printer, but like most folks I
occasionally need to print stuff at home. I currently have a somewhat
elderly Epson C86 printer and every time I try to use the durn thing I
find the ink has dried up and I have to buy new cartridges. This
increases the cost-per-page to the point where I wonder why I have a
printer at all.

My in-laws have a different model Epson Stylus and has had the same
experiences -- the thing seems to use up ink whether you use it or
not, and the head cleaning routine can use up to a third of a
cartridge all by itself.

Is there a desktop printer out there that has a reasonable shelf life?
I looked at color laser printers, but they don't have the resolution.
What do you use?

I asked my supplier, and she thought the HP inkjets did better on ink
conservation. Any opinions?


Ron

I can't comment on conservation of ink, since my wife runs through
cartridges like most people do a 6pack of Miller, but I have never had a
problem with ink drying out. I have two HP all-in-one printers online
now, and they both do well on the printing end. My wife's gets rather
hard use, and aside from an occasional feed problem envelopes, it works
well. I have had 5 or 6 HP printers over the years, and all have worked
well.
You might also check out the new Kodak printers as they seem to get a
lot of mileage out of their cheaper cartridges, and have pigment ink
which is supposed to have a long use life.

Ronald O. Christian wrote:
For serious work I take my files over to the photo shop and have them
print them on the big Kodak printer, but like most folks I
occasionally need to print stuff at home. I currently have a somewhat
elderly Epson C86 printer and every time I try to use the durn thing I
find the ink has dried up and I have to buy new cartridges. This
increases the cost-per-page to the point where I wonder why I have a
printer at all.

My in-laws have a different model Epson Stylus and has had the same
experiences -- the thing seems to use up ink whether you use it or
not, and the head cleaning routine can use up to a third of a
cartridge all by itself.

Is there a desktop printer out there that has a reasonable shelf life?
I looked at color laser printers, but they don't have the resolution.
What do you use?

I asked my supplier, and she thought the HP inkjets did better on ink
conservation. Any opinions?

For non-serious work, get a two cartridge HP printer, and buy the
Rhinotek cartridges, or get refilled cartridges at Cartridge World.
Cartridge World will usually just do an exchange, you don't have to wait
around for them to try to get your own cartridge to work (at least on
the more popular cartridges).

Actually for non-serious work, virtually every local chain drug store
now offers 4x6 prints for less than 20¢ each, so I print less and less
myself. Walgreen's typically has prints ready in 10 minutes after I
upload them to their site. Also very useful for sending photos to
relatives, I just choose a Walgreen's near them.

On Dec 9, 10:55 pm, "William Hathaway via PhotoKB.com" u15201@uwe
wrote

I also tell them to print a test page at least once a month. If nothing else
works pick a certain day of the month and do it on that day.


William Hathaway

I had to have my Canon cleaned after an ink clog, and the tech there
recommended a test sheet or something each WEEK. Since I have been
doing that, I have had no more problems.

Didn't Epson at one time have a function that periodically went
through a head cleaning on its own?

On Sun, 09 Dec 2007 20:10:26 -0800, Ronald O. Christian wrote:


For serious work I take my files over to the photo shop and have them
print them on the big Kodak printer, but like most folks I
occasionally need to print stuff at home. I currently have a somewhat
elderly Epson C86 printer and every time I try to use the durn thing I
find the ink has dried up and I have to buy new cartridges. This
increases the cost-per-page to the point where I wonder why I have a
printer at all.

My in-laws have a different model Epson Stylus and has had the same
experiences -- the thing seems to use up ink whether you use it or
not, and the head cleaning routine can use up to a third of a
cartridge all by itself.

Is there a desktop printer out there that has a reasonable shelf life?
I looked at color laser printers, but they don't have the resolution.
What do you use?

I asked my supplier, and she thought the HP inkjets did better on ink
conservation. Any opinions?

We have an Epson R320 - separate ink tanks and all that. Had it for
nearing two years now and never had any problem. Have never had to clean
the heads as with previous printers. We use it quite sparingly - sometimes
going three months or more without using it. FWIW - also have a Brother
laser printer for routine printing.




Ron
-
http://www.christianfamilywebsite.com
http://www.ronaldchristian.com
Definition: Nelp: Contraction of "no help". Colloquial: Help
messages that are of no help whatsoever. Pertains to help files,
messages or documentation that convey no useful information, or
pedantically repeat the blindingly obvious.

? "Ronald O. Christian" ?????? ??? ??????
...

For serious work I take my files over to the photo shop and have them
print them on the big Kodak printer, but like most folks I
occasionally need to print stuff at home. I currently have a somewhat
elderly Epson C86 printer and every time I try to use the durn thing I
find the ink has dried up and I have to buy new cartridges. This
increases the cost-per-page to the point where I wonder why I have a
printer at all.

My in-laws have a different model Epson Stylus and has had the same
experiences -- the thing seems to use up ink whether you use it or
not, and the head cleaning routine can use up to a third of a
cartridge all by itself.

Is there a desktop printer out there that has a reasonable shelf life?
I looked at color laser printers, but they don't have the resolution.
What do you use?

I asked my supplier, and she thought the HP inkjets did better on ink
conservation. Any opinions?


Ron
-
http://www.christianfamilywebsite.com
http://www.ronaldchristian.com
Definition: Nelp: Contraction of "no help". Colloquial: Help
messages that are of no help whatsoever. Pertains to help files,
messages or documentation that convey no useful information, or
pedantically repeat the blindingly obvious.
I have a Canon Pixma iP4300-almost a year and no problems.Occasionaly use,
maybe once a month.Also the all in one Lexmark F4270, which I have the
cartridges refilled.The Lexmark z605 which I refill the cartridges myself
with generic ink.The canon has 5 ink tanks, I use original ink, 15 euros for
13 ml.The printer head is separate, and disposable.To make sure that your
printer doesn't clog up, print a 4X5" photo every month.The Lexmark ink
cartridges can be refilled up to 10 times, FWIW.
Just my 2 cents.....



--
Tzortzakakis Dimitrios
major in electrical engineering
mechanized infantry reservist
hordad AT otenet DOT gr

Ronald O. Christian wrote:
For serious work I take my files over to the photo shop and have them
print them on the big Kodak printer, but like most folks I
occasionally need to print stuff at home. I currently have a somewhat
elderly Epson C86 printer and every time I try to use the durn thing I
find the ink has dried up and I have to buy new cartridges. This
increases the cost-per-page to the point where I wonder why I have a
printer at all.

My in-laws have a different model Epson Stylus and has had the same
experiences -- the thing seems to use up ink whether you use it or
not, and the head cleaning routine can use up to a third of a
cartridge all by itself.

Is there a desktop printer out there that has a reasonable shelf life?
I looked at color laser printers, but they don't have the resolution.
What do you use?

I asked my supplier, and she thought the HP inkjets did better on ink
conservation. Any opinions?

Drying out or plugging of the print head is VERY much less
of a problem with HP inkjet printers printers.



Ron
-
http://www.christianfamilywebsite.com
http://www.ronaldchristian.com
Definition: Nelp: Contraction of "no help". Colloquial: Help
messages that are of no help whatsoever. Pertains to help files,
messages or documentation that convey no useful information, or
pedantically repeat the blindingly obvious.

SMS 斯蒂文• � wrote:
Ronald O. Christian wrote:
For serious work I take my files over to the photo shop and have them
print them on the big Kodak printer, but like most folks I
occasionally need to print stuff at home. I currently have a somewhat
elderly Epson C86 printer and every time I try to use the durn thing I
find the ink has dried up and I have to buy new cartridges. This
increases the cost-per-page to the point where I wonder why I have a
printer at all.

My in-laws have a different model Epson Stylus and has had the same
experiences -- the thing seems to use up ink whether you use it or
not, and the head cleaning routine can use up to a third of a
cartridge all by itself.

Is there a desktop printer out there that has a reasonable shelf life?
I looked at color laser printers, but they don't have the resolution.
What do you use?

I asked my supplier, and she thought the HP inkjets did better on ink
conservation. Any opinions?

For non-serious work, get a two cartridge HP printer, and buy the
Rhinotek cartridges, or get refilled cartridges at Cartridge World.
Cartridge World will usually just do an exchange, you don't have to wait
around for them to try to get your own cartridge to work (at least on
the more popular cartridges).

Actually for non-serious work, virtually every local chain drug store
now offers 4x6 prints for less than 20¢ each, so I print less and less
myself. Walgreen's typically has prints ready in 10 minutes after I
upload them to their site. Also very useful for sending photos to
relatives, I just choose a Walgreen's near them.

Walgreen's also has a cartridge refill service, although I haven't
gotten around to trying it yet.

Don Stauffer in Minnesota wrote:
On Dec 9, 10:55 pm, "William Hathaway via PhotoKB.com" u15201@uwe
wrote
I also tell them to print a test page at least once a month. If nothing else
works pick a certain day of the month and do it on that day.


William Hathaway

I had to have my Canon cleaned after an ink clog, and the tech there
recommended a test sheet or something each WEEK. Since I have been
doing that, I have had no more problems.

Didn't Epson at one time have a function that periodically went
through a head cleaning on its own?



Don't know about Epson, but HP printers seem to do that.