I have been checking reviews and sites to choose an inkjet for photo prints, primarily reprints and/or retouched, cropped etc. scans from existing prints, possibly some photo CDs. (And some text also but my laser printer would cover text only work). My short list was pretty much the Epson 700 and a couple of the HPs. I've seen mostly really favorable reviews on the Epson output quality. The PC Mag on-line(?)review series (10-21-98?) that covered photo printers (the camera review process was considered inadequate or flawed by comments in this forum)seems to have come up with inconsistent results and recommendations compared to what I've seen on the photo print discussions, forums and even the PC Mag 11/3/98 print magazine review(After Hours). Were the printer results similarly flawed, poor paper choices, etc. Cost per page was given as $.12 which seems either to be ink only, or was not photo grade paper?? As I'm getting ready to make purchase, I'd like a "sanity check." I haven't really been able to really check output as most retail outlets machines of any sort are typically out of one or more ink colors from printing canned samples. Thanks for your comments.

-- Craig Gillette (cgillette@thegrid.net), January 13, 1999

Answers

You might want to check out http://www.leben.com/lists which has links to the Epson mailing list, very active.

Your question essentially has been discussed numerous times, the general consensus was that the review was so flawed, so untrue that essentially all future PC MAG reviews would be suspect.

I have used a Epson 700, currently own a Epson EX (larger format same print head, same 6 color inks). For stunning print quality I don't know on any printer that can match this printer.

Be AWARE however of one serious current flaw, the print life is limited, the print quality is great.

Shawn

-- Shawn Coggins (magpie@digisys.net), January 14, 1999.

Hi, I read your post. I am also looking to get the EX. But I was stopped in my tracks when you wrote that the print life was limited. Limited how long and why? Is there any solution to this problem or better printers? Thanks,' Ken

"Be AWARE however of one serious current flaw, the print life is limited, the print quality is great"

-- Ken Gray (kengray@televar.com), January 15, 1999.

Hi,

I read a test in a german magazine. They tested the fading of colourprints with several printers. Printouts with EPSON 740 will keep the colours much longer than Printouts with EPSON Photo 700. I bought an EPSON 740 for my mac and I am very happy with the photo quality. For Text prints the 740 is better than the Photo 700 but HP-Printers are IMO a lot better in speed an Text quality and even cheape

-- Th. Irion (thomas.irion@idnet.de), January 18, 1999.

A completely unconfirmed rumor, but supposedly the forthcoming Photo 750 printer from Epson will have twice the longevity of the Photo 700. All inkjet prints will fade to varying degrees in strong light. In my experience though, it takes a while, and some pretty strong light. If you have the picture in a window exposed to direct sun it could go pretty quickly (noticeable in a week or two), but if its on a wall in modest office or residential light, it will likely last years. Hope this helps.

-- Dave Etchells (hotnews@imaging-resource.com), January 23, 1999.

Thanks all. Dave just muddied my water's with the rumored Photo 750. (Actually it was Shawn's answering post that brought up the longevity issue, and I can deal with the longevity issues in my applications providing the quality is up where everything (except PC Mag) says it is.)Dave - you've been hiding? And do you have any more excrutiatingly unconfirmable details, like individual replaceable color ink supplies that would make a wait for a 750 worthwhile compared to the 700?? This fence is getting uncomfortable. Thanks again.

-- Craig Gillette (cgillette@thegrid.net), January 24, 1999.