We are about to buy a digital camera (see our other message posted earlier today).

As we have a Mac as well as a PC (Win 95) we are not restricted re cameras. But we want to buy a new printer so that we can produce prints as close as possible to 35mm-D&P-company standards.

As Epson make printers that are both PC- and Mac-compatible this seems the best bet manufacturer if we want to keep our options open re which computer system to stick with - does anyone strongly advise against Epson's duo-compatible printers, and does anyone particularly recommend one Epson printer model over another?

We could always buy a PC-camera and thus a PC-printer ... again does anyone have any strong advice re strengths and weaknesses of either Mac or PC computer systems - and associated printers - with respect to digital-camera systems?

The printer must also be good for general (letter writing, etc.) use, and not too pricey, nor with a large desktop footprint (lack of desk space!) ... so ... any good ideas anyone??

Thanks.

-- M (Web7943672@aol.com), June 20, 1999

Answers

I've been using Epson for close to eight years (+ - a few) I currently am using the PhotoStylus 700,at my studio, and I'm still using the much older Stylus Color at home. You simply can't do any better, for the price, than Epson.

-- Kirk Kief (kirk@gbso.net), June 20, 1999.

You'll need to make your own judgements and compromises. Color, photo, general correspondence, in which quantities and what sizes? Once you've made your best guesses, look for which printer is optimized for that use. I don't think the basic platform will be your problem. Pretty much everything in the way of accessories such as printers or cameras are compatible to either with care. I wouldn't try to switch back and forth. At my last workplace (major defense contractor) and at current school (major university) we use (d) both Macs and PCs. There were ongoing problems with file transfer, etc., even between supposedly fully compatible "office" software suites. In printers, a "jack of all trades" is master of none. This is what I have, on a relatively tight budget: a no-name 200 Mhz Pentium PC, a new Epson 750 printer for it's great photo capability (didn't need size capability of the 1200), my old laser printer, and a switch in the line between parallel port scanner and the printers. This allowed me to focus on optimal photo color output in the second printer. The 750 is not suited to steady use as a b/w printer. Inkjets are sensitive to paper used and print a wet page. A laser printer is optimized for general b/w use. This set-up does require desk space. I have shelving on felt & bricks on the desktop to slide the keyboard and scanner under one printer, monitor and CPU. The other printer is on a nearby bookcase. Spend as much time on furniture as you do equipment. If you need to do real writing, have enough flat space to do it. Many of the really compact and/or inexpensive (computer) desks don't have room to write. I had to compete for the kitchen table at times. In inkjet printers, the Epson Photo 750 and 1200 are the best for photos (6 vs 4 color, etc.) but are less than optimal speedwise and costwise for less critical color applications or b/w correspondence type use. If you are looking more for letter use, then color, then photo realism, some of the others may make you happier. Generalizing, in general use inkjets, above the real bottom of the line models, you gain speed and capacity as price goes up. The HP offerings are also good. I'd stick to the Epson and HP in the inkjets, if you do want to include a laser in the mix, you might want to check some of the magazines or websites for current reviews. Don't scrimp on the connecting gear. I used good Belkin cables and a Belkin switch. I've had no serious problems with my set-up. None of this is SCSI or USB. Other people have had trouble with stacking different products on the same parallel port. I do need to have the printer that is not in use powered off or the scanner has problems, so generally I leave both printers off until needed. Good luck!

-- Craig Gillette (cgillette@thegrid.net), June 20, 1999.

You mentioned 5 preferences of a printer in order of photo quality, platform, general usage, price & printer size. My experience with printers makes me believe that there is no such thing as a versatile printer. As long as your need is more than printing a plain b&w text output you will have to research for the best printer customized to your environment. For personal home publishing purpose only, at this time I have 4 printers. A cheap 6ppm b&w laser for documents. An Alps MD5000 for only special projects like heat transfer, labels and foil color printing. The Epson 1200 for photo and other general color printing. The Olympus P330 specially for 4X6 photos. Each has their own distint features others don't and I listed them in order from least use to most use. Now, if I can only keep one, it will be the Epson 1200 because it can perform all jobs of my other printers eventhough not as perfect. (Not foil printing though!) Seems that your highest priority is close to 35mm photo outputs I will recommend the Epson 1200. Its multi platform and the USB connection is great. The capabilty of large prints of this printer does not make it too bulky. The lowest price available for this is around $400. Normally you cannot go without a high speed laser printer in office environment and B&W correspondence still not look as professional by inkjet printers as lasers. Amy Lee

-- Amy Lee (amy@euroamericantextile.com), June 21, 1999.

The local Micro Center store (Denver area) is selling manufacturer- refurbished Epson Color Stylus 600 printers for $99!

I bought one and printed a photo (scanned from a slide) to it last night, using the Epson so-called photo "film" paper (1440x720). At normal viewing distance, it really looks like a regular photo -- I'm impressed. Even the pictures printed on the 720 dpi "photo quality inkjet" look good.

The store had many of these refurbs for sale. It would be worth asking around your local stores to find out whether they too snagged some of these.

-- Patricia Lee (patricia.s.lee@lmco.com), June 21, 1999.

We have both a 233MMX Windows 98 machine and a MAC 7600 machine as well. We have a Epson Photo 750 on the Win machine connected through the USB port. It is very fast, good quality photo prints. We also use it often for B&W text and it is very easy on the black in cartridge. We have a Photo 700 on the MAC. It is a good printer as well a little slower than the 750 and seems to use more ink I think because it does more self cleaning cycles than the 750. Also the 750 comes with software called "Photo Printer" from ArcSoft. I lets you take full advantage of the entire sheet of paper when printing photos. It provides many compinations of pictures sizes too. The interesting part of it is this is the only way I know of to get this software for the MAC. ArcSoft only sell the Windows version retail.

I had concidered selling the 700 and getting the Photo 1200 but I think I will wait and see what next year brings. :-)

-- Bob G. (rgreg88721@hotmail.com), June 22, 1999.

I considered the Epson Stylus Photo 750 but went with the Canon BJC- 600, because its specs are nearly identical to the Epson's as is the photo quality. It can be hooked up to a Mac via USB but you need to buy an adapter kit (don't know the price). While the upfront cost may be more than the Epson's, the long range costs should be lower, because the Canon uses separate cartridges for its inks. Six colors, six cartridges. The Epson has a color cartridge and a black cartridge, so if you run out of one of the five color inks, you'll need to replace the whole cartridge.

The BJC-6000 retails for $249, but I've seen it on the Internet for as low as $209.

-- Andrew Wang (AYWang67@hotmail.com), June 29, 1999.

Just for clarification on Andrew's comments. The Epson Photo 750 comes with USB support. Just plug in the cable and go. No adapters are needed.

-- Bob G. (rgreg88721@hotmail.com), July 01, 1999.

The best advise that I would give is to call and ask the experts in the industry. The company State Street Direct www.ssdonline.com has a LiveLink feature that you can "chat" with a salesperson while you look at the specs of each model. They also have a 800#222-4070 if you want to call & speak to somebody personally. The main reason I say this is that everybody is biased to their own particular brand that they own or use, if you ask the manufacturers representatives such as the people at State Street for their advise, tell them exactly what you need to use it for, they will tell you your best options. This applies with any computer goods or electronics. Good luck, hope this helps. Angela

-- Angela Skinner (darlasangel@yahoo.com), July 01, 1999.