I have recently purchased an EPSON Stylus 860 color printer. After checking the FORUM for the latest messages, I found that I should have bought the 870 photo printer instead. Obviously a mixup in numbers. The prints have not been bad, specially after some manipulation, but they are not quite what I expected. It is not too late for the return of said printer, so I would greatly appreciate any advise as to what I should have purchsed and may still purchase. Many thanks, Marina.

-- Marina Hambric (madoal@hotmail.com), April 24, 2000

Answers

Well, it sounds like you want the Epson 870 with 6 color longer lasting inks. If you need larger format prints you'll want the 1270 which uses the same inks.

I bought an Epson 760 last week for about $100, after rebates. I'm very happy with it as I upgraded from 720 DPI printers, but can see how the six color inksets might make a difference in some prints. I'd have to be more impressed with the 6 color output to shell out another $175 to get the 870. But, then all I was really looking for was decent laser printer-like text and photos good enough to pass for drug store 4x6's. So far, on good photo paper, I'm very impressed. Oddly enough, at least to me, some Ilford sample photo paper I had laying around seems to perform even better than Epson's own photo paper. Anybody have a clue on that one? I'll buy a vowel.

-- Gerald M. Payne (gmp@francomm.com), April 25, 2000.

And don't overlook the 875DC which features, according to Epson's verbage, a "built-in PCMCIA digital film reader compatible with virtually any digital camera storage card that comes with an adapter."

Which includes "PCMCIA Type II card x1 Supports PCMCIA Flash ATA card, CompactFlash, Smart Media, Memory Stick (with PCMCIA adapter)"

No, I don't work for Epson, I was just curious and perused their web site.

-- Bill (this_old_house@pobox.com), April 25, 2000.

I owned a Stylus 800 and was quite happy with it as a general printer. Even the photos looked pretty good. My only complaint was the size of the output (legal). I ran across a refurb Stylus Photo EX and bought it. I can't believe the difference in the output quality on Epson photo paper. Plus, if I wanted to, I could go up to app. 12 x 19 or banner size (I've yet to try anything larger than 11 x 17). That alone is worth the tradeoff in speed. I hardly use the 800 now. I think the 6 color is worth the step up if youre printing mainly photos. I'm sure the new generation of stylus photo printers are even faster and have slightly better output. Good luck.

-- Ringo Santiago (ringos@asheragency.com), April 25, 2000.