I want to get a printer, able to print 11x14 or so, that is also not too bad cost-wise on ink. Anyone done ink-cost comparisons? I've heard the new cartriges have circuitry that prohibits refilling?

This is going to be my first (and hopefully only for a while) photo/inkjet printer, so I was hoping to learn from everyones experiences.

Thanks!

-- Charles (cbarcellona@telocity.com), May 08, 2002

Answers

I have just purchased an Epsom 1290, and finished printing my first 50 sheets of A4, with an approx 1" white border around each pic, all at best possible quality. Ink and paper cost together comes to NZ$2.50/A4 sheets, that is just over US$1/A4. In a couple of months when I have made a few more prints I will have a better idea. For 50 sheets I used approx 1 colour and 2/5 b&w cartridges. Hope this gives you some idea.

-- sait (akkirman@clear.net.nz), May 09, 2002.

I can't tell you directly what different printers cost, but I can tell you that Epson sells its ink for much less here in Japan, typically 50-60% of what I se listed for the same inks at B&H. The individual ink cartridges for the new wide pigment-based printer (differen model numbers in different countries) are selling for 1080 yen, about $8.40 US now. I think Epson really screws American customers, but they have little competition, so they do it.

-- Masatoshi Yamamoto (masa@nifty.co.jp), May 09, 2002.

i recently switched from epson (750) to canon (s800). one reason was the single ink-tanks for the canon. after using the canon for about four months, i think the ink lasts much longer than with the epson. ont thing is a bit annoying with the single ink system. whenever i run out of one ink, i have to replace it. for sure a few days later the next one will run out and a week later the next one. so either you pile up a few sets of ink or you will have to pay your local dealer a visit more often.

the results are great with the s800, no comparison to my old epson, though the choice of paper is more crucial than with the epson, and the canon driver is less easy to navigate.

-- stefan randlkofer (geesbert@yahoo.com), May 09, 2002.

If you're going to be serious about printing, you should just go ahead & get a continuous ink supply system--the newer ones have chips that fool the printer into thinking it's always full. I have a 2nd-hand Epson 1280 w/a CIS system that the original owner purchased from www.inkjetmall.com (Cone System's store site; they also sell their Piezography stuff); MIS sells the similar CFS system (www.inksupply.com).

-- Chris Chen (Wash., DC) (furcafe@NOSPAMcris.com), May 09, 2002.