The End to Buying Printer Cartridges !

Normark

Normark

Joined
Nov 7, 1999
Messages
6,651
Hey Guys..

Was in my local Computer store ordering a new machine when I came across this printer..

It's an Epson printer that uses a bulk feed system for ink..
Theres 5-6 containers of ink that sit on the side of the printer and are fed into the printer by way of hoses that go directly to the printer head...

The containers of ink are the equivalent to 200 standard ink cartridges.
When you have to refill them it's $100.00..

Now I don't know about you, but I've got 3 kids that print EVERYTHING in sight,,so standard ink cartridges fly through my printer..I've easily spent $400.00 in store bought ink for this printer...I'm sick of paying for store bought cartridges..

So thats it, when the ink is gone in this printer,, thats the end of it..
I'll be buying this new printer at $395 I think it's a bargin, and will pay for itself in no time...

Anyone run one of these set ups ??

ttyle

Eric
O/ST
 
As long as the reservoir system is OEM Epson.

I use a Canon i9900 photo printer, and I, too, pay through the nose for the dinky little cartridges.

I have purchased a complete 8-reservoir-feed-tube system with 'German' ink, and after two days of monkeying around with printer profiles and ICC profiles, I tossed the whole shebang in the garbage. The photos were simply incorrect in output, no matter how I tried.

Then I bought some non-OEM cartridges for a lark. A+ Claims and testimonials were abundant.... :barf:

Back to the OEM ink for me. Worth every penny in aggravation saved, and quality output.

That said, I am considering a major professional quality printer as my next large purchase. One that doesn't have little dinky 1 oz. cartidges--like this new Epson, maybe.

What's the model?

Coop
 
I read recently that Xerox is going after the high ink price market with a line of machines that use much less expensive ink cartridges, but I think that's aimed at the business market. I bought a band new Lexmark printer a couple of years ago for $25 -- $10 less than the cost of a single cartridge for my old printer. Granted, Lexmark also screws you, but I have found the ink refill kits to work fine in B&W. The OEM cartridges work fine, too.
 
I just bought a black and white networked laser printer for $100 after rebate and it prints beautifully. If you don't need color prints laser is the way to go.
 
Those printers work great until a bit of ink dries in the hoses and then the entire printer is screwed. And is there an easy way to get to the hoses? No, you have to take apart the entire printer to fix a $.50 piece of tubing. Ask me how I know this. If you want bulk color, go for a color laser printer, it is by far the best way to go.
 
+1 for a laser printer.

Keep a ink jet for special occasions but 99% of your needs can probably be met by B&W. The price of color laser is coming down as well.

Chad
 
I picked up a new HP1020 last year for $100. Still crankin out prints.

Refill cart is around $70.

Beats the hassle of old ink jets.
 
Normark said:
It's an Epson printer that uses a bulk feed system for ink..
Theres 5-6 containers of ink that sit on the side of the printer and are fed into the printer by way of hoses that go directly to the printer head...

The containers of ink are the equivalent to 200 standard ink cartridges.
When you have to refill them it's $100.00..

I'll be buying this new printer at $395 I think it's a bargin, and will pay for itself in no time...
Click to expand...

This sounds good -
BUT I don't think the bulk ink system is Epson - therefore not Epson inks.

I think this may be an aftermarket modification -

Would you mind please checking the model number, and looking at the actual bulk ink system and asking to see the ink refill package?

Here are some examples of aftermarket bulk ink systems for Epson printers -

http://www.bestblanks.com/inkjetinks.html

http://www.inkjetcolorsystems.com/bulk_ink_system_Pro2.htm


They are also called continuous ink systems -

http://www.brandonstaggs.com/epson-r200-continous-ink-system-review/

http://refills4all.com/cic/product.php?SKU=CIS-311&ref=FGL

http://www.nomorecarts.com/

For regular non-photograph printing these are probably very economical.

For true photograph printing - the ink is critical - not only for the color accuracy, but also print life/longevity. Epsons used to have a reputation for clogging heads - one runs the risk of that using non-Epson inks.

Yes, I agree original branded inks do sound like a "rip-off' -
but if one's printing is critical - like true photos - it's worth it -

but for non-critical printing - it is definitely way too expensive to use a photo inkjet printer - although regular non-photo inkjet cartridges are very expensive too - hence the aftermarket bulk or continuous ink systems.

BTW - for Photos - it is really hard to compete with the regular store and lab printing even from the self-service machines in stores which print 6"x4" for something like 19-29 cents. Even 10"x8" can be had for as low as $2-$4 (go on-line to upload the photo-file and pick up in store for the lower prices) -

Photo inkjet printers now only make sense for larger prints and where one really wants control.

The beauty of digital prints is that one can adjust/edit the the photo until it's right and the digital print is supposed to come close to how one has adjusted it - to the point where it rivals home printing - withOUT any wastage (test prints, ink clogging, paper jams, not quite getting it right) - if the print from the store doesn't look right - just ask for it to be printed again - so far (touch wood) I haven't been disappointed with any digital prints from stores - but I then do adjust/edit all my photos before printing.

--
Vincent
http://UnknownVincent.Shutterfly.com
http://clik.to/UnknownVT2006
http://clik.to/UnknownVT2005
http://clik.to/UnknownVT2004
http://clik.to/UnknownVincent
 
I bought a Black and White HP LaserJet. It's cheap and reliable. I really dislike inkjet printers. Per page costs are high and reliabiity is very low in my use with the inkjets.
 
Those bulk-feed systems might be good for an office or for someone who prints a lot. But I think it would dry up and cause problems before I ever used much of the ink.

I went with a different semi-solution, the HP printers with a different cartidge for each color. That way I only buy the color that runs out.
 
While it's slightly off topic, I would just reiterate that whatever printer you choose, if you are like most of the population, you can get away with doing the majority of your printing in grayscale "draft" quality. Setting this as the printer's default will save a lot of ink. I am always amazed by the people who print out pages of mapquest directions in full color in "normal" quality. Do you really need that much ink and that many colors to read directions? Or do you really need full color to read a text article that you printed off the net? Most of the time, the color is only being used on the advertisements embedded in the material, which is another simple way to save ink: use the Adblock extension for Firefox so you're not paying money to print someone's advertisements!

I pay to pick up photo prints so my printer stays locked in grayscale draft quality for 99.9% of my printing needs. Ink lasts me a lot longer this way.

BTW, this is from an article in the September issue of Pro Digital Imaging and I thought it was somewhat amusing (or perhaps depressing, depending on your point of view):

Item.........................................Cost per ounce
Epson 2400 Cartridge ($14.24 list/0.5oz)....$24.48
Dom Perignon Champagne ($125/bottle).....$5.00
Benjamin Moore Paint ($30/gallon).............$0.24
Snapple Iced Tea ($1.50/bottle)...............$0.13
Premium Gasoline ($4.00/gallon)................$0.03
Whole Milk ($2.69/gallon).........................$0.02
 
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