Need printer recommendations

I have been using an Epson 1280 for several years. The photo quality output has been great – but I have two complaints:

1. If you leave the printer on, the ink dries up in the print head – then it uses a lot of ink to clean. Sometimes, I have to have it professionally serviced ($$$) – and the printer is getting old.
2. The paper feed is not now working properly (the rollers that grab
the paper don’t pull in the paper at a straight angle). They skew the paper which screws up the print.

I have a project that I need to complete by tomorrow and it involves feeding in pre-designed invitations. So far, they get skewed and ruined. Either I have to quickly buy a new printer or somehow figure out how to fix the rollers. Help with either issue would be greatly appreciated. If I were to buy a new printer that outputs great quality photos, what would you recommend?

On Wed, 11 Oct 2006 14:06:12 -0400, Fruit2O wrote:

I have been using an Epson 1280 for several years. The photo quality output has been great – but I have two complaints:

1. If you leave the printer on, the ink dries up in the print head – then it uses a lot of ink to clean. Sometimes, I have to have it professionally serviced ($$$) – and the printer is getting old.
2. The paper feed is not now working properly (the rollers that grab
the paper don’t pull in the paper at a straight angle). They skew the paper which screws up the print.

I have a project that I need to complete by tomorrow and it involves feeding in pre-designed invitations. So far, they get skewed and ruined. Either I have to quickly buy a new printer or somehow figure out how to fix the rollers. Help with either issue would be greatly appreciated. If I were to buy a new printer that outputs great quality photos, what would you recommend?

At the price of new printers today, screwing around with an old one is a waste of time.

On Wed, 11 Oct 2006 14:06:12 -0400, Fruit2O wrote:

I have been using an Epson 1280 for several years. The photo quality output has been great – but I have two complaints:

1. If you leave the printer on, the ink dries up in the print head – then it uses a lot of ink to clean. Sometimes, I have to have it professionally serviced ($$$) – and the printer is getting old.
2. The paper feed is not now working properly (the rollers that grab
the paper don’t pull in the paper at a straight angle). They skew the paper which screws up the print.

I have a project that I need to complete by tomorrow and it involves feeding in pre-designed invitations. So far, they get skewed and ruined. Either I have to quickly buy a new printer or somehow figure out how to fix the rollers. Help with either issue would be greatly appreciated. If I were to buy a new printer that outputs great quality photos, what would you recommend?

I have been looking at printers for a while now, and it depends on what you need. The one you have prints up to 13 inches wide, so I assume you are looking for a printer that will print at least that wide. All of the printers that I have looked at in that size will still have the problem of the clogged print head if it’s not used often enough.
If you wanted to spend the money, the Epson Stylus Pro 4800 will print large widths, and it has a feature that automatically does a head cleaning every so often. It also has large ink tanks so the cost per print is low. The ink tanks are rather expensive, but using the 220 ml tanks is cheap if you look at the cost per print. The only other way to avoid the clog nozzle problem is to buy an HP inkjet or a Kodak thermal dye printer, however, those are usually only 8 inch widths.
The HP inkjets have the print head in the ink cartridge, so if it becomes clogged, you just replace the cartridge. HP does make larger format printers, but these have a separate print head, like the Epsons do.
The Kodak 1400 Pro (I just got one yesterday) is a thermal dye printer, but it only has an 8 inch width. Thermal dye printers use a wax ribbon, and they can sit for long periods of time with no adverse effects, since there is no liquid ink to dry out, plus the prints are waterproof. My Kodak 1400 does an excellent job, but dust is a major factor.
Do you need a 13 inch format? If not, I’d go with the Kodak.

Talker

On Wed, 11 Oct 2006 16:50:33 -0400, Talker wrote:

On Wed, 11 Oct 2006 14:06:12 -0400, Fruit2O wrote:

I have been using an Epson 1280 for several years. The photo quality output has been great – but I have two complaints:

1. If you leave the printer on, the ink dries up in the print head – then it uses a lot of ink to clean. Sometimes, I have to have it professionally serviced ($$$) – and the printer is getting old.
2. The paper feed is not now working properly (the rollers that grab
the paper don’t pull in the paper at a straight angle). They skew the paper which screws up the print.

I have a project that I need to complete by tomorrow and it involves feeding in pre-designed invitations. So far, they get skewed and ruined. Either I have to quickly buy a new printer or somehow figure out how to fix the rollers. Help with either issue would be greatly appreciated. If I were to buy a new printer that outputs great quality photos, what would you recommend?

I have been looking at printers for a while now, and it depends on what you need. The one you have prints up to 13 inches wide, so I assume you are looking for a printer that will print at least that wide. All of the printers that I have looked at in that size will still have the problem of the clogged print head if it’s not used often enough.
If you wanted to spend the money, the Epson Stylus Pro 4800 will print large widths, and it has a feature that automatically does a head cleaning every so often. It also has large ink tanks so the cost per print is low. The ink tanks are rather expensive, but using the 220 ml tanks is cheap if you look at the cost per print. The only other way to avoid the clog nozzle problem is to buy an HP inkjet or a Kodak thermal dye printer, however, those are usually only 8 inch widths.
The HP inkjets have the print head in the ink cartridge, so if it becomes clogged, you just replace the cartridge. HP does make larger format printers, but these have a separate print head, like the Epsons do.
The Kodak 1400 Pro (I just got one yesterday) is a thermal dye printer, but it only has an 8 inch width. Thermal dye printers use a wax ribbon, and they can sit for long periods of time with no adverse effects, since there is no liquid ink to dry out, plus the prints are waterproof. My Kodak 1400 does an excellent job, but dust is a major factor.
Do you need a 13 inch format? If not, I’d go with the Kodak.

Thanks for the feedback. Yes, I want a wide (13") printer. Also, I forgot to mention that I will also use the printer for text.

Talker

I upgraded to the 2400 and love it. I have not had trouble with clogged heads.

However, it drinks ink. It does seem to me that it uses a lot more ink than my old 1270. I don’t use it for text except for hand made greeting cards. Othersise I use a cheap laser printer. The laser printer more than pays for itself.

Fruit2O wrote:

On Wed, 11 Oct 2006 16:50:33 -0400, Talker wrote:

On Wed, 11 Oct 2006 14:06:12 -0400, Fruit2O wrote:

I have been using an Epson 1280 for several years. The photo quality output has been great – but I have two complaints:

1. If you leave the printer on, the ink dries up in the print head – then it uses a lot of ink to clean. Sometimes, I have to have it professionally serviced ($$$) – and the printer is getting old.
2. The paper feed is not now working properly (the rollers that grab
the paper don’t pull in the paper at a straight angle). They skew the paper which screws up the print.

I have a project that I need to complete by tomorrow and it involves feeding in pre-designed invitations. So far, they get skewed and ruined. Either I have to quickly buy a new printer or somehow figure out how to fix the rollers. Help with either issue would be greatly appreciated. If I were to buy a new printer that outputs great quality photos, what would you recommend?

I have been looking at printers for a while now, and it depends on what you need. The one you have prints up to 13 inches wide, so I assume you are looking for a printer that will print at least that wide. All of the printers that I have looked at in that size will still have the problem of the clogged print head if it’s not used often enough.
If you wanted to spend the money, the Epson Stylus Pro 4800 will print large widths, and it has a feature that automatically does a head cleaning every so often. It also has large ink tanks so the cost per print is low. The ink tanks are rather expensive, but using the 220 ml tanks is cheap if you look at the cost per print. The only other way to avoid the clog nozzle problem is to buy an HP inkjet or a Kodak thermal dye printer, however, those are usually only 8 inch widths.
The HP inkjets have the print head in the ink cartridge, so if it becomes clogged, you just replace the cartridge. HP does make larger format printers, but these have a separate print head, like the Epsons do.
The Kodak 1400 Pro (I just got one yesterday) is a thermal dye printer, but it only has an 8 inch width. Thermal dye printers use a wax ribbon, and they can sit for long periods of time with no adverse effects, since there is no liquid ink to dry out, plus the prints are waterproof. My Kodak 1400 does an excellent job, but dust is a major factor.
Do you need a 13 inch format? If not, I’d go with the Kodak.

Thanks for the feedback. Yes, I want a wide (13") printer. Also, I forgot to mention that I will also use the printer for text.

Talker

Probably too late now, but the problem you describe is common as rubber feed rollers get dirty and age. Cleaning them with soapy water or even alcohol may help, but if they are dried out, cracked or misshapen you may need to refurbish them or replace the machine.

Fruit2O wrote:

I have been using an Epson 1280 for several years. The photo quality output has been great – but I have two complaints:

1. If you leave the printer on, the ink dries up in the print head – then it uses a lot of ink to clean. Sometimes, I have to have it professionally serviced ($$$) – and the printer is getting old.
2. The paper feed is not now working properly (the rollers that grab
the paper don’t pull in the paper at a straight angle). They skew the paper which screws up the print.

I have a project that I need to complete by tomorrow and it involves feeding in pre-designed invitations. So far, they get skewed and ruined. Either I have to quickly buy a new printer or somehow figure out how to fix the rollers. Help with either issue would be greatly appreciated. If I were to buy a new printer that outputs great quality photos, what would you recommend?

"Fruit2O" wrote in message

I have been using an Epson 1280 for several years. The photo quality output has been great – but I have two complaints:

1. If you leave the printer on, the ink dries up in the print head – then it uses a lot of ink to clean. Sometimes, I have to have it professionally serviced ($$$) – and the printer is getting old.
2. The paper feed is not now working properly (the rollers that grab
the paper don’t pull in the paper at a straight angle). They skew the paper which screws up the print.

I have a project that I need to complete by tomorrow and it involves feeding in pre-designed invitations. So far, they get skewed and ruined. Either I have to quickly buy a new printer or somehow figure out how to fix the rollers. Help with either issue would be greatly appreciated. If I were to buy a new printer that outputs great quality photos, what would you recommend?

yeah my reply is late too
Had a 1270 for so many years
hated the clogging inks
but loved the prints
never serviced once (I keep it covered due to cat hair and dust, which ruined my previous and also Epson Photo Stylus they serviced under warranty free and fast when the machine was a total loss they replaced me with an upgraded one, hence my brand loyalty to Epson)
BUT it started printing yellow lines over every print, and nothing fixed it

got an R1800 and love it
individual inks are nice and I don’t notice as much clogging after non use but as a precaution I always put a sheet of cheap plain paper and make a nozzle check before I put in the 13×19 expensive photo paper, a good work habit saves much annoyance and waste
The driver interface has many good choices for beginner or advanced printers

"Fruit2O" wrote in message

I have been using an Epson 1280 for several years. The photo quality output has been great – but I have two complaints:

1. If you leave the printer on, the ink dries up in the print head – then it uses a lot of ink to clean. Sometimes, I have to have it professionally serviced ($$$) – and the printer is getting old.
2. The paper feed is not now working properly (the rollers that grab
the paper don’t pull in the paper at a straight angle). They skew the paper which screws up the print.

I have a project that I need to complete by tomorrow and it involves feeding in pre-designed invitations. So far, they get skewed and ruined. Either I have to quickly buy a new printer or somehow figure out how to fix the rollers. Help with either issue would be greatly appreciated. If I were to buy a new printer that outputs great quality photos, what would you recommend?

yeah my reply is late too
Had a 1270 for so many years
hated the clogging inks
but loved the prints
never serviced once (I keep it covered due to cat hair and dust, which ruined my previous and also Epson Photo Stylus they serviced under warranty free and fast when the machine was a total loss they replaced me with an upgraded one, hence my brand loyalty to Epson)
BUT it started printing yellow lines over every print, and nothing fixed it

got an R1800 and love it
individual inks are nice and I don’t notice as much clogging after non use but as a precaution I always put a sheet of cheap plain paper and make a nozzle check before I put in the 13×19 expensive photo paper, a good work habit saves much annoyance and waste
The driver interface has many good choices for beginner or advanced printers

"Fruit2O" wrote in message

I have been using an Epson 1280 for several years. The photo quality output has been great – but I have two complaints:

1. If you leave the printer on, the ink dries up in the print head – then it uses a lot of ink to clean. Sometimes, I have to have it professionally serviced ($$$) – and the printer is getting old.
2. The paper feed is not now working properly (the rollers that grab
the paper don’t pull in the paper at a straight angle). They skew the paper which screws up the print.

I have a project that I need to complete by tomorrow and it involves feeding in pre-designed invitations. So far, they get skewed and ruined. Either I have to quickly buy a new printer or somehow figure out how to fix the rollers. Help with either issue would be greatly appreciated. If I were to buy a new printer that outputs great quality photos, what would you recommend?

yeah my reply is late too
Had a 1270 for so many years
hated the clogging inks
but loved the prints
never serviced once (I keep it covered due to cat hair and dust, which ruined my previous and also Epson Photo Stylus they serviced under warranty free and fast when the machine was a total loss they replaced me with an upgraded one, hence my brand loyalty to Epson)
BUT it started printing yellow lines over every print, and nothing fixed it

got an R1800 and love it
individual inks are nice and I don’t notice as much clogging after non use but as a precaution I always put a sheet of cheap plain paper and make a nozzle check before I put in the 13×19 expensive photo paper, a good work habit saves much annoyance and waste
The driver interface has many good choices for beginner or advanced printers

KatWoman wrote:

"Fruit2O" wrote in message

I have been using an Epson 1280 for several years. The photo quality output has been great – but I have two complaints:

Look at this for £60 from Argos.

http://www.trustedreviews.com/article.aspx?art=2227