It's difficult to say how long the present batch of Epsons can actually last
before breakdown if not by clog, but to give you an idea of what previous
printers are doing we started out at our school in June 1999 with three
dozen Epson 740 machines. Twenty-six of them are still busy working. One of
them was stolen. In 1981 we purchased a dozen 880 printers. One has died. I
think a bad circuit board. The black just refused to continue, and it did
not appear to be any type of clog. The other 880's are all running nicely.
We've got seven C-80 machines, and all are working, five C-82 printers, all
working, purchased in '02-03. Our biggest problems have occured with the
C-84 and the "Dura-brite poison". From what I understand the C-88 uses a
Dura-brite _?__ ink but it's not the same as the previous version. It may be
less pron to clogging, or maybe not.
It's unfortunate in the way Epson figures in making its money as of late;
as its wasteful, and thoughtless in design, as well as breeding a good
relationship with the people who would buy their products.

--
Jan Alter
bearpuf (AT) verizon (DOT) net
or
jalter (AT) phila (DOT) k12.pa.us
"Davy" <no (AT) spam (DOT) invalid> wrote

previous version. It may be less pron to clogging, or maybe not.

Jan,
Thanks for this info! It explains my C-84's demise (in the end, no
amount of head cleaning cured the banding), and on the C-88, it would
seem the cure was worse than the ailment; i.e., instead of clogging,
it spewed out so much ink that "bronzing" is too mild a
term. But they tried. I really don't want to think of Epson as a
monster. As a photographer, Epson's high-end printers are considered
the very best, and prior to reading these posts, I ordered one!

Cary C wrote:
Read the whole thing... you also have the option of receiving 25 in
cash and 20 dollar credit.

Just got rid of an Epson C64 for the same reason.

Now happily using an HP 5940. Highly reccomend it as a replacement. The
printheads are part of the cartridges, and they don't seem to mind going a
week without printing and they don't use most of the ink cleaning themselves
like the C64 did. It prints as well and faster, and the ink is nearly
waterproof when it dries. I wouldn't get a cheaper HP. No need to get the
photo cartridge for it.

And you can refill the cartridges, though the ink levels no longer show. Be
sure to use good ink so the head parking area doesn't gum up. Calidad is ok.
Don't run it dry if refilling as that kills the heads. Oh, and you can
actually run without a color cartridge, or without a black cartridge, and it
makes black from the color.
--
Ed Light

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"Ed Light" <nobody (AT) nobody (DOT) there> wrote

I haven't refilled yet. One person had good years' experience with Calidad.

But another posted that the cartridges in the 5940 have much finer droplets.
So I can't say ahead of time how it will go. I think Calidad is a major
brand and my supplier maxpatchink is very responsible.


--
Ed Light

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Ed Light wrote: