Bob said:
Better for what? Ten years ago when the DeskJet 693 was introduced it
was a pretty good (low end) printer, but the printing world has come a
*long* way since then. The S400 is a bit more recent, but still a half
dozen years old. Given a choice of the two I would probably pick the
S400, but before I got either I would take a look at a printer
introduced in this century.
I have the same problem, but I think the DJ 693 is similar to the DJ
720 which I may have met back in the 20th century. The s400 was
something I didn't actually meet, this was during the the "thinktanks"
were new. But IIRC the s400 took a bc30e and bc31e printheads, both
printheads while costing $30 and $50 each did come with ink. But you
can get the ip4200 for $80 which is in all fairness a better printer.
The s400 gets points for lower running costs... the hp693 didn't use
remarkably high yield cartridges but cost the same as higher yield
ones. The s400 at least tanks Canon's standard size, and takes the
older bci-3e color... these tend to cost less by a buck or so. If the
heads are good on the s400, you could keep using it, but if the color
head is toasty, while a printhead would include ink so would a $80
printer. The hp693 costs $60 to refill both cartridges.
So unless there is a unique feature to either printer, such as a
parallel port, i'd consider something newer. The specs say the s400
can print on canvas, but I can't say I've ever tried it. There also
was a scanner head for that series of canons, but I can't see it as
being that great of a feature.
