Epson Stylus Photo R220

[William R. Walsh]

Hello all...

For the first time in years, I'm thinking of buying an Epson Stylus Photo
R220 printer. (I haven't been impressed with many of their products since
the days of the ActionWriter T-1000 dot matrix printer. As such, I've
generally stuck with HP, Brother and Samsung for my printing needs.) I
recently installed one of these printers at work, and it seems like a good
unit. I really like the included CD printing feature--and the software to
print CDs isn't half bad either.

What I'm worried about is having problems with print heads. I'm pretty sure
Epson still uses a separate print head in their inkjet printers. I'd be
buying this printer primarily to print on CDs, so it might sit for a while
(a few weeks between prints, with a small amount of regular work running
through it in that time) before being used again. Should I expect to have
print head problems? Has Epson's printer quality improved? What is the
average life of an Epson print head that will be using only OEM ink?

I'd appreciate any thoughts, comments or answers.

William

 

[zakezuke]

What I'm worried about is having problems with print heads. I'm pretty sure

Epson still uses a separate print head in their inkjet printers. I'd be
buying this printer primarily to print on CDs, so it might sit for a while
(a few weeks between prints, with a small amount of regular work running
through it in that time) before being used again. Should I expect to have
print head problems? Has Epson's printer quality improved? What is the
average life of an Epson print head that will be using only OEM ink?

While I had bad luck with my r200, I must admit I appricated the level
of quality of the prints. The r200 can be had for less than the cost
of OEM ink on the epson website in it's referb state $60.00 shipped.
At this price OEM users should be happy when their printer fails.

http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/BuyEpson/ccProductCategory.jsp?BV_UseBVCookie=yes&oid=-13267

The r200 series does waste much ink, and the printer is designed to
stop printing after a certain period of time where it's reccomended to
change it's diaper. This can be fixed with an external bottle and the
SSC utility.
http://www.stevesforums.com/forums/view_topic.php?id=51595&forum_id=40&page=1


I however got frustrated with the epson and bought the Canon ip3000 and
hacked my epson tray to work with it. It worked so well I bought the
mp760 shortly after. You can now find OEM trays on e-bay and the mod
is rather easy. While quality wise the Epson r200/220 is hard to
match, I found the ip3000 to be more reliable. The mp760 did require
replacement due to a fault switch but the warranty service was pain
free. There are newer models that are more spiffy, and printing on
many discs might require a tweek in the intenisty. In all fairness the
r200 I had looked good on most types of media without tweeking
including verbatium silvers.

It's hard to estimate how many 1/2 faced CDs i've printed on the
ip3000, but I'd guess i'm well beyond the 500 range.



http://pixma.webpal.info/

 

[Fenrir Enterprises]

Hello all...

For the first time in years, I'm thinking of buying an Epson Stylus Photo
R220 printer. (I haven't been impressed with many of their products since
the days of the ActionWriter T-1000 dot matrix printer. As such, I've
generally stuck with HP, Brother and Samsung for my printing needs.) I
recently installed one of these printers at work, and it seems like a good
unit. I really like the included CD printing feature--and the software to
print CDs isn't half bad either.

What I'm worried about is having problems with print heads. I'm pretty sure
Epson still uses a separate print head in their inkjet printers. I'd be
buying this printer primarily to print on CDs, so it might sit for a while
(a few weeks between prints, with a small amount of regular work running
through it in that time) before being used again. Should I expect to have
print head problems? Has Epson's printer quality improved? What is the
average life of an Epson print head that will be using only OEM ink?

I'd appreciate any thoughts, comments or answers.

William

Reports of clogging around here are almost all for the C-series of
printers which uses the Durabrite inks with pigments, along with some
kind of enamel or shellac additive that makes the ink waterproof, but
it dries incredibly fast and can clog the printhead if not used daily.
The printheads themselves don't wear out easily if they don't get
clogged. The R-series uses dyebased ink geared more towards photo
printing (only the very high end ones use pigment, such as the R1800
and R2400) which is not waterproof at all (don't pick up a disc with
damp fingers). I would be more concerned about the CD feed mechanism
breaking than the printer clogging. My R340 broke in 3 months, and
it's been an incredible hassle to get it replaced. As zakezuke said,
there are Canon alternatives that require little to no modification
other than obtaining the CD tray. However, I have seen examples, and
they don't look as good to me as the Epson ones. I would get a
refurbished R200 as zakezuke suggested, if you really want to go with
Epson, since they have not fixed the problem with the printing
mechanism with the 220/340 series, and throw it out if it breaks.

---

http://www.FenrirOnline.com

Computer services, custom metal etching,
arts, crafts, and much more.

 

[measekite]

Reports of clogging around here are almost all for the C-series of
printers which uses the Durabrite inks with pigments, along with some
kind of enamel or shellac additive that makes the ink waterproof, but
it dries incredibly fast and can clog the printhead if not used daily.
The printheads themselves don't wear out easily if they don't get
clogged. The R-series uses dyebased ink geared more towards photo
printing (only the very high end ones use pigment, such as the R1800
and R2400) which is not waterproof at all (don't pick up a disc with
damp fingers). I would be more concerned about the CD feed mechanism
breaking than the printer clogging. My R340 broke in 3 months, and
it's been an incredible hassle to get it replaced.

THAT IS THE TROUBLE WITH MANY OF THE IDIOTS IN THIS NG. BAD ADVICE
BECAUSE THEY REALLY DO NOT KNOW MUCH. MY FRIEND HAS AN EPSON R SERIES
PRINTER THAT HE BOUGHT TO PRINT PRIMARILY ON CDs (OTHERWISE HE WOULDHAVE
BOUGHT A CANON) AND HE USES EPSON INK EXCLUSIVELY SINCE HE KNOWS IT IS
CONSISTENT AND WHAT HE IS GETTING. HE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE CD
MECHANISM TWICE AND HAD TWO PRINTERS REPLACE UNDER THE EPSON WARRANTY
FOR THIS REASON. IN EACH INSTANCE THEY CROSS SHIPPED A REPLACEMENT AND
HE HAD NO DIFFICULTY GETTING THEM REPLACED.

THAT SAID I STILL PREFER CANON USING OEM INK.

As zakezuke said,
there are Canon alternatives that require little to no modification
other than obtaining the CD tray.

I WOULD NEVER TAKE ANY ADVICE FROM MATT ZUKOWSKI

However, I have seen examples, and
they don't look as good to me as the Epson ones. I would get a
refurbished R200 as zakezuke suggested,

I WOULD NOT BUY A REFURBISHED ANYTHING; ESPECIUALLY A R200. GO WITH THE
R300 SERIES NEW.

if you really want to go with
Epson, since they have not fixed the problem with the printing
mechanism with the 220/340 series, and throw it out if it breaks.

MORE STUPID ADVICE FROM SOMEONE IN THE BUSINESS WHO STANDS TO GAIN FROM
THIS STUPID ADVICE. ONCE IT IS OUT OF WARRANTLY ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS
JUST GIVE THE CD TRAY A LITTLE NUDGE AND WILL WORK

---

http://www.FenrirOnline.com

Computer services, custom metal etching,
arts, crafts, and much more.

AN IN DA BUSINESS SPAMMER

 

[zakezuke]

I would get a

refurbished R200 as zakezuke suggested, if you really want to go with
Epson, since they have not fixed the problem with the printing
mechanism with the 220/340 series, and throw it out if it breaks

I never sugested throwing it out. Well perhaps I did.. but that's not
the point. If it's under warranty it's your ticket to free ink. If
for example you get two and you are unlucky enough to have to claim
warranty service, referb replacements come with ink. That's like a
$70.00 value right there. In my case, I had to take it to a service
center and wait for my free ink, I mean printer and ink. Others say
they have get a replacement via mail.

Canon I believe will not give you free ink, nor replace your head,
unless you can't get the head/ink out. Canon's not nearly "so" cool in
this regard.

 

[zakezuke]

Measkekite said:

he uses epson ink exclusively since he knows it consistent

Wow... then your friend is not very observent. You have your choice of
ink made in Mexico, USA, and Japan at least at my local office depot.
Each is a wee bit different. You can increase your chances of color
consistancy by picking one country and sticking with it, but even then
there is no assurance that it will actually be the same color.

 

[Frank]

I hope you have permission to speak for your friend. I also hope he has
no idea what a ****ing idiot moron you really are. You are so stupid as
to **** up a ball bearing. You're the idiot who complicates something
simple instead of simplifying something complicated.
You are one sick puppy.
Get help NOW!
Frank

 

[SamSez]

[snip]

idiot. Plonk.

 

[Arthur Entlich]

The R200 series uses dye inks, which may have some clogging issues if
not used for weeks at a time.

So will some other printer brands. The heads are still separate and
permanent, but they last (with proper use and maintenance) for many
years, probably longer than any other brands.

They are the only company in North America that can sell printers which
print onto CDs due to licensing issues. You can get Canon models which
can do the same if you order the missing parts from the UK, for instance.

Art

 

[zakezuke]

You can get Canon models which can do the same if you order the missing parts from

the UK, for instance.

Problem is finding a place in the UK that will ship to the US and
accepts credit cards. The safe bet is e-bay, people who have already
made the arangements. All the UK shops I talked with pretty much told
me they don't ship beyond their boarders.... not even to Finland.