"Lifetime Warranty" for Canon print heads?

[Brendan R. Wehrung]

I just bought a new computer and at some point plan to upgrade it to the
about-to-arrive Windows Vista. It appeaars that my present Lexmark Z65
won't have a Vista driver written for it so I'm shopping for a printer I
can get a great deal on with the computer purchase.

What seems to be on offer is the Canon MP-160 ($45 after rebate on printer
and extra black and color carts) and Canon MP-600 ($150 after rebate on
printer and 2 black carts). The MP-600 is touted as having much better
print quality, does have seperate ink tanks...and the clerk claims that
Canon provides a "lifetime warranty" on their print heads.

Say what? There's been quite a bit of comment on these pages about the
durability and availability of Canon print heads. If I get it right, one
will last for 4-6 ink tank changes (about 2 years) and then will be very
difficult to locate when I need one. I never saw any claim that Canon
would replace one that has had a fair amount of use.

Maybe I should just buy the cheaper MP-160 to use as a utility printer and
replace it when I get tired of what it can or can't do.

Brendan

 

[Al Bundy]

I just bought a new computer and at some point plan to upgrade it to the
about-to-arrive Windows Vista. It appeaars that my present Lexmark Z65
won't have a Vista driver written for it so I'm shopping for a printer I
can get a great deal on with the computer purchase.

What seems to be on offer is the Canon MP-160 ($45 after rebate on printer
and extra black and color carts) and Canon MP-600 ($150 after rebate on
printer and 2 black carts). The MP-600 is touted as having much better
print quality, does have seperate ink tanks...and the clerk claims that
Canon provides a "lifetime warranty" on their print heads.

Say what? There's been quite a bit of comment on these pages about the
durability and availability of Canon print heads. If I get it right, one
will last for 4-6 ink tank changes (about 2 years) and then will be very
difficult to locate when I need one. I never saw any claim that Canon
would replace one that has had a fair amount of use.

Maybe I should just buy the cheaper MP-160 to use as a utility printer and
replace it when I get tired of what it can or can't do.

Brendan

I can't say what the more modern Canon printheads will do. However, I
have refilled my tanks on Canons dozens of times without print head
failure. Life seems to be quite variable. A printhead can quit at any
time so a lifetime guarantee is nice. Canon service has been good to
me. I complained once about print quality and they sent me all new
heads and carts for free on a printer I got for free counting the
rebate from Staples.

 

[Brendan R. Wehrung]

I can't say what the more modern Canon printheads will do. However, I
have refilled my tanks on Canons dozens of times without print head
failure. Life seems to be quite variable. A printhead can quit at any
time so a lifetime guarantee is nice. Canon service has been good to
me. I complained once about print quality and they sent me all new
heads and carts for free on a printer I got for free counting the
rebate from Staples.

When you buy a Canon "print head" you actually get several of them ganged
together? I guess that would make sense.

Brendan

 

[Brendan R. Wehrung]

I can't say what the more modern Canon printheads will do. However, I
have refilled my tanks on Canons dozens of times without print head
failure. Life seems to be quite variable. A printhead can quit at any
time so a lifetime guarantee is nice. Canon service has been good to
me. I complained once about print quality and they sent me all new
heads and carts for free on a printer I got for free counting the
rebate from Staples.

Another question: I had a talk with Canon tech support today and he
mentioned that a "deep clean" was necessary once in a while to keep the
head from clogging. what's that and how much work is it?

Brendan

 

[George E. Cawthon]

Another question: I had a talk with Canon tech support today and he
mentioned that a "deep clean" was necessary once in a while to keep the
head from clogging. what's that and how much work is it?

Brendan

Deep Cleaning is just one of the selections in
printer software for maintenance. I think many
people would argue with what the tech said.
Whether you need to do any cleaning largely
depends on how you use the printer. I use mine
fairly lightly and have used light cleaning only
once and that was more or less just see if it made
any difference.

 

[Dan G]

The driver automatically does a clean cycle every so-many pages. Also every
time you replace a tank it does a clean cycle.

 

[measekite]

Another question: I had a talk with Canon tech support today and he
mentioned that a "deep clean" was necessary once in a while to keep the
head from clogging. what's that and how much work is it?

Brendan

I have a Canon IP4000. I have always used Canon ink for obvious
reasons. I NEVER have done a deep cleaning (nor any cleaning) and NEVER
have had a problem in over two and a half years.

 

[Brendan R. Wehrung]

The driver automatically does a clean cycle every so-many pages. Also every
time you replace a tank it does a clean cycle.

Does the cycle consume a lot of ink? I remember complaints about Canons for
that, but it was a long time ago.

Brendan

 

[Irwin Peckinloomer]

I have a Canon IP4000. I have always used Canon ink for obvious
reasons. I NEVER have done a deep cleaning (nor any cleaning) and NEVER
have had a problem in over two and a half years.

I've used an i960 for 2 1/2 years also, using only refill ink from
alotofothings.com, and my results are the same as measlykite's, except
he has flushed a lot more money down the toilet than I have! No deep
cleaning, but of course my printer does periodic automatic cleanings
(just like Measly's does), except I don't have to worry how much ink it
uses, since it is almost free!
Don't listen to his anti-refill bullshit, it works quite nicely, and is
little trouble (perhaps less trouble than driving to Costco to get
ripped off?)

 

[measekite]

Dreaming is OK 2

Irwin Peckinloomer wrote:

I have a Canon IP4000. I have always used Canon ink for obvious reasons. I NEVER have done a deep cleaning (nor any cleaning) and NEVER have had a problem in over two and a half years.



I've used an i960 for 2 1/2 years also, using only refill ink from alotofothings.com, and my results are the same as measlykite's, except he has flushed a lot more money down the toilet than I have! No deep cleaning, but of course my printer does periodic automatic cleanings (just like Measly's does), except I don't have to worry how much ink it uses, since it is almost free! Don't listen to his anti-refill bullshit, it works quite nicely, and is little trouble (perhaps less trouble than driving to Costco to get ripped off?)

 

[Gary Tait]

(e-mail address removed) (Brendan R. Wehrung) wrote in

Does the cycle consume a lot of ink? I remember complaints about
Canons for that, but it was a long time ago.

Brendan

Not a whole lot (for the 13 ml carts anyway. Ink is cheap, if you refill
though.