Expert: Karl Zick - 5/26/2008

Question
QUESTION: Karl, I need to replace my Epson CX6000 inkjet printer. Print quality was very good, but I've had too many problems when changing the cartridges. I want to buy a multi-function printer (printer,copier,scanner). High on the priority list would be excellent photo print quality, decent text print. While speed is nice, it's not at the top of the list. I'd like to keep the cost below $250. Can you make any recommendations? Thanks

ANSWER: Hi Ed,

I have been an Epson man most of my computer life and currently have 2 of them sitting on a table next to me.  In addition to the print job they do, I order $5 cartridge replacements from Printpal and Doubleinks and have saved a bunch of money.  The printer game for the past few years is you the companies to give you their printer and then wipe you out buying ink.

Second on my list is Canon - and I have owned two of those I was quite fond of.

The only thing that bothers me about Epson is how they come out with a different model every few days.  How can a hardware manufacturer keep up that kind of routine and make a profit?  Also in that vein, sometimes I can find cheap cartridges and sometimes I can't - depending on what model I am using at the moment.

Getting back to your question, if I knew what kind of 'cartridge changing' problems you have been having, I may be able to comment more intelligently on them.  After over 20 years, I've seen most of it.

As far as what 'all-in-one' printer to buy and where, it changes so fast it is hard to make a recommendation.  HOWEVER, if you are really burned out on Epson and don't mind paying hi-dollar for cartridges, you might try checking out Hewlett Packard.  I went printer shopping with my daughter in Raleigh a few months ago for a new machine for their home-inspection business, and we bought a do-it-all HP at Office Depot for around $150 - and it has been exceptional. Here is one that looks good to me for $100 from HP: http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/shopping/product_detail.do?storeName=storefron.

Hopes this helps a little ~



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Karl, thanks for the info. It turned out to be a bad cartridge and Epson is sending me a replacement. You mentioned buying non-Epson replacement cartridges. I've tried that in the past, but my photo prints were terrible. I went back to Epson and it was fine. You're right Epson is expensive, but I'm not sure how else to get good quality photo prints. Any ideas? Thanks again for your time.

Answer
Hey again Ed,

To continue our Epson discussion for a minute, seems the company has finally caught onto the 'equivalent' cartridge business and have set up their software to quit working when it sees a cartridge that is not a 'Genuine Epson'.  I have run into the problem 4 times in the past month with new Epson printers bought at our local CompUSA store during it's 'going out of business' sale.

Guess my last word on the subject is to go shopping for a HP or Cannon.  HP has a much larger selection and, on some of them, they don't nail you on their ink prices.  Plus, their print quality is hard to beat.