Posted on 08/04/2015 7:25:55 PM PDT by Swordmaker
The new EcoTank printers cost more up front but can churn for years without running dry
Epson's new printers change the ink-onomics of your home office. WSJ's Wilson Rothman explains why paying more will make your ink-cartridge hassles disappear.
It was after midnight, and I was facing a ticking-clock real estate transaction. All I had to do was print 15 pages of black-and-white contract, sign it and fax it back. Only halfway through, my printer ran out of ink—magenta ink! Thus began a chain reaction culminating in my nearly throwing the printer out the window. I ended up at Kinko’s.
We all have a printer story. They run out of ink at the worst possible time, or worse, nag us about running low on ink when there’s plenty left. So how much would you pay for a printer that doesn’t run out?
Epson, the maker of my nightmare printer, has finally put an end to the horror of ink cartridges, at least for people willing to throw cash at the problem up front. The five new EcoTank series printers look like normal models, only they have containers on their sides that hold gobs and gobs of ink. How much? Years’ worth. Enough that your children—or at least mine—could go on a two-hour coloring-page-printing bender and you wouldn’t even notice.
(Excerpt) Read more at wsj.com ...
There’s only a few major manufacturers and none of the. Wanted to gut the market for ink. They probably saw the eventuality and decided it’s best to be first out than last in a dying market.
$400-500, that is what I call a “killing.”
Sweet! The Brother Color Laser has a one track mind..LOW ON TONER!!! Even when it is not!
This looks like the way to go.
Still, I'd rather pay more for the printer and not have to fuss with replacing ink cartridges all the time.
Epson killed the ink cartridge...
Sung to the tune of Video killed the radio star.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iwuy4hHO3YQ&list=RDIwuy4hHO3YQ
A MAMMOTH STEP FORWARD for Photographers!
I trust that EPSON is going to include the full line of printer types .
I just buy a new cheap printer when I run out of ink.
So Epson finally figured out that people really like CIS systems - being able to buy ink in “bulk” and keeping the supply running, all at a massive cost savings? About time!
Never again HP with their lack of follow up on driver support. Was already sick of their Indian tech support from other products. No more HP, no way. Hope Epson or Canon are better, no experience with either.
Perfectly good printer last time I used it (Xp computer that ran it died), useless due to a company that will not bother to support it.
I hear you on the cheap laser stuff. After our Samsung ate it's last plastic gear, we bought a Brother wireless that is an amazing thing for the price. Not so long ago lasers were several thousand $.
When you find a color laser printer that produces photo quality prints, be sure to post about it. Until then, inkjets are the only choice. My next inkjet will be a dedicated photo only printer. Have a laser for text and B&W.
I too have an Epson 837 (assume “Perfection 837). It prints great, even with the cheap CIS system. Only issue I’ve had with this one is that it throws up an objection about not being able to recognize a cartridge every so often.
I ran an CIS in my previous Epson Perfection and it lasted about 2 years before the head just plain died.
My office had a nicer Epson Workforce with a CIS - it only lasted about 5 months before the heads just crapped out. Epson refused to honor the warranty because of the 3rd Party ink (didn’t matter if CIS or individual cartridges). And of course, the firmware records every use of non OEM ink - and your bypassing the warnings... Sigh.
CIS systems have been out for a while.
This one is $45.
“Continuous ink system (CIS) for Canon PIXMA iP4500 consists of a high-capacity ink reservoir holding about 8 ink cartridges equivalent of printer ink per each color that is attached to a cartridge via secure tubing. The tubing acts as a vacuum to extract printer ink from the reservoir and keep the cartridge full of ink. CIS cartridges have a permanent chip installed, which will automatically reset it when your printer power is turned off and back on.
Continuous Ink System comes with an abundance of printer ink to get you started. For your convenience, there is a filter built into the ink tank, to prevent outside agents from contaminating and affecting the print quality.
Content:
Canon PIXMA iP4500 CIS
Premium printer ink
Instructions
“
Thanks. I pre-ordered from Amazon.
Does anyone know where one can be ordered cheaper than Amazon?
In the recent past that indication has been relieved by installing a couple of other cartridges until their software in the Printer “forgets”. It’s actually been a couple of years since I refilled the primary printer. I don’t print so much these days and have bought a new cartridge to get my taxes done...
This is the EPSON system...
Continuous ink system (CIS) for Epson Artisan 1430, Stylus Photo 1400 consists of a high-capacity ink reservoir holding about 8 ink cartridges equivalent of printer ink per each color that is attached to a cartridge via secure tubing. The tubing acts as a vacuum to extract printer ink from the reservoir and keep the cartridge full of ink. CIS cartridges have a permanent chip installed, which will automatically reset it when your printer power is turned off and back on.
Continuous Ink System comes with an abundance of printer ink to get you started. For your convenience, there is a filter built into the ink tank, to prevent outside agents from contaminating and affecting the print quality.
Content:
Epson Artisan 1430, Stylus Photo 1400 CIS
Premium printer ink
Instructions
I agree with the comments about black and white laser printers. Saved me a ton of money.
More than likely getting the idea past the fathead in the upstairs office.
I gave up using a printer due to all the hassle with ink. II decided to just use a libraries’ printer or go to Fed Ex Kinkos or whatever to print out things. These printers are a start.
I’m in concurrence vis-a-vis laser printers because of the speed and reliability. Even with this improvement, it’s doubtful whether the performance will match that of a decent laser printer.
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