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Review: Epson Kills the Printer Ink Cartridge (plus Video at link)
Wall Street Journal Total Return ^ | Aug. 4, 2015 6:27 a.m. ET | By WILSON ROTHMAN

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 ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Computers/Internet
KEYWORDS: computers; epson; printing
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To: smokingfrog

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.


21 posted on 08/04/2015 7:46:29 PM PDT by Bogey78O (We had a good run. Coulda been great still.)
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To: Swordmaker

$400-500, that is what I call a “killing.”


22 posted on 08/04/2015 7:48:16 PM PDT by Fungi
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To: Swordmaker

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.


23 posted on 08/04/2015 7:48:29 PM PDT by Sequoyah101 (It feels like we have exchaned our dreams for survival. We just have a few days that don't suck.)
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To: crusty old prospector
The margin simply moves from the consumables to the hardware. One way or another, you pay through the nose.

Still, I'd rather pay more for the printer and not have to fuss with replacing ink cartridges all the time.

24 posted on 08/04/2015 7:49:11 PM PDT by SamAdams76
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To: Swordmaker

Epson killed the ink cartridge...

Sung to the tune of Video killed the radio star.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iwuy4hHO3YQ&list=RDIwuy4hHO3YQ


25 posted on 08/04/2015 7:54:26 PM PDT by Beowulf9
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To: Swordmaker

A MAMMOTH STEP FORWARD for Photographers!

I trust that EPSON is going to include the full line of printer types .


26 posted on 08/04/2015 7:56:21 PM PDT by MeshugeMikey ("Never, Never, Never, Give Up," Winston Churchill ><>)
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To: Swordmaker

I just buy a new cheap printer when I run out of ink.


27 posted on 08/04/2015 8:00:59 PM PDT by umgud
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To: Swordmaker

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!


28 posted on 08/04/2015 8:14:38 PM PDT by TheBattman (Isn't the lesser evil... still evil?)
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To: dennisw
Good tip on the tape over ink nozzles. Wished I had thought of that years ago. My old HP P1100 PhotoSmart has finally decided to stop talking to any computer, and trying to get it to work with WIn 7 never produced even a burp.

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 $.

29 posted on 08/04/2015 8:14:42 PM PDT by doorgunner69
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To: TomGuy

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.


30 posted on 08/04/2015 8:17:59 PM PDT by doorgunner69
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To: cuban leaf

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.


31 posted on 08/04/2015 8:18:46 PM PDT by TheBattman (Isn't the lesser evil... still evil?)
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To: TheBattman

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


32 posted on 08/04/2015 8:21:20 PM PDT by Pikachu_Dad ("the media are selling you a line of soap")
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To: Swordmaker

Thanks. I pre-ordered from Amazon.

Does anyone know where one can be ordered cheaper than Amazon?


33 posted on 08/04/2015 8:21:57 PM PDT by House Atreides (CRUZ or lose!)
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To: Proud2BeRight

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...


34 posted on 08/04/2015 8:22:28 PM PDT by Paladin2 (Ive given up on aphostrophys and spell chek on my current device...)
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To: TheBattman

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


35 posted on 08/04/2015 8:22:43 PM PDT by Pikachu_Dad ("the media are selling you a line of soap")
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To: House Atreides

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdmbzba5TqM


36 posted on 08/04/2015 8:27:04 PM PDT by Pikachu_Dad ("the media are selling you a line of soap")
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To: Swordmaker

I agree with the comments about black and white laser printers. Saved me a ton of money.


37 posted on 08/04/2015 8:28:35 PM PDT by Mount Athos (A Giant luxury mega-mansion for Gore, a Government Green EcoShack made of poo for you)
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To: smokingfrog

More than likely getting the idea past the fathead in the upstairs office.


38 posted on 08/04/2015 8:29:49 PM PDT by rockinqsranch ((Dems, Libs, Socialists, call 'em what you will. They ALL have fairies livin' in their trees.))
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To: Swordmaker

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.


39 posted on 08/04/2015 8:32:30 PM PDT by Mozilla
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To: Swordmaker

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.


40 posted on 08/04/2015 8:34:18 PM PDT by Lexinom
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