Your choice of printers....

[Chrono_Wanderer]

Originally posted by Kurt
-Epson: shitty drivers, you can mostly find ink everywhere, cheap, services varies greatly on location.

Brought 3 Epsons here. I prefer them over HP. Their drivers arn't very poor (Stylus 640 to CX5200 across Win 95 to WinXP). They just keep getting better and better, and I don't trust any brand other than Epson. lol. About drivers, it also makes me think about their scanners. I think a few months ago we were talking about problems with HP's TIWAN scanner drivers: it's based on IE or something if i recalled correctly. So far my new CX5200 isn't bad at all, in fact, I really love it! (The hardware is just GREAT: scanning 2400x1200x48bpp, 5720x2880 print, color copier, durabrite ink etc) However, from the past threads I have learn Epson's printing heads arn't replaced with the carriage, so that can be a minus.

However, all my 3 printers are working nicely, and photo quality is excellent. I think HP is better in multi-purpose things, but Epson isn't a poor brand (when printing photos)

So far, most of my friends have all switeched to Epson form HP, lexmark, canon. Epsons are very reliable, at least in my past experiences.

[K6-III]

Canon for inkjets due to cheap ink.

Samsung for lasers due to cheap and great printers...

[Kurt]

Originally posted by Chrono_Wanderer
I think a few months ago we were talking about problems with HP's TIWAN scanner drivers: it's based on IE or something if i recalled correctly. So far my new CX5200 isn't bad at all, in fact, I really love it! (The hardware is just GREAT: scanning 2400x1200x48bpp, 5720x2880 print, color copier, durabrite ink etc) However, from the past threads I have learn Epson's printing heads arn't replaced with the carriage, so that can be a minus.

HP scanners are boo boo The hardware is OK. Bulky, but OK. Software is a pain Has been a pain for a while, and I don't see any improvement

Epson scanners are pretty good, although the perfection 1250 was less good than the 1240. not sure about the 1260. Agfa used to have excellent scanners too, then they released the all-usb ones and changed the software. yuck. now canon seems to be doing a reasonable job, although you never know what product they will choose to support more than a year...

[az]

Linotype-Hell (Now Heidelberger Druckmaschinen GmbH)

AZ

[SpiralDragon]

epson has given me nothing but headaches... whent through at lest three difrent modles in one year becuse of the "great print qulity" but HP is alot sturdier... even though more expensive... but they have longevity...

i agree with GURM "has spoken" and all others

[Kurt]

Originally posted by az
Linotype-Hell (Now Heidelberger Druckmaschinen GmbH)

AZ

yeah well, try to get one for under 100 €

[Wulfman]

I'm quite happy with my brother laser printer (HL 1450) so far.

HP printers are a no-no for me, for the reason AZ mentioned. phone-home (well, server is apparently in singapore ) drivers? logging the type/serial of the printer & the ink catridge? number of printed pages?! wtf?

mfg
wulfman

[rugger]

I have a HP Deskjet 930C, its a very good printer if you can still find one.

Its has native XP drivers, if you don't trust HP downloaded drivers. It is reasonably fast, uses massive cartridges (45mL black, 18mL olour) hasn't clogged despite the summer heat here, and weights several kilos. It prints almost laser quality black pages, and brilliant colour. It has a flat paper tray, that can store paper without it becoming bent. (which I hate about most inkjet printers)

This HP made me change my mind about inkjet printers. (I no longer think of them as useless piles of junk, unlike the cheaper printers I used before)

[the main lobe]

Canon seems good

I picked up a Canon i850 about 5 months ago, It prints with great quality and speed. No driver issues with Win xp, 2k, or 98 so far, not sure about linux support. The ink is cheap. My only problem so far has been my black ink drying up when I left it at school unused for 6 weeks during Christmas break. Replacemnt was 5 bucks. Cost was 130 after rebate and Dell software/peripherals coupon code. If I were to buy inkjet again I'd get the same printer. Laser is great for long data sheets though.

[Chrono_Wanderer]

Originally posted by Kurt
Agfa used to have excellent scanners too, then they released the all-usb ones and changed the software. yuck. now canon seems to be doing a reasonable job, although you never know what product they will choose to support more than a year...

Oh yea. Totally agree I purchased the Agfa SnapScan E40. The scan is so crappy. Right away I returned it and brought a cheap Microtek SnapScan 4800. Recently switched the Epson CX5200, the best scanner I have ever had. Very speedy and quiet. Software is good too.

And yea, speaking of Agfa scanners, few days after I returned it, I went to their web site and was told they discontinued to make anymore scanners thus no new drivers. HAHA luncky me.

[cjolley]

Epson SUX!!!!!!!!
They used to be good, but now they are terrible!
Very expensive per-page over their life time.

Canon S520 - Cheap & Good.
Chuck

[Technoid]

I've got S520's big Brother
The S630

It prints like a dream.....

Unfortunatley I am having nightmares and I hate its guts

[Indiana]

I have the Canon S750 - it's a great printer for FAST and good quality text prints. However, photo printing is only mediocre at best - noticeable dithering and bit of "harsh" "non-natural" colors.

If you want to buy a good universal printer now, I'd strongly suggest looking at the Canon i850.

For best possible quality photo prints, you should definitely go to a shop and let them print a page with the Epson StylusPhoto950/960. I can guarantee you WILL be amazed by the photolab quality this thing reaches on Epson's premium glossy photo paper.

I have bought on of these for printouts of photos taken with my Olympus digicam - so I have both, the Canon S750 for fast cheap good quality text/bw prints and the Epson Stylus Photo950 for best quality photo prints.

I didn't encounter any problems with either software/drivers up to now. Both, the Epson and the Canon drivers seem to work fine under Win2k and WinXP.

[gt40]

Do yourself a favour- whatever you get make it a laser - the cost of ink will offset the intial cost of the printer within a year ( considering moderate printing) - and you will be able to print on any media (cheap paper, or even transparencies).

[Chrono_Wanderer]

color