I have owned an Epson Stylus C64 since late '03, but it appears to have died on me (right when I had just installed new ink cartridges, too - not to mention right when I was just about through setting up my new system!) Basically, even though the computer reports that everything with the printer is OK, the unit simply won't print. The print head moves and paper feeds through, but absolutely nothing, not even an ink smear, gets printed. I've tried cleaning the heads and realigning the nozzles, and uninstalling and reinstalling new cartridges (two sets, one generic, the other Epson-made) without any effect. Epson thinks the hardware is malfunctioning in some unspecified way and wants me to take it to their local service center, but it's out of warranty now and besides it would probably cost more to repair than I spent on it in the first place, so....

I am considering getting something in the same series (maybe a C86) since they're relatively cheap and can use the same cartridges, but I need additional input. I don't really do a whole lot of printing but would like something reasonably reliable; the big problem I had with the C64, when it was working, was that I often had to push the paper feed button to load a page when the unit had been sitting idle for some time. Sometimes I even had to cycle the power.

Any suggestions?

-Joe-

Just read a very good report on the Cannon PIXMA iP4000 (same to the iP6000 but without the built in card reader)

5 seperate cartridges
Cost of cartridges (UK) Black £11.00 - Colour - 4x£8.00
4,800x1,200
Connection USB - Paralell - PictBridge (whatever that is! :confused: )

test results
speed - mono 25ppm - colour 17ppm
photo ink cost on 4x6 paper 27P - A4 paper £1.08 (edge to edge)
Borderless printing 4x6 - 5x7 - A4
Tested speed on 4x6 1min 07 secs & A4 3mins 05 secs (Colour Photo printing)

Thinking of getting rid HP7760 (it is a load of junk) and getting one myself

Got a Target (http://www.target.com/gp/browse.html/602-4358959-7469412?%5Fencoding=UTF8&node=1198048) near you? If you watch for the sales, you can usualy find a nice printer for less then the cost of ink :eek: The link above has several for under $50.00

Got a Target (http://www.target.com/gp/browse.html/602-4358959-7469412?%5Fencoding=UTF8&node=1198048) near you? If you watch for the sales, you can usualy find a nice printer for less then the cost of ink :eek: The link above has several for under $50.00

With thanks, I think I had better stay away from Lexmark (which has most of the cheapest printers in that listing). In my experience, their ink is sinfully overpriced and the color print quality goes to junk after only a few pages.

I'd agree with staying away from lexmark. Not only is their ink expensive, they do tend to take over the printing system, and it's a bitch to get around if you later add a different printer.

Epson printers that use the durabrite ink are good - the ink is waterproof so it doesn't smudge. HPs printers use printheads built into the cartridge which makes them expensive, but if the ink dries on the head, it is just that cartridge that is up the creek - you can replace it.
I haven't used any canon equipment, so I can't comment on them.
I use a C64 myself, and had problems with alignment which needed repair when I first got it, but apart from that it's fine. Separate colour ink cartridges are a must whichever machine you choose, and you are probably right about the cost of a replacement being cheaper than a repair.

I'm with ErnieK; check out the Canon PIXMA series. They're reasonably quick, they produce a good print, don't use much ink and you don't have to get a loan from the bank to buy new ink cartridges. I bought a PIXMA IP2000 based on this review (http://www.tomshardware.com/consumer/20041025/index.html) and have been very satisfied.

I guess I could say I'm partial to HP's as I have 3 of them. If I do need to buy ink, I can get a multi-pak at costco for a reasonable cost and they fit any printer I have. But, if I were buying a printer just for light simple printing, I would get the cheapest thing on sale. It comes with ink and when that runs out, buy another one. You can donate the used one to a school or other needy organization and lots of times they get ink donated (or maybe reduced cost) too. Works for everyone ;)

Unless colour printing is important to you I would do away with the false economy of ink jets and get yourself a laser printer such as http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproductdesc.asp?description=28-104-266&DEPA=0

The costs have come down, the cartridges last a very long time, a sheet prints out in a second or two, .......

I'm with ErnieK; check out the Canon PIXMA series. They're reasonably quick, they produce a good print, don't use much ink and you don't have to get a loan from the bank to buy new ink cartridges. I bought a PIXMA IP2000 based on this review (http://www.tomshardware.com/consumer/20041025/index.html) and have been very satisfied.

I just went over to the Best Buy site. They don't have the IP2000 but they do have the IP3000 and IP4000. I have a $20 BB gift card so I might be able to get the price of the IP4000 down to $115 or so if I go with that, or the IP3000 down to $80. Of course, I might get real lucky and find an "open-box" item; I know the quality of those is variable but I've had good luck with them in the past.

-Joe-

I take a lot of digital photos and the Canon Pixma iP4000 has been invaluable to me. :)

Deddard
but if the ink dries on the head, it is just that cartridge that is up the creek - you can replace it.

If the head dries up just hold it under HOT running water for a few minutes and let it dry naturally. This will release the ink once again.

Bassman
As for HP, well opinions differ, and I beg to differ in a "hugely large" way over HP printers, and thier so called warranties. I have in the past had another HP printer that was nothing but bother and bad photo printer. This one, the 7762 is no better. The only reason I was mug enough to buy another HP was because when the 7700 gave up (less than two weeks out of warrany) I had a supply of HP cartridges in the house.
Never again.

WELL Ernie, I see how you are!!! :D:D:D
Not that I have a passion for HP anything, just a recommendation on a very affordable printer with ease of use and install (imho). I do know that the one photo printer we have, the pictures print out very nicely as long as we use a photo cartrage. The color and texture quality is markedly different over the standard color cartrage. With photo printing, you absolutely get what you pay for ;)

I found the Canon Pixma IP1500 at Best Buy today for $50. Given that I really don't do that much printing (maybe 2-3 pages a week, average) and don't have any need for bells and whistles, even the minimal ones found on the IP3000 and IP4000, _and_ given that I really need to budget after having gone over my target on putting my new system together, I figured that was the best choice. Ink is quite cheap indeed compared to Lexmark and Epson; I bought a complete replacement set of BC24 black and color for $28 (compared to $61 for Epson) and I don't think I'm going to go through ink that fast anyway.

-Joe-

Bassman
In the UK we have an HP sauce. Comes in bottles and is similar to your ketchup but is brown and spicey. This is an aquired taste, the same as printers. It is lovely on fried/grilled foods or pop some into a stew if you want. You would definately love this HP and is one that I would definately in a "Hugely Large" way reccomend :D ;)

The first link tells you about it, the second link show where you can buy it.

http://www.waitrose.com/food_drink/wfi/ingredients/herbsspicesseasoningsandcondiments/9904112.asp

http://store.shopenglandonline.com/hpsauce16ox.html

Depends upon the usage.

If you print a lot of documents. BW Laser is imo very good choice, both in saved costs
in long term, speed, how well it prints out.

In any case, just don't get Canon S200, had one of those and well, not a good experience.

Funnily enough, I think you can also make the case for a laser printer if you only print very few documents. There are no nozzles to jum up when the printer is unused for long periods.

The print head on this Pixma 1500 (and, I imagine, on the other models in the Pixma series) is removable. This should be a big aid to cleaning, because you can't remove the print heads/ink cartridge chambers in other manufacturers' printers when the nozzles get jammed. There are also software utilities for cleaning the nozzles. I just installed the printer and printed out a couple of pages, and it works like a charm.

-Joe-

Ernie,
This uniquely English sauce has been made to the same recipe since 1899. The recipe contains no fat, artificial flavours,artificial colours, and is naturally low in fat
:eek: Does it contain fat or not??? :confused: :D
Regardles, I will be ordering a bottle of this very soon and reporting back ;) I have a feeling this is similar to out A1 sauce. Are you familiar with that?

Joe, glad you found a printer that works for you ;) When the cartrage has the print head on it, that is very nice. My HP photo printer came with a little holder stand for the photo cartrage. It snaps into this firmly and has a soft rubber seal around the print head. This prevents it from drying and clogging (http://www.doubletoe.com/).
Good luck with your new printer ;)

This prevents it from drying and clogging (http://www.doubletoe.com/).
Awful. Simply awful! :rolleyes: ;)

Joe
Sorry for piggy backing your thread but it is not often that I feel as though I am in a saucy mood as the girlfriend will testify too :D

Bassman
Quote:
Originally Posted by HP sauce site
This uniquely English sauce has been made to the same recipe since 1899. The recipe contains no fat, artificial flavours,artificial colours, and is naturally low in fat

I think the wording has to do with the way the law dictates the fat content in a food product should be shown. All foods, even fat free ones, have a small amount of natural fats. The following link will explain it better than I can

And
The only A1 I have heard off is the one between Edinburgh and London :D

Well, not to encourage off-topicness, BUT....

From the description/ingredients/look of the bottle, I think that HP Sauce may really be very similar to the A-1 brand of steak sauce that's very popular in the US. I like it on occasion myself, mainly for roast beef, but I really prefer Worchestershire sauce for steaks.

-Joe-

Well, not to encourage off-topicness, BUT....
Too late. :p

Pickapeppa (http://www.pickapeppa.com/) is my personal favorite. I have a friend who's been known to stick a bottle or the stuff in his pocket when he goes to a restaurant for steak. It's that good!

Oh, and I'm glad you found a printer that suits both your needs and wallet. I've read that it's a good idea to print a color and b&w page once every week or two with the bubblejets. I just print a test page if I haven't used mine in a while because it uses both the black and a little color.

Welllll, Since we're off the subject :p:D
While at a birthday dinner last night, I sat across from a couple who moved here from the UK less than a year ago. I was told to save my $7 on ordering the HP (http://store.shopenglandonline.com/hpsauce16ox.html) sauce and instead to try the Branston Pickle (http://store.shopenglandonline.com/branpic22ozj.html). I was told that spreading this on some nice cheddar cheese on a cracker was what English food was all about. :D

Bassman
You are now entering into the realms of the exceptionally good grub. Slap a slab of strong cheddar onto a lice of buttered bread add a good portion of raw onions and top of with Branston. You will think you are in heaven. It's fabalisticlyfantasticallyscrumtious! :D

Another good use for Branston Pickle is to add it to a bacon sandwich!

That is why the gods left olympus - no bacon sandwiches!

Sorry to disagree with you Dave but the reason they left was for Burn's night. Lots 'o haggis, tatties, and neeps - along wi' a nice large drop of the water 'o life.

Well friends, since we've moved into the culinary realm (meat sauce in particular) and the moderators haven't bumped this thread to the After Hours Club--which I would have done about 5 posts ago if I were the Moderator--I'll weigh in with my opinion on meat sauce. Anyway, joea64 appears to be pleased with his purchase and no longer needs a printer recommendation.

When I was in Costa Rica some years ago I discovered a sauce called Salsa Lizano which is good on just about anything...meat, fish, potatoes, rice, etc. When you hear "salsa" you immediately think hot sauce, but this is actully more spicey than hot, something like Worchestershire with a zing. Hard to describe but good enough that whenever I hear of anybody going to Costa Rica I ask them to bring me back a liter.

Makes sense ;)
Go HERE (http://www.pcguide.com/vb/showthread.php?p=227811#post227811)

Relztrah, drop me a line. No e-mail and no PM??? ;)

i would suggest you to go for an AIO, since u geta a scanner, copier and even a fax along with it, if u don't mind spending go for the HP Officejet 7410, wireless AIO. 802.11g, uses Gen-2 catridges, has 50 page ADF , fax, also has option of sending fax tru the computerand the printing speed is also amazing, prints almost 33pages in black and 28pages in colour...also has multiple card reader and yes its pict bridge compatible

The quality of home-printers for photos is crap, not to mention how much you have to pay for ink, paper, the printer.. just goto the drug store and print them out on their $15,000 machine for a quarter a piece. It ends up being about the exact same cost, and most of the time cheaper...

Well, not to encourage off-topicness, BUT....

From the description/ingredients/look of the bottle, I think that HP Sauce may really be very similar to the A-1 brand of steak sauce that's very popular in the US. I like it on occasion myself, mainly for roast beef, but I really prefer Worchestershire sauce for steaks.

-Joe-


I like A1 very much, I had it for the first time when i was in LA a couple of years ago. AND it tastes better than HP, but it doesn't work here in the UK :rolleyes:

We're running on 240 Volt electrics and it doesnt do your ptiner head much good. Too much charge !! :p

Back to the program though, The Epson R300 is a great printer for not too much money either. It will throw out over 400 pages of full colur before you need to consider replacing carts, of whch it holds seperates so you not wasting ink. Plus it has a built in card reader!

We're in the UK, but here it is anyways :) (http://www.boltonpc.co.uk/Shop/Product_Details.asp?DP=10505&RP=0&BSP=0)

i went for the canon PIXMA iP1500 bubble jet, photo quality is out standing, only seen the 4x6in glossy photo paper.

haven't seen a printout from word yet. (its not on my pc yet!)

I'm in the market for a printer also. Someone at home broke my very nice HP 5550. :mad:
Never had a Canon, but I'll try it. One question...are the nozzles built into the ink cartridges, as for example HP? Or are they permanently in the printer...as for example Epson? I've had trouble with Epson printers because of that.
Thanks.

I print hundreds of photos a year. Printers are dirt cheap but don't be fooled. You often have to take a mortage on your home to buy the ink! That being said Epson is my choice, I own 3 of them. I use a R300 for photos and produce exellent glossy comparable to any other brand. The secret to successful printing is practicing with your printer. Most do an exellent job but you need to understand the various settings. Second, staying current on the software revisions, Windows XP caused some of the older model printers to preform unexpectedly. Finally, Cost of ink. I have ordered generic ink from http://www.inkscartridge.com/ for years without a problem. This will cut you cost by more than 50%.

For printers I would say go for HP. They are the best !!