Printer dilemma help? [Archive]

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Zemo

Jul 2, '10, 12:26 PM

I have Canon Pixma ip660d which is about 4 years or so old. Prints great, real nice text and pics. Was a few hundred bucks back then. Well it looks like the Print head has died. The printer says it's not there and the ink cartrages don't light up any more.

I can get a print head for for about 50-60 bucks or should I just buy a new printer. I have another all in one cheapy for every day stuff, but I really want a separate one for pics as I just got a new eos slr camera and want nice pictures printed.

Any recommendations on good photo printers that are reasonable?

Thanks,
Jamie

Mikey

Jul 2, '10, 12:39 PM

Don't buy an HP Officejet

It's a piece of junk

megoapesnut

Jul 2, '10, 12:43 PM

I have always been a die hard Epson fan. They just seem to have the best printers with the best looking papers. I have an Epson 4880 which is a quite expensive printer, but photos are better than anything else, period. I have some friends who have other brands and they are always having trouble with them. HP printers (at least they used to) have an awkward loading procedure and friends are always getting paper jams. Lexmark printers are just junk and photos do not look very good. Canon is probably the next best brand IMO, so I would not hesitate to get another if you had good success with yours. I have just been an Epson fan since the first photo printer came out and my 4880 has lasted me several years and is still going strong.

Anyway, not sure what your budget is, but here are some recommendations in several price ranges

Epson Stylus Photo R2880 - $599
Epson Stylus Photo 1400 - $299
Epson Stylus Photo R1900 - $399
Epson Artisan 50 - $99

If money is no object, this is the grand daddy of photo printers. This baby uses a laser to automatically keep the heads aligned and cleaned. I love it. I probably don't use it often enough to justify the price. But I was able to purchase it back when I still had some money.

http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/jsp/Pro/SeriesStylusPro4880/Overview.do?BV_UseBVCookie=yes&iref=internal_search

Zemo

Jul 2, '10, 1:31 PM

What's you opinion on this one. Looks like a lot of bang for the buck?
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Canon-Pixma-MP560-Wireless-Photo-All-In-One-Inkjet-Printer-Copier-Scanner/12534988

toys2cool

Jul 2, '10, 1:41 PM

What's you opinion on this one. Looks like a lot of bang for the buck?
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Canon-Pixma-MP560-Wireless-Photo-All-In-One-Inkjet-Printer-Copier-Scanner/12534988

sounds like a good deal to me, can't go wrong with canon

megoapesnut

Jul 2, '10, 2:56 PM

Looks pretty comparable to the Epson Artisan 50, plus you get wireless. I think the Aritsan might be a 6 color compared to the Canon's 5 color, but I don't think you'd see much of a difference.

kingdom warrior

Jul 2, '10, 3:00 PM

I like the old hand crank mimeograph printers in school that made the paper smell really good....:smiley1:

Zemo

Jul 2, '10, 3:26 PM

Looks pretty comparable to the Epson Artisan 50, plus you get wireless. I think the Aritsan might be a 6 color compared to the Canon's 5 color, but I don't think you'd see much of a difference.

Thanks, I think I may try it at 90 bones. I mean is 50 plus for printhead on pixma. The resolution looks pretty high. If not I'll just keep moving up the ladder.

Thanks Guys!

cjefferys

Jul 2, '10, 3:29 PM

Yeah, that one looks nice. I'm a fan of the Canon Pixma printers too.

Mikey

Jul 2, '10, 3:32 PM

I like the old hand crank mimeograph printers in school that made the paper smell really good....:smiley1:

It that the ones that left blue powder everywhere ? :grin:

LadyZod

Jul 2, '10, 6:03 PM

I'm a fan of the HP Photosmart's.

I used to use epsons, but the print heads go out after so many prints. At least with HP's each time you change a cartridge, you essentially change the print head. (Which explains the high cost of the ink cartridge.)

When you print as much as I do, it's worth the added cost, as essentially you're giving your print a tune up on each change.

ctc

Jul 3, '10, 8:45 AM

Hmmmm....

HP stuff is good. I've got a Cannon BJC-250 that I've been using for the last 15 years. Cannon stuff is very durable, and after you punch it, it goes right back together.

Don C.

Zemo

Jul 5, '10, 5:29 PM

Just wanted to update, in case some is looking for a good photo printer. I went with the Canon mp560 I linked to and I have to say I'm very impressed.

Prints at Color: 9600 x 2400 dp
Double side print
wireless
takes all mem cards
fast
two paper feeding
lcd
Awesome photos

less than a hunded bucks