Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

General discussion

Help with Choosing the right Printer?

Feb 3, 2004 1:10PM PST

Hi all-

I've been wracking my brain and the net for two months now trying to come to the right decision about what printer to buy that meets my needs. Unfortunately, just when I thought I had it figured out, I was told the printer I wanted (Epson Stylus Photo R300) was great for photos, but crappy for general printing.

Sooooo...the problem is this:

I work from home, and do a lot of my own brochures and printing for my company. My brochures include graphics and photos, so the photo part is important, but equally so, I include quite a bit of text so it needs to look good.

What's a girl to choose?!?

Any suggestions? I'm dying over here.

Thanks much-

Danielle
www.turtlebayjewelry.com

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
Re:Help with Choosing the right Printer?
Feb 3, 2004 9:26PM PST

I have the Epson C80 which is now getting a little older, but photos around the house are in frames from that printer. How much better do I need this to be?

The C84 is from memory 99 bucks so if the C80 dies (it's 2 years old), I have no issue with getting the new model.

It's great at general printing, but not as cheap as a laser for black/white printing, so maybe that's your issue?

Bob

- Collapse -
Re:Help with Choosing the right Printer?
Feb 3, 2004 9:39PM PST

I have never been disappointed by any of the recent crop of Epson printers since the x40 series (and you should hear my architect clients swearing about their expensive HP color printers).

While the Epson C8x series produces beautiful photos, BUT....when you hold one side by side with their 6 color models you can tell the difference, enough so that when I get my next printer it will be the 6 color just to have an edge in quality.

What makes you think that you will not like the B&W printing, this printer should be great for it, and very fast (of course a laser is always a lot better and cheaper per page).

- Collapse -
Re:Re:Help with Choosing the right Printer?
Feb 3, 2004 10:12PM PST

Well, in reading the reviews for the Epson, I've seen quite a few ppl mention that it's great for photos, but it's really lacking in the text only and general printing purposes. One reviewer stated emphatically that it's not good on that end of the printing scale. So this is my dilemma. I'd hate to buy the printer, and then find out that it's doing a horrid job printing my biz cards, brochures and flyers.

I just haven't been able to figure out what's a mid to high end printer that does has both capabilities and does them well. Does such a printer even exist?

-D.

- Collapse -
I like my HP
Feb 4, 2004 12:51AM PST

for what it's worth, I do a lot of photo and brochure printing on an HP 6122.

When I print pix and brochures with text onto good photo paper it looks absolutely stunning. if it prints a pic on regular paper it looks like garbage-- text looks a little blurry on regular paper too.

I have an old HP IIIP laserprinter for b&w text jobs.

just my 2 cents- fj

- Collapse -
The simple question.
Feb 4, 2004 2:15AM PST

Did you go and look at the output?

I've been to the stores and sample printouts are there.

But let's get something cleared off the deck. These printers are not LITHOGRAPHS. Some expect to make those 100 pound litho prints you see in brochures. I hope you understand this distinction.

As to the review, I can't say I agree. What I print out easily is better than most of what I get in the mail.

At what point is it good enough for you?

Bob

- Collapse -
Re:The simple question.
Feb 4, 2004 6:04AM PST

Thank you Bob for your response, though I have to say I was a bit taken aback by the "at what point is this good enough for you" comment. I'm just looking for some guidance, not a brawl.

I'm not looking to do litho's and my problem isn't the photos, it's the text. However, I think I'll just call Epson and HP at this point and see what they have to offer that meets my needs.

Thanks for everyone's advice, I appreciate it.

-D.

- Collapse -
Let me be blunt.
Feb 4, 2004 7:37AM PST

If I pull out a maginifying loop, I can see the dots on the 600 DPI laser output. I can't see such on the Epson C80. Both look very "black" on the character color.

My statement was not for a "brawl", but to try to have you tell what you found amiss with this printout?

That's why I asked if you've looked at print samples. Some won't.

Bob

- Collapse -
Re:Help with Choosing the right Printer?
Feb 4, 2004 6:35AM PST

If you do alot of basic "text" printing, then get a cheap laser printer. If you absoluty need a inkjet, then pick from Canon or HP models. Stay away from Epson and Lexmark. The Lexmarks are usually costly in ink replacements and the Epson's will delevope a "ink clots" or similar sooner or later if used alot, or hardly at all. -----Willy

- Collapse -
Re:Re:Help with Choosing the right Printer?
Feb 4, 2004 6:40AM PST

Can you tell me what you mean about ink clots? On the paper or on the cartridges?

Thanks again-

D.

P.S. I also wanted to mention that I have been to the store, I have seen the test print outs, however, not much can be judged by one printout and a lot of times, it depends on how well cared for that floor model is. Thus, I continue to ask questions.

- Collapse -
Re:Re:Re:Help with Choosing the right Printer?
Feb 4, 2004 11:40AM PST

OK...

All inkjet type printers tend to generate ink crud at the parking station and the ink cart(printhead) over time. Thus many a printer requires a cleaning cycles either manually or as part of its normal operation to get the print crisp as possible. Due to wear and use, ink crud can migrate to the priinthead and cause smudges or lose print quality. Epson, since they don't have a removable printhead NOT the ink carts tend to exhibit this alot more while others you can simply unmount other makers printhead and pass a clean cloth to remove such crud or grime. Lexmark is just abit more costly to operate per page and tend to have feed problems over time, but most printers do as well, just it seems Lexmark are more prone to it. I feel Canon and HP models seem to better handle on overall wear&tear these issues, but they too are effected just not as much.

As a last word, buy the printer you need and don't settle on price alone. Maybe find one that fits your needs but at a great price(yeah, its tough). I use an old HP820 model(2nd hand) and it still puts out, of course I got it at the Goodwill for $10. I fixed too many Epson's to suugest one, but its one of those printers you either swear by it or at it, even though it puts out some of the best print quality around, I just hate to fix them. Sorry for the long verbose...

good luck -----Willy

- Collapse -
Re:Help with Choosing the right Printer?
Feb 4, 2004 9:26AM PST

Go with a HP.