 Re: RIPS and Fast Films
Perhaps I was unclear as to the order of events. The printhead on the printer quit first. One week after the printhead was replaced ($280) the cartridge on the fastINK bulk feed quit. The bulk ink bag is almost full having just replaced the old one, but it won't print after innumerable head cleanings (there's ink in the bulk ink cartridge as well as the bag, but it won't draw ink through the tube). The printer WILL print with a small FastINK cartridge, but I don't want to buy another bulk ink system for fear either the printer or the bulk ink will go out. I can continue using the small FastINK cartridges in the meantime. The Epson may work fine indefintely, but if the printer quits again on me and I end up waiting a week or so for repairs, I'm screwed, and frankly, I'm not excited about putting more money into it. And while the Epson does a good job while it works, if the HP9800 goes south, I can run down to CompUSA and pick up a new one for the cost of an Epson printhead in less than an hour, and I can make that printer work.
While I'm sure most users are getting good service life out of the Epsons, and I realize ANY piece of equipment can quit on you, I'm just trying to minimize last minute surprises like the one the Epson gave me when I needed it and didn't have a backup. |