Epson 1280 R.I.P.

[venchka]

The old 1280 decided to stop making decent prints back in December or January. Last night I tried to clean it up a bit. Hoping that maybe I could get it going again. I somehow managed to get the cartridge carriage off track. Now it won't even print the test pattern. It wasn't broke until I fixed it!

Looks like I'll be printing letter size for awhile. That's not such a bad deal actually. In the unlikely event that I need an inkjet print larger than letter size I can send it out.

What bugs me is that you have to buy a ginormous, obscenely expensive printer to get the good ink sets. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[RandySmith]

PM sent

[Marv800]

My trusty old Epson 1280 died a couple of weeks ago. I loved that little guy.

[venchka]

April isn't very kind to 1280s, hey?

[carrbowl]

Wayne, would you like to borrow my Cannon i900??? he he....

[venchka]

Thank you so much Renae! Mrs. Wayne's HP Officejet is meeting my printer needs at the moment. That's the good news. The bad news? It's 250 miles from Houston.

On the other hand, if/when I ever need another printer, I would like to see what Canon prints look like. I may take you up on your offer.

[venchka]

Being the obsessive/compulsive prson that I am, did a bit of analizing and comparisizing.

I have a letter size HP photo printer. It's working fine for my needs up to letter size paper. It won't accept Moab Entrada Natural Rag 300, but I'll get over that.

Reading this and other threads, and doing a bit of poking about on the interent, it appears that all 3 photo printer companies reserve all the goodies for the big bucks high dollar 17" and up printers. The Epson 3800 is the leader of the pack. Canon and HP have loyal followers. All of the entry level 17" printers are on the wrong side of $1,000.

Then the lightbulb went on:

For the very infrequent prints larger than 8x10 I can send them out.

I can make 11x14 B&W prints in the darkroom.

$1,000-$1,500 buys a ton of film, paper & chemicals or a good headstart on a larger format system.

I won't be shopping for a new inkjet printer anytime soon.

[drchance]

I wonder if the 1280 and 1270 cartridges are the same. I have a 1270 I haven't used for a while ... free to a good home.

[KJ Smith]

Donnie,

I think Wayne is without a computer this weekend. I am sure he will respond next week.

Also, Welcome to the forum. Its full of helpful folks, like you.

Kevin

[rwzeitgeist]

Originally Posted by drchance

I wonder if the 1280 and 1270 cartridges are the same. I have a 1270 I haven't used for a while ... free to a good home.

Yes, they are the same. I retired my 1270, which is free, with ink, to a good home.

Bob

[venchka]

Donnie,

Welcome aboard! Kevin's right. This is a great place.

I wish I had seen this over the weekend. I'll take it! Not too sure when I can get to the Woodlands. Send me a personal message and we can figure out a way to get together.

Bob,

Thanks! If I were in the DFW area I would take it off your hands!

[Donb10]

I got an add via e-mail from Atlex this morning where they are offering the Epson 1400 for $175.00 with free shipping. It might be worth looking into.

Just thought id pass it on...................

[venchka]

Thanks Don. I have multiple offers of 1270 printers for the cost of gas to pick them up. The nearest one is in my neighborhood. Just waiting for our schedules to mesh.