Epson C11CA29201 Christmas Deals!
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Epson C11CA29201 Christmas Deals!.
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I purchased this printer on 9/25/08. All in all, a really satisfactory AIO printer. I've been waiting for Epson to build out a printer like this with all the options I wanted in one compact package.
There are some gotchas that you won't know until you dwelling it up. I was on the phone with Epson succor for over an hour before even they realized these features weren't available.
1. The Front Panel Scan To features only works if the printer is connected via USB. It does not work at all if the printer is connected to your network either hard-wired or wireless.
2. You can only utilize the memory card reader on the printer if it is connected via USB. Again, this feature does not work if the printer is connected to your network.
3. Per Epson befriend, you cannot expend both the USB and Ethernet connections together. It's one or the other. I'm going to try it anyway since it took Epson aid an hour to utter me that the Scan To and Memory Card Readers only work using a USB connection.
4. On a Mac (I don't know about Windows yet), you should uninstall any Epson Scan software for any other Epson AIO's that were connected to your computer before installing the Artisan 800 software. Also, be distinct to accelerate the Epson Scanner Utility and prefer the appropriate connection type. It defaults to LOCAL even if you position it up as a Network printer. That was a hurt in the butt since nowhere in the documentation does it notify you about this.
5. For a $300.00 printer, it should have included the Duplexer, which is a $29.00 option enlighten from Epson. Epson is showing no stock for the Duplexer as of 9/26/08.
Also, don't be fooled into buying extra print cartridges when you acquire the printer because the sales person tells you that the cartridges are only half fat . Epson actually included tubby print cartridges with this printer.
If you can live without the Scan To PC, PDF and Email features, as well as the Memory Card Reader working using a networked connection, than I highly recommend this printer. With these shortcomings, it is an trustworthy printer.
Install was a dart and the network capabilities are a plus. It has fax and copying capabilities and can also duplex print with the optional adapter. I haven't tried the CD printing yet but that is a nice plus also. It has a nice 7.5" front panel with a 3.5" viewing cloak which works wonderfully. The multiple memory card slots are also genuine.
I have to say I was initially very disappointed with this printer though due to the quality of prints. I went through 3/4 of the color cartridges trying to score an acceptable photo quality print. I tried multiple combinations of settings but nothing worked. I tried one last thing prior to returning the printer. I purchased the Epson 5 star Ultra Premium Photo Paper. WOW what a contrast this paper makes. I went from lousy spotchy dotted prints on Kodak Premium Paper to photo lab quality in an instant. I was using my previous Kodak Premium photo paper but unbiased could not obtain profitable results. I tried straight from the camera, from the printer and from the computer trying different combinations of settings nothing worked. I was down to about a 1/4 of the current cartridges when I finally switched paper. Do not consume the Kodak paper in these you will be disappointed. Kodak papers are optimized to work with Kodak inks which are not the same as Epsons. I am not positive what other papers people are using but the Epson 5 star works beautifully. I was on the edge of returning this up to that point. I am not distinct how the other Epson papers work yet I am a itsy-bitsy hesitant to try at this point. I mediate the manufacturers of these printers need to work together and do their papers and inks a miniature more interchangeable. But that is wishful thinking. Especially Kodak who are supposed to be the photo paper gods. Epson inks are definately made to use the Epson papers. If you want to extinguish a lot of ink trying to derive a friendly print expend other manufacturers papers which are optimized for their inks, or unbiased throw out your faded paper and consume some Epson Ultra Premium Photo Paper.
This printer replaces a recently kaput home Epson Stylus Photo 890. So far, the Artisan 800 is better in every map. It has the multi-page feeder for scans and copies, a very determined control panel, it looks astronomical, it seems to have a smaller footprint than the Epson specs suggest, and it makes labs-results-or-better photo prints on Epson premium glossy paper.
The paper tray is two levels, all plastic, and has many flimsy plastic paper guides, so it remains to be seen whether it holds together over time. The paper tray does own 8.5x11 paper plus 4x6 or 5x7 photo paper on the second level of the paper tray, which is a plus.
I've always owned Epson straight-through paper-path printers. I'm hoping this Epson folded-path mechanism works better than most of the HP printers I've ragged at the office.
Overall, a terrific printer so far.
UPDATED 11/18/08: Unprejudiced tried to load Avery labels sheet(s) to print Christmas labels and return address labels for the mother-in-law. This was a NO GO. This printer cannot feed these sheets, and there is no work-around (manual feeder, etc.) . When I went serve to the owner's manual and to the Epson online resource, there are zero entries on how to load labels sheets. "D'Oh!" Now I know why. My unusual experience with Epson online/email tech back had a three-week response time for a simple interrogate about changing an ink cart, so I don't anticipate a response until long after I need to print labels. Very very disappointing for an otherwise terrific AIO photo printer. I would have to knock my rating down to four stars.
UPDATED 05/07/09: I want to edit my rating down from four stars to TWO. Why? Three weeks ago the XP Pro SP3 Epson driver stopped working for MS Word 2007 after the weekly Windows Update fixes/patches were applied. The driver calm worked for every other installed app, including Excel 2007. Microsoft 2nd-level tech encourage reproduced the pickle, and declared the Epson driver didn't follow the MS API, and then Microsoft closed the encourage note. Epson says it cannot reproduce the predicament, and it has no avenue into MS tech back, so the Epson aid mark has been placed in limbo, and I can't spend Word 2007 anymore.
As a result, I had to uninstall Office Home & Student 2007 and revert aid to my traditional copy of MS Works 8, the Word 2003 reader util, and the MS 2007 Compatibility kit. This objective permits me to read and print existing .docx files, but now I'm stuck with creating only Works' .wps files.
Pretty disappointing for a current-generation Epson printer.
