OntheRez Offline Upload & Sell: On
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Uinta,
The problem with information provided in response to your question is that while I have no doubt each person is accurately describing their experiences there are so many variables about use, inks, paper, environmental conditions, etc., that it is hard to make a decision based upon the mixed responses offered here.
In contrast to others' reports, I finally peddled my Canon (don't remember model # but it was the largest before floor size) for $25 at a yard sale and thought I'd done good. It stunk. In contrast I replaced it with the Epson 3880 and have had only a few small problems with it - like when printing 8x10s on 8.5x11 paper it regularly likes to spit the first sheet out claiming a paper jam but push clear and it prints. In general it works a charm. I live deep in the Sonoran Desert and believe me it gets incredibly dry here. My weather station has reported 1% relative humidity on many occasion. I've never had a nozzle jam and probably run the nozzle utility about once a year. I print regularly, but not daily.
One issue with a 44" printer is that they take up a lot of room - actual floor space - plus the room needed around them need to feed and retrieve. If you put yours in the basement, you'll have to connect it with Ethernet. Given that you aren't going to print BIG very often, I'd suggest using a print service to do that sort of work. There are excellent companies out there. It's a bit like the folks that buy a $150k RV and use it say 10 days out of the year. Me? I can spend a lot of nights at a prime InterContinetal resort before I'd get anywhere near $150K.
On the other hand, like the RV if you have the bucks and the urge then you don't need to rationalize. Just get what you want. As for the knocks on Epson's larger models, I don't have direct experience but do suggest you check with a master printer like Jon Cone who gets extraordinary service out of his.
Robert
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