I have been an HP fan for many many years, since before they even made printers. But in researching what printer to buy, I run into the same theme over and over again with the HP... stories of people having to exchange (after fighting with HP) their B9180 printers sometimes multiple times in a single year. I have read about HP not being willing to do overnight exchanges on the overnight exchange program unless a refurb unit is in stock. There has been so much smoke about this printer that I can't ignore it and feel there probably is a fire... and I don't want to get burned.
PS: I read that you just purchased a B9180. I wish you the best of luck with it and hope you have no problems whatsoever with the printer....Show more →
The reason I ask is I work for an HP and Epson reseller. I bought my B9180 for 2% over cost. I'm also in a position to give feedback to HP on issues such as you have read about.
We don't have the specialization needed to sell the Epson 3800 and above photo printers though, otherwise I would get all of you good deals on them.
Michael Nelson wrote:
Of course there is. There always is.
You just have to decide when something suits your needs at a price you are willing to pay, and buy in. I know there will be a better one next year, but if this one does what I need then it's what I will buy now.
You're right and this is exactly my stance: you get the products you need when you need them. I'm in the market for a new printer but as my needs aren't pressing at the moment... I'm looking into buying one somewhere in the middle of next year. If the successor ain't there at that point in time, I'll get the 3800.
Emile Gregoire wrote:
You're right and this is exactly my stance: you get the products you need when you need them. I'm in the market for a new printer but as my needs aren't pressing at the moment... I'm looking into buying one somewhere in the middle of next year. If the successor ain't there at that point in time, I'll get the 3800.
What I've been able to find indicates that the 7900/9900 are a new line of printers. They are not designed as a replacement for the 7880/9880 (which supposedly will continue).
I've read that there are no immediate plans to replace the 4880 and 3800.
This information does not really make sense to me. But it seems to be holding true. No 4900 was announced and there have been no changes to the 3800.
The biggest complaint on the X800/X880 lines has been the ink switching cost. The X900 series resolves this and if deployed in a 17" printer, it would completely resolve the biggest concern people have had with the 4880 and should result in more sales.
I have a favor to ask of the 3800 owners. Would you mind measuring the spacing between the feet on the bottom of the printer, ie: the little feet that actually touch the tabletop?
I ask because I have limited room for the printer and would like to put it on a rolling table that has a top measuring 18" x 25". I realize the printer is 27" wide, but it appears from the photos I have seen that it sits on four little feet, and that those four little feet might be inset from the outermost edges enough to fit on my table. I don't care if the rest of the printer hangs over the sides, but I would like to make sure the four feet are supported.
My 3800 is 26.5" wide at the front (assume it would be the same at the rear) and the outer edges of the front feet are 25" across. Again, I assume the rear measurements would be the same but cannot verify without moving a lot of gear to get to the rear. The overall footprint depth is 14".
I have the B9180 and while it can provide great results, it has been very finicky, with "service stalls", paper jams, and I had to return two units due to malfunctions (good thing I had the extra three year warranty, and it's true: even though it's an "overnight" warranty they won't send you one overnight unless a refurb is in stock. It happened to me but luckily they found a refurb in a couple of days).
I am seriously going to consider Epson for my next printer....
Michael, the feet seem to be rectangular in shape and are molded as part of the printer underside. There are four across the front and looks like three across the rear...they all have soft rubber pads on them where they meet the table. The out side measurement I gave previously is for the two outside front feet as the other two would not make a difference since they are interior to those (across the front).
Note Well; I just bought the R2880 after careful analysis of the use/cost ink numbers of the 2880 vs the 3880. (If you search this forum, the discussion and numbers are available). The 3880 is designed for high volume printing, and if so used, is more economical on ink than the 2880. I chose the 2880 as a high end "hobbiest" machine and have not been disappointed in the least. The prints are magnificent, the colors rich and vibrant. No complaints at all.
David
Been reading Eric Chan's excellent pages on the 3800 and was dismayed to read that the 3800 drivers have a major problem under Vista. .... printing 96% of images and then spitting the page out?
I was hoping this maybe was something that has been solved, but on the Epson site the latest drivers appear to be a year old (posted on 12/07/07), so I guess this must still be a problem? Or is Eric's FAQ out of date?
I've been using the 3800 with first Vista 32 bit and now 64 bit without any problems. I simply downloaded the Vista driver from the Epson website and from the first print, everything was fine.
That's where I looked, and the Vista printer driver there is over a year old. There is a firmware upgrade from a couple days ago, but that is "to improve overall ethernet communications".
DIS Ottawa wrote:
I've been using the 3800 with first Vista 32 bit and now 64 bit without any problems. I simply downloaded the Vista driver from the Epson website and from the first print, everything was fine.
I'm also in a position to give feedback to HP on issues such as you have read about.