Thanks John, very interesting. Now that we know Epson has the technology for putting nine channels on a printhead, customers only need await the model AFTER the 4880 when this design may finally be introduced to large format desktop printers, avoiding these aggravating and costly ink purgings to change media. That's when it will be worth up-grading from a 4800 etc. It was also a bit disappointing to see there is no improvement of DMax for matte papers. Perhaps this has just plateau'ed, making it all the more sensible to have trouble free media switching for those images that just cry for the richer blacks.