Topic: Epson 3800 future ? (Read 8822 times)

dennysb · « **on:** January 02, 2008, 04:48:27 pm »

I been looking a wide format printer to move from my (consumer-level) I9900 canon printer. I been leaning towards the Epson 3800, the range of papers and good quality profiles for the epson line gives me great comfort.

I requested/received Epson's print samples for the 3800 and 4880 in December. Today, I got a call by one of the big wide inkjet printers in my state ( I checked the "you can contact me box").

We had a nice chat on all issues related to my needs and such. BUT then I got the most interesting thing happen...

The gentleman suggested I waited a little on the purchase of the 3800, at least until some of the upcoming shows (not sure when, maybe FEB) go thru. I asked why, he told me they have been hearing the 3800 is going to be discontinued, so he probably would expect a replacement of some kind. He stated they have not been told any more specifics.

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At this point I am a little disconcerted:

- Sure maybe he is a nice guy BUT. That is not the way business is done. He should not be telling me (or anyone) this - after-all this is probably "company only" info LOL

- You usually hear more rumors around, but this is the first one I heard

- If my memory serves me well, with Epson's cycle, I would expect this to happen later this Year, not now.

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Anyway, not big deal, but this got me enough to pause on when to buy now.

THis could be totally wako information as far as I am concerned.

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TMcCulley · « **Reply #1 on:** January 02, 2008, 06:55:21 pm »

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The gentleman suggested I waited a little on the purchase of the 3800, at least until some of the upcoming shows (not sure when, maybe FEB) go thru. I asked why, he told me they have been hearing the 3800 is going to be discontinued, so he probably would expect a replacement of some kind. He stated they have not been told any more specifics.

----

Anyway, not big deal, but this got me enough to pause on when to buy now.

THis could be totally wako information as far as I am concerned.

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Have you looked at the new pro printers from Epson and the changes to the K3 ink set. I would suspect at the very least there is going to be a new 3800 that uses the new inks say 3880 maybe. If you really prefered the 4880 prints over the 3800 I would wait otherwise I would wait for the price drop of the 3800.

Tom

dennysb · « **Reply #2 on:** January 02, 2008, 07:43:17 pm »

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Have you looked at the new pro printers from Epson and the changes to the K3 ink set. I would suspect at the very least there is going to be a new 3800 that uses the new inks say 3880 maybe. If you really prefered the 4880 prints over the 3800 I would wait otherwise I would wait for the price drop of the 3800.

Tom
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Yes, and you are right things like the new K3 inks could be added to a "presumably" new 38xx printer. The only thing that potentially worries me on the 4880 is the blank ink swapping and cost consequence.

Anyway, it would not kill me to wait a month or so and see of something new is coming or if this is just all in my head

mmurph · « **Reply #3 on:** January 02, 2008, 09:10:54 pm »

That is pretty standard advice this time of year on an older model product.

The PMA show is coming up in early February. Announcements should start in a few weeks. Each company has a history of how "early" before the show - or during - that they announce.

Abdulrahman Aljabri · « **Reply #4 on:** January 02, 2008, 11:32:34 pm »

Thank you for posting this topic. I had just made a similar thread at fredmrinda and found more info here.

Schewe · « **Reply #5 on:** January 02, 2008, 11:50:04 pm »

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The gentleman suggested I waited a little on the purchase of the 3800, at least until some of the upcoming shows (not sure when, maybe FEB) go thru. I asked why, he told me they have been hearing the 3800 is going to be discontinued, so he probably would expect a replacement of some kind. He stated they have not been told any more specifics.
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Pure speculation on his part I'm afraid...and one of the reason Epson and other companies try to keep future plans and products under strict NDA. Which I seriously dount he was under...which means that those that really know can't say and anybody who does say either doesn't know (or is breaking an NDA).

Buy what you need when you need it...if you don't need it now, it doesn't really matter does it? But to not buy what you need now and therefore lose weeks/months of use by holding off on some supposed rumor doesn't make much sense either.

JeffKohn · « **Reply #6 on:** January 03, 2008, 12:38:32 am »

I would expecte a 2400 update before a 3800 update, after all the 2400 is quite a bit older.

I'd love to be wrong though. If Epson were to release a 3880 with basic roll-paper support (no integrated cutter, same as 2400), I'd be first in line to buy one. To me this seems like a no-brainer, and IMHO it wouldn't even really cut into 4880 sales, because cutting prints from a roll manually is a PITA and definitely something that a high-volume printer wouldn't want to do.

dennysb · « **Reply #7 on:** January 03, 2008, 02:25:39 am »

Thanks Schewe!

It entered my mind to ask you on this thread of what you think. But ended-up considering it inappropriate to do so, since I knew that, if there were anything you knew, well, it would be under NDA.

For may years, I worked with companies like Apple and Microsoft, so BOY do I know NDAs lol. With that said, as in the case of my computer purchases, I prefer to wait for any big events (i.e MacWorld, PMA) if I am contemplating purchases with few weeks of the event AND/OR the purchase is not critical.

Thanks again!

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Pure speculation on his part I'm afraid...and one of the reason Epson and other companies try to keep future plans and products under strict NDA. Which I seriously dount he was under...which means that those that really know can't say and anybody who does say either doesn't know (or is breaking an NDA).

Buy what you need when you need it...if you don't need it now, it doesn't really matter does it? But to not buy what you need now and therefore lose weeks/months of use by holding off on some supposed rumor doesn't make much sense either.
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digitaldog · « **Reply #8 on:** January 03, 2008, 09:45:15 am »

Listen to Jeff here, this salesman is kind of full of do-do. He doesn't know what he's talking about or he's in serious NDA troubles (and dealers are rarely given this kind of info for obvious reasons).

If you are ready for a 3800, get it. People who sell based on fear (of terrorists or unannounced products) should be avoided.

dennysb · « **Reply #9 on:** January 03, 2008, 12:13:42 pm »

Copy that - Thanks for the feedback Andrew

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Listen to Jeff here, this salesman is kind of full of do-do. He doesn't know what he's talking about or he's in serious NDA troubles (and dealers are rarely given this kind of info for obvious reasons).

If you are ready for a 3800, get it. People who sell based on fear (of terrorists or unannounced products) should be avoided.
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NashvilleMike · « **Reply #10 on:** January 03, 2008, 12:56:03 pm »

Just as an aside - I am a relatively recent 3800 buyer (a couple of months ago) and I went through the same mental gyrations concerning a possible 3800 replacement. I mean - it doesn't take a brain scientist or rocket surgeon to see that a 3800 upgrade with the new inkset is a distinct possibility. However, I realized that most of what I print these days is B&W - probably 80% or higher, and given those parameters, while I'm sure the newer inkset would have some advantages in color, I'm not so sure the new inkset would "blow away" the 3800 in terms of B&W prints. Add to this I wanted the printer now and didn't feel like waiting.

As for the 3800 - I'm an old darkroom printer (both B&W and color) and even did some ciba work long ago, and I definitely say in B&W, the combination of the 3800 and the new (and $$$$) Epson Exhibition Fiber paper is in my mind quite possibly superior to anything I saw out of the fixer tray back in the day when Ilford came out with Galerie and everyone was going 'wow' about that paper. So if you're in the mood to do some really high end B&W printing TODAY, get the 3800 and don't worry about what comes out next month/year/trimester/decade.

-m

fike · « **Reply #11 on:** January 03, 2008, 03:47:53 pm »

I don't think the difference between the Vivid Magenta K3 inks and the regular K3 inks is significant. Pixel-peepers gnash your teeth on that if you like.

What would a salesperson have to gain by suggesting someone delay their purchase? Usually the opposite is true. The salesperson sounds genuine to me.

If I were in the market for a 17" printer without roll feed, I would jump at the 3800. It has a great mix of larger cartridges, wider paper, lower initial cost, and cheaper ink.

I waited practically 6 months extra to get the 7880 over the 7800. I would honestly say it wasn't worth the wait. Even if they do announce a replacement for the 3800 in the next month, it will be at least 3 months more before it is available to the public. So, you won't have a printer until mid-May.

Stop worrying. Buy what is available if it meets your needs for the foreseeable future.

Abdulrahman Aljabri · « **Reply #12 on:** January 04, 2008, 01:01:52 am »

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Stop worrying. Buy what is available if it meets your needs for the foreseeable future.
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I don't think anyone is worrying about the next printer just beating to the ground the current printer.

Its more of a curiosity and also a potential for major savings. If the 3880 is announced in three weeks for example, its price is going to drop $300-$400 in no time. With that much savings its nice to get all your initial supply of paper for free.

kbolin · « **Reply #13 on:** January 04, 2008, 02:12:55 am »

I question what kind of dealer he is. I've been involved in various business ventures for the past 20+ years and if I can make a sale today and have your money in my pocket before you leave my store I'm going to do it even if I know there is a new product coming in a few months. Geez... I might even make the sale twice if you like the new one that much.

Kelly

NikosR · « **Reply #14 on:** January 04, 2008, 06:03:06 am »

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I question what kind of dealer he is. I've been involved in various business ventures for the past 20+ years and if I can make a sale today and have your money in my pocket before you leave my store I'm going to do it even if I know there is a new product coming in a few months. Geez... I might even make the sale twice if you like the new one that much.

Kelly
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Well, I have to object to that. It is not that simple when you're talking about significant customers or long-term supplier-customer relationships.

dennysb · « **Reply #15 on:** January 04, 2008, 04:46:01 pm »

Two possible universes:

1) he did mention the 4880 too so discouraging the 3800 could of make me go with the next level printer 4880.

2) He is a Canon "Mole" and was trying to make me buy a IPF 5100 instead. He did, I recall mention the IPF5100.

I guess the #3 could possibly be that he is a nice guy too - hummmm... LOL

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Well, I have to object to that. It is not that simple when you're talking about significant customers or long-term supplier-customer relationships.
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Author Topic: Epson 3800 future ? (Read 8822 times)

NashvilleMike