Epson March Madness a sign?

[silverhalide]

As the Epson promotion for the "loyalty" bonus + paper seems awfully good, Is it a sign of coming replacements for the  4,7 & 9880 series printers or is it the the economy? Have noticed a post predicting such at Photokina that might address the clogging & the new head design. It seems, from reading this forum, Epson could be feeling some pressure regarding the no clog HP Z series. Thanks.

Michael

ps. I found keeping my studio @ constant 50% humidity greatly reduced the clogging problems, even on the Cone K7 inks . . .

[jcote]

.....Epson could be feeling some pressure regarding the no clog HP Z series. Thanks.

Michael
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=181683\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Michael,

Something to remember about Epson is that a huge part of their market for the printers you mention is not strictly photography, but proofing in the graphic arts market (offset printing). In that market we have been very loyal to Epson but HP and even Canon have been making inroads because of speed. In this market, a 9880 will, many times, run almost constantly for 3 shifts, 6 or 7 days a week. Think of how much ink this means to Epson.

In this market, we don't much care about having matte black accessible or clogging as much as we care about color gamut, speed and resolution (we print type and line art too, which takes much more resolution than images). We are all hearing rumors that Epson will be showing new printers at our largest trade show, DRUPA in Düsseldorf which begins on May 29, 2008.

[neil snape]

Why would they replace the 4880, 7880, or 9880 so fast?
Other printer may be released though.

The best thing about the Z printer is the built in calibration  for press proofing. The added primaries proof better Pantone solids than other non rgb added printers can. It is true that the Z has to prove itself in that area though , meanwhile the proofing production runs are turning away.

Production printers would be best to look at the UI and comm  between the printer at Drupa if they can. There are a lot of things found in the Z 2100 3100 and 6100 that should be in all printers for these purposes. Pressure from these same users could create the need for them in other brands!
By the time they do however HP will already be on to even better features....

[silverhalide]

John, Thanks for the excellent post. There are also a certain number of individual photographer/printmaker/artists who have the same technical concerns as yours but do not run their printers non stop which, as has been pointed out, pretty much alleviates the clog problem unless you are printing on high cotton paper. I would venture to guess that a certain number of people print in bursts with idle time between. Also thanks for date on the introduction of new models.
Neil, Why? Because the 880 upgrade was so miniscuel while the needed improvements existe on the 11880 which is probably the next step for the rest of the line up.

Michael
stardustgrafik.com

[neil snape]

Neil, Why? Because the 880 upgrade was so miniscuel while the needed improvements existe on the 11880 which is probably the next step for the rest of the line up.

[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=181717\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

I agree the 4880 etc is not much of an update. So little that I don't think many current users of the already fine 4800 etc upgraded for the slightly better ink. IT is said the new Teflon coated heads reduce clogging even further, but still it is not a major upgrade.

At Photokina I think there will be new Epsons but rather in niche target areas like LFP eco solvent or the likes. Multiple cartridge double ups might be a good thing if they are not already there such as they did with the 4400. Who knows?

A new 2400 type will probably be needed as three years is getting tired.

Yet the x880 series is very new. I don't think Epson would drop a line this fast unless there was something wrong (which there is not) like the Epson 2000>

[Ernst Dinkla]

I agree the 4880 etc is not much of an update. So little that I don't think many current users of the already fine 4800 etc upgraded for the slightly better ink. IT is said the new Teflon coated heads reduce clogging even further, but still it is not a major upgrade.

At Photokina I think there will be new Epsons but rather in niche target areas like LFP eco solvent or the likes. Multiple cartridge double ups might be a good thing if they are not already there such as they did with the 4400. Who knows?

A new 2400 type will probably be needed as three years is getting tired.

Yet the x880 series is very new. I don't think Epson would drop a line this fast unless there was something wrong (which there is not) like the Epson 2000>
[{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Fespa early April in Genève, Drupa somewhat later and the Photokina in September are the likely places where the Epson Ecosolvent printer should appear. No sign of it or other printer developments on the CeBit last week my son said.


Ernst Dinkla

Try: [a href=\"http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Wide_Inkjet_Printers/]http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Wide_Inkjet_Printers/[/url]

[BJNY]

What is Ecosolvent?
Is it still pigment?

[Ernst Dinkla]

What is Ecosolvent?
Is it still pigment?
[{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

The inks normally discussed here are water based with pigment or dye colorants. In the sign industry inks are used that have an (aromatic) solvent that gives a better bond to plastics and the plastic media printed on do not need a coating. The Ecosolvents are a milder form of solvent inks that should be environmentally more save but the plastics to print on get a treatment for a better bond and the suitable media range is more limited. The solvent inks are too aggressive for the Epson type of piëzo heads but the heads can cope with the Ecosolvents. The signs will be used outdoors so the colorants will be pigment.


Ernst Dinkla

Try: [a href=\"http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Wide_Inkjet_Printers/]http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Wide_Inkjet_Printers/[/url]

[Mark D Segal]

I agree the 4880 etc is not much of an update. So little that I don't think many current users of the already fine 4800 etc upgraded for the slightly better ink. IT is said the new Teflon coated heads reduce clogging even further, but still it is not a major upgrade.

At Photokina I think there will be new Epsons but rather in niche target areas like LFP eco solvent or the likes. Multiple cartridge double ups might be a good thing if they are not already there such as they did with the 4400. Who knows?

A new 2400 type will probably be needed as three years is getting tired.

Yet the x880 series is very new. I don't think Epson would drop a line this fast unless there was something wrong (which there is not) like the Epson 2000>
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=181718\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Neil, the logic of timing for model replacement is a bit obscure to say the least. There doesn't seem to be any such thing as a normal product cycle in this business. It seems that as soon as a marketable technological improvement is ready to go, they issue. it. There was only about a 10 month lag between the 4800 and the 4000, but a longer lag between the 4800 and the 4880. So while one would expect a two or three product cycle, it is quite conceivable that the state of competition and the pace of technical change just won't allow it. That means companies and their customers who want to remain at the "bleeding edge" will be depreciating machines (financially) very fast. As to when Epson will release the 11880 technology in smaller machines is anyone's guess, but I would think by now they must feel compelled to overcome the clogging and switching issues across the professional product line (all sizes) as soon as possible.

[Doombrain]

I agree the 4880 etc is not much of an update. So little that I don't think many current users of the already fine 4800 etc upgraded for the slightly better ink. IT is said the new Teflon coated heads reduce clogging even further, but still it is not a major upgrade.

At Photokina I think there will be new Epsons but rather in niche target areas like LFP eco solvent or the likes. Multiple cartridge double ups might be a good thing if they are not already there such as they did with the 4400. Who knows?

A new 2400 type will probably be needed as three years is getting tired.

Yet the x880 series is very new. I don't think Epson would drop a line this fast unless there was something wrong (which there is not) like the Epson 2000>
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=181718\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

you're not based near Creteil, are you?

[neil snape]

you're not based near Creteil, are you?
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=182942\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Nope, Paris 15th . Wouldn't mind being back in Toronto these days!

[Doombrain]

http://www.printweek.com/DigitalWeekly/New...C-DigitalWeekly

[neil snape]

How can you not like 950ml cartridges?
This is not the only news Epson will have but the rest is yet to come.

[Doombrain]

http://www.printweek.com/DigitalWeekly/New...C-DigitalWeekly
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=184367\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

oh yeah? what do you know??

[mmurph]

oh yeah? what do you know??

It is a classic Catch-22. Those that know have a non-disclosure agreement and can't say anything.

Only those who know nothing specific - like me - can post. Hence the general quality of the speculation on the next Canon, etc.    

Good luck!

Best,
Michael

[ChrisS]

I wrote to Epson to ask if there's a plan to launch a replacement of the R2400. They replied that Epson "currently do not have any plans to replace the Stylus Photo R2400. This is still a current product and is available directly from EPSON".

Do they ever acknowledge the intention to replace a product before it actually happens?

[Mark D Segal]

I wrote to Epson to ask if there's a plan to launch a replacement of the R2400. They replied that Epson "currently do not have any plans to replace the Stylus Photo R2400. This is still a current product and is available directly from EPSON".

Do they ever acknowledge the intention to replace a product before it actually happens?
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=184754\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Of course not - do you think they're nuts?