In case it’s of interest, I’ll share the reasons I bought the Canon Prograf Pro 4000, with the Canon RU-41 Second Roll accessory, instead of replacing our Epson 9900. I also own, or have owned previously, the Epson 4900 and the HP Z3200 24” model.
Our Epson 9900’s head developed a Black channel clog that proved difficult to clear with consistency. The clog developed in absolute temporal relationship to a PK > MK switch, the first black ink swap that had been made in many months that machine. Thankfully, a good local NFP Fineart Gallery has shown interest in receiving the machine as a donation, and has made what I hope will prove a worthwhile decision to replace the 9900’s head at some discount offered them.
1) Canon offers a second roll accessory, called the RU-41 in the case of the 44” machine, and this second roll functions as either a take-up roll, or as a second media source roll. I had ruined enough long 44” prints in the paper basked of our Epson 9900, that I’d grown quite sensitized to this issue. I’d also ruined a handful of long 17” prints from the 4900 machine. The possibility of a take-up roll had become of enormous interest to me, so much so, that the second roll alone played a dominant place in my decision to buy the Canon system.
2) PK/MK ink swap become a sore point for me. It’s not just the time and the ink, but I (and others) believe that a seldom used black ink line becomes a setup for sending congealed particulate material to an otherwise clean head. I am virtually *sure* the black ink swap killed my 9900’s head.
3) When I amortized the number of hours spent, banded prints thrown away, and the Epson Service Tanks full of ink costing real dollars, I had become weary of the Epson brand. By contrast, our 24” HP Z3200 simply Always worked, without either head cleanings or head replacement. Our Epson 4900, and 9900, has just not been in that reliability league, from Day One. But for the really excellent service provided by our Epson reseller and service consultant, Tastar Data Systems, I would have literally paid to have the Epson machines removed from my home long ago. Truth is, that had Tastar been able to sell me a Canon machine some time ago, I'd have gladly bought the Canon from them because I like dealing with Tastar so much.
4) Canon offers some meaningful media configuration tools, it does appear; and possibly some ease in loading roll materials over the HP and Epson machines. That the 44” Canon machine was nearly a foot less wide than our Epson 9900, even at the cost of being a little deeper, was of benefit in my room. These items were of minor importance to me.
5) I haven’t lived nearly long enough with the Canon to have a feel for what long term experience is going to be like. Our Epson 9900 was DOA when it was bought in 2013, so we’re doing better there. Still, when new, the Epson’s worked and offered clear nozzle checks with reasonable amounts of use. Canon’s documentation is absolutely the worst in its class - truly numbing - but you can call a human being on the phone and get some clarification on the many unclear points shown in Canon’s documentation. Canon’s front panel menus are OK and, aside from being written by someone with little English language technical writing, offer some guidance. Some feel unnerved by ink longevity tests showing Canon to have fallen behind Epson and HP but, as I see it, my prints are just not that important as history items and I'll be long in the ground before any of my prints deteriorate.