OK - we're an Epson dealer so you can assume that my opinions are somewhat biased (but I don't think that they are). We can sell Canon, too, but because anyone can sell them, and because Canon just gives them away to get market share or whatever, we stay away from them. The reason that I'm responding to this post is that I just can't understand the fascination with Canon. There are just too many downsides that seem to get overlooked, and I just can't understand the enthusiasm.
Like the fact that Canon has introduced new wide format printer models in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010 (maybe they've finally gotten it right). And, the Canon website currently lists 10 different wide format models as graphic arts printers and an additional 10 models as general use printers. As a dealer, how could one conceivably stock ink and print heads for all of the former and current models? My guess is that dealers don't stock much of the inks because they can't afford to keep the enormous variety of them on their shelves. And, since Canon and their dealers are giving printers away, I would guess that they are counting on making their money on selling the supplies, because they need to make money somewhere.
Re. the supplies, for the IPF8300, a set of 12 700ml ink cartridges sells for about $3,300. And, print heads for the printer, which Luminous Landscape posters have said may be required as frequently as twice a year, sell for about 1,100 per pair. This compares to a cost of about $2,200 for a set of 11 700ml cartridges for an Epson 9900, with no additional cost for print heads. Even if the Epson isn't as frugal (a review on Luminous Landscape and our experience in our demo room both indicate that they are frugal, but who knows how this really compares to Canon), it sure costs a lot less to keep an Epson going when replenishing supplies. Getting a great deal up-front doesn't necessarily mean that you will be getting a great deal over the life of the purchase (remember, they need to make money somewhere).
A couple of our customers have Canons and haven't had good experiences. One, where we replaced an Onyx RIP PC that drives 4 different printers, just put in a new IPF9000, to replace an IPF9100S that had to be less than 2 years old. They went from a 12 color Canon to an 8 color and told me that the 12 color IPF9100S was just too sensitive and picky. And, that they never really got much use out of it. They stuck with Canon because they are one of the large number of Canon resellers in our area and can get them super cheap. A second customer has a new IPF8300 that was sold as a good graphic arts proofing solution - and it just isn't working in that application even though a different local Canon dealer guaranteed that it would work (this dealer didn't know the industry and didn't have a clue about the capabilities of the printer). So, my little bit of experience with Canon printers has not been very favorable.
The final point, Epson is very selective about who they allow to sell their printers - they expect a lot from their dealer network, re. knowledge of their product and the dealer's knowledge of the businesses that they sell to. If someone buys an Epson, they are more likely to get very solid support from the dealer that it was purchased from. Since my company can sell Canon's, since our local copier companies can sell them, since anyone who sells a 69.00 Canon desktop can sell one, I don't believe that the level of support that you can get by buying an Epson printer will necessarily be there.
The feedback that I've been seeing here re. Canon vs. Epson has been bugging me for months. Maybe it's a mistake to do this post, but I believe that there is more to making this decision than has typically been presented. In any case, to all of you out there who are still deciding, here is a relatively new perspective to make the choice more difficult than it already is. Good hunting.
Tony