My experiences with the Epson R200 inkjet printer for DVD ..

Archived from groups: rec.video.desktop (More info?)

"Jan Panteltje" wrote ...
>I bought the Epson R200 about 2 month ago.
> So far I have printed about 30 DVDs and 20 CD-R with it.
>
> Using Verbatim for DVD and ThatsWrite for CD-R.
> Plus points of the R200:
> This printer is quiet (compared to the old Epson Stylus 460) I have.
> The printing quality is good.
> The printing software is useful.
> Minus:
> The printer uses a flimsy sort of drawer you have to put the disk in,
> and the printer is supposed to automatically grab this.
> This does not happen, you have to manually push in that thing.
> In doing so it gets damaged (plastic is shaved of, when the rollers fail
> to grab it).
> So, mechanically a bad construction.

I have an R300 and have seen no such problems. But I have printed
only ~150 disks so far.

My major complaints are speed (it takes almost as long to "prepare"
to print as it does to print a disk), and the cost of the ink cartridges.

> The other problem is that if you are not VERY careful to set inner (and
> probably outer) diameter for the printable area for your disks right, in
> the
> Epson software, the printer will leave a lot of ink in that area, in case

A ruler and a few seconds of typing don't seem that difficult? My R300
also came with drivers that will calibrate the exact location with your
disks and printer.

Except for the cost of ink, I'm pretty happy with my R300.

Archived from groups: rec.video.desktop (More info?)

Jan,
I have this printer, the R200. It is probably my 7th inkjet printer since I
started printing.
And by far the best one so far!!! I would by it just for the DVD Printing
feature alone. At $99 USA Price it was well worth it. I also use Verbatim
Inkjet Printable Blanks, they are great, cheap and compatible.

I too wish the inks were cheaper, but that is how they make their money, not
on the initial printer price.
So factor that in when deciding on a printer. If you pay $300 for a printer
and save a few bucks with ever ink refill or $99 at purchase and a few more
bucks with each refill, comes out to the same in my experience.
Years ago a printer of this quality would have easily cost $400.
Plus all the make shift CD and DVD printer conversion packages out their all
used flimsy cardboard inserts to try
and allow direct DVD printing.
This one at least has a front slot and a sturdy plastic insert, which has
none of the scraping problems you described.

Also I never ever had any ink problems like you describe, I adjust the inner
diameter a few mm at a time, very easy to see what you need to set it at. My
settings are in millimeters, so I don't know what you meant.

Oh and the manual clearly states to insert the DVD holder yourself until the
two lines match up!
Are you not doing that? It is not suppose to pull it in all the way, you
have to get it in place first.

So I suggest you read the manual first and then if you still have these
issues, return it for a new one since it must be defective because mine has
none of these issues you mentioned.

I haven't found the need to water proof my DVD's yet, since most people keep
them clean and dry.
But in the past I have used clear varnish spray and it worked well, people
even use hairspray which adds a water proof layer.

Good Luck, hope you get it worked out soon, it is the best printer I've had
yet.

AnthonyR.


"Jan Panteltje" <panteltje@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1097672290.p10TUWmxqMgE/onuddUAfg@teranews...
>I bought the Epson R200 about 2 month ago.
> So far I have printed about 30 DVDs and 20 CD-R
> with it.
>
> Using Verbatim for DVD and ThatsWrite for CD-R.
> Plus points of the R200:
> This printer is quiet (compared to the old Epson Stylus 460) I have.
> The printing quality is good.
> The printing software is useful.
> Minus:
> The printer uses a flimsy sort of drawer you have to put the disk in,
> and the printer is supposed to automatically grab this.
> This does not happen, you have to manually push in that thing.
> In doing so it gets damaged (plastic is shaved of, when the rollers fail
> to grab it).
> So, mechanically a bad construction.
> Epson has been informed by many people about this it seems (google),
> and does NOT reply to service request on their website.
> While the site (in my case ) speaks Dutch, it ends in German....
> So no service what so ever from Epson, clearly in violation of any
> consumer
> laws we have here.
> Given the flimsy construction, if it breaks down, you are out of your 130
> Euro or whatever.
> The other problem is that if you are not VERY careful to set inner (and
> probably outer) diameter for the printable area for your disks right, in
> the
> Epson software, the printer will leave a lot of ink in that area, in case
> of the CD-R this ink does not dry, and if you then put the disk in the
> drive
> the centrifugal force jettisons star like stripes (from the center) of
> color
> across the disk surface, ruining the layout.
> This could be prevented if only the setting in the software was
> (in millimeters), anywhere corresponding to reality (it is not).
> Now I take a piece of tissue paper and carefully clean the inner disk area
> after printing.
> So you have to use trial and error, and not all disks are the same, this
> causes coasters.
> To make the ink water proof you need to spray the disks with some
> protection
> spray.
> However on the ThatsWrite disks this spray causes the surface later to
> become
> transparent, interesting now you get this CD-R rainbow effect through the
> picture on the surface. On the Verbatim DVDs this does not happen.
> Anyways the spray I tried does not really improve the quality, as it
> causes a
> slightly crackled surface.
> I bough the Epson because I liked the piezo electric method of ink
> spraying,
> My old Stylus Color always worked well... but 4 sure I would not recommend
> this R200 model to anyone.
> Another problem is of cause the price of the ink cartridges, and the
> 'chip' in
> each cartridge, that 'measures' the ink used.
> It does not. It estimates the ink used, and it may signal 'empty' if it is
> not.
> There are chip resetters on the market for this, add this to the price.
> The software only runs on windows, and not in Linux, neither in Linux
> using
> wine emulator.
> The good thing is that you can make very professional looking DVDs, in
> true color (pictures come out 100% on Verbatim DVD).
> The pictures come out too dark on ThatsWrite CD-R.
> In printing on normal paper this printer sometimes causes black edges,
> sometimes smears ink on the corners.
> So, for what it is worth.
>
> Jan

Archived from groups: rec.video.desktop (More info?)

Jan, would these comments apply also to the R300???

TIA, Dwight Huffman

Jan Panteltje wrote:
> I bought the Epson R200 about 2 month ago.
> So far I have printed about 30 DVDs and 20 CD-R
> with it.
>
> Using Verbatim for DVD and ThatsWrite for CD-R.
> Plus points of the R200:
> This printer is quiet (compared to the old Epson Stylus 460) I have.
> The printing quality is good.
> The printing software is useful.
> Minus:
> The printer uses a flimsy sort of drawer you have to put the disk in,
> and the printer is supposed to automatically grab this.
> This does not happen, you have to manually push in that thing.
> In doing so it gets damaged (plastic is shaved of, when the rollers fail
> to grab it).
> So, mechanically a bad construction.
> Epson has been informed by many people about this it seems (google),
> and does NOT reply to service request on their website.
> While the site (in my case ) speaks Dutch, it ends in German....
> So no service what so ever from Epson, clearly in violation of any consumer
> laws we have here.
> Given the flimsy construction, if it breaks down, you are out of your 130
> Euro or whatever.
> The other problem is that if you are not VERY careful to set inner (and
> probably outer) diameter for the printable area for your disks right, in the
> Epson software, the printer will leave a lot of ink in that area, in case
> of the CD-R this ink does not dry, and if you then put the disk in the drive
> the centrifugal force jettisons star like stripes (from the center) of color
> across the disk surface, ruining the layout.
> This could be prevented if only the setting in the software was
> (in millimeters), anywhere corresponding to reality (it is not).
> Now I take a piece of tissue paper and carefully clean the inner disk area
> after printing.
> So you have to use trial and error, and not all disks are the same, this
> causes coasters.
> To make the ink water proof you need to spray the disks with some protection
> spray.
> However on the ThatsWrite disks this spray causes the surface later to become
> transparent, interesting now you get this CD-R rainbow effect through the
> picture on the surface. On the Verbatim DVDs this does not happen.
> Anyways the spray I tried does not really improve the quality, as it causes a
> slightly crackled surface.
> I bough the Epson because I liked the piezo electric method of ink spraying,
> My old Stylus Color always worked well... but 4 sure I would not recommend
> this R200 model to anyone.
> Another problem is of cause the price of the ink cartridges, and the 'chip' in
> each cartridge, that 'measures' the ink used.
> It does not. It estimates the ink used, and it may signal 'empty' if it is not.
> There are chip resetters on the market for this, add this to the price.
> The software only runs on windows, and not in Linux, neither in Linux using
> wine emulator.
> The good thing is that you can make very professional looking DVDs, in
> true color (pictures come out 100% on Verbatim DVD).
> The pictures come out too dark on ThatsWrite CD-R.
> In printing on normal paper this printer sometimes causes black edges,
> sometimes smears ink on the corners.
> So, for what it is worth.
>
> Jan

Archived from groups: rec.video.desktop (More info?)

"Jan Panteltje" <pNaonStpealmtje@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1097792402.tQ10GxsgCXZSRj9LQ1oGkA@teranews...
> I refuse to believe BTW, as someone mentioned here, that they do not make
> a
> profit on the printers.
> A fact is that Epson has practically disappeared from the shops here in
> the
> Netherlands.
> I asked in one shop (DynaByte), why this was, and the reply was : 'Epson
> gives
> no service'.
> I can confirm that one.
> Still have not heard from them after a month..
> Epson from Japan? How about this picture:
> http://panteltje.com/panteltje/dvd [...] h-bomb.gif
>
> JP

Jan,
Sorry to hear about such bad service of Epson products in the Netherlands.
It is bad of them.
However hear in the USA, Epson support is great, and products readily
available on all stores and web.
But that doesn't help you there.
Can you at least order a replacement dvd holder and see if it helps you?

I get ink cartridges online for my R200 for about $11 each, so about $66
total USA, and a new Printer costs around $99.
With this new printer I am forced to buy Epson ink as it is too new to buy
counterfeits yet.
I use to order online cheap ink for my older epson 800 for a few bucks, way
cheaper than epson ink.
So maybe their not making as much on ink as they hoped.

AnthonyR

Archived from groups: rec.video.desktop (More info?)

AnthonyR:

Publishing Perfection, which sends me catalogs, now shows both the
Epson brand inks for the 200/300 printer series, and an alternative
brand for those same printers. the "name" brand inks are ~$11.00
each, and the "alternative " brand inks IIRC are ~$9.00 each.

"AnthonyR" <toomuchspam@tolisthere.com> wrote in message news:<L0Fbd.166227$4h7.30220895@twister.nyc.rr.com>...
> "Jan Panteltje" <pNaonStpealmtje@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:1097792402.tQ10GxsgCXZSRj9LQ1oGkA@teranews...
> > I refuse to believe BTW, as someone mentioned here, that they do not make
> > a
> > profit on the printers.
> > A fact is that Epson has practically disappeared from the shops here in
> > the
> > Netherlands.
> > I asked in one shop (DynaByte), why this was, and the reply was : 'Epson
> > gives
> > no service'.
> > I can confirm that one.
> > Still have not heard from them after a month..
> > Epson from Japan? How about this picture:
> > http://panteltje.com/panteltje/dvd [...] h-bomb.gif
> >
> > JP
>
> Jan,
> Sorry to hear about such bad service of Epson products in the Netherlands.
> It is bad of them.
> However hear in the USA, Epson support is great, and products readily
> available on all stores and web.
> But that doesn't help you there.
> Can you at least order a replacement dvd holder and see if it helps you?
>
> I get ink cartridges online for my R200 for about $11 each, so about $66
> total USA, and a new Printer costs around $99.
> With this new printer I am forced to buy Epson ink as it is too new to buy
> counterfeits yet.
> I use to order online cheap ink for my older epson 800 for a few bucks, way
> cheaper than epson ink.
> So maybe their not making as much on ink as they hoped.
>
> AnthonyR

Archived from groups: rec.video.desktop (More info?)

> A ruler and a few seconds of typing don't seem that difficult? My R300
> also came with drivers that will calibrate the exact location with your
> disks and printer.
>
> Except for the cost of ink, I'm pretty happy with my R300.


Same here with my R200. I've printed over 300 disks with it and haven't had
a problem. I also use disks that are printable to the hub and have never had
any problems with ink going where it shouldn't. The software included for
setting the ID and OD could not be easier or more simple. I don't like the
high price of the Epson cartridges but I won't take the chance on
refills/OEM's ect.

Considering I paid $70 USD for the printer to begin with, it's hard for me
to find fault with any aspect of this printer.

Archived from groups: rec.video.desktop (More info?)

"Richard Crowley" <rcrowley7@xprt.net> wrote in message
news:10n7ivoj0l8is94@corp.supernews.com...
> "Mark" wrote ...
>> Considering I paid $70 USD for the printer to begin with,
>> it's hard for me to find fault with any aspect of this printer.
>
> It is hard to argue with the notion that they are selling the
> printers at or below cost as a "loss-leader" to get us
> addicted to the ink cartridges! :-)
>

Richard,
I truly believe that, at least here in the states. Although I can't prove
it.
But is really has gotten to the point that when you run out of ink,
sometimes it's the same
cost to buy a whole new printer as it would be to buy 6 refill cartridges.
But isn't that a good thing for us?


AnthonyR.

Archived from groups: rec.video.desktop (More info?)

Oh, see I never had that problem using Windows XP.
I used my brothers windows 98 the other day to try and help him resolve a
missing dll file.
It only made me realize how much better windowsXP truly is, and I am more
thankful
for having it as an option. We sometimes put down Bill Gates, but if you
keep up with
the latest software and hardware, they really do make progress for us.

AnthonyR


"Jan Panteltje" <pNaonStpealmtje@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1098463753.B17o2GD4D+WYeXYMbdBmXA@teranews...
>I forgot to mention that the Epson USB spooler driver sometimes aborts
> with an error message when starting windows, so you have to reboot
> (I still use win 98SE).

Archived from groups: rec.video.desktop (More info?)

"Jan Panteltje" <pNaonStpealmtje@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1098484223.2yZBTy3Z4HDyDYnfozUSUA@teranews...
> On a sunny day (Fri, 22 Oct 2004 20:20:47 GMT) it happened "AnthonyR"
> <toomuchspam@tolisthere.com> wrote in
> <zYded.174465$4h7.32541619@twister.nyc.rr.com>:
>
>>
>>
>>Oh, see I never had that problem using Windows XP.
>>I used my brothers windows 98 the other day to try and help him resolve a
>>missing dll file.
>>It only made me realize how much better windowsXP truly is, and I am more
>>thankful
>>for having it as an option. We sometimes put down Bill Gates, but if you
>>keep up with
>>the latest software and hardware, they really do make progress for us.
>>
>>AnthonyR
> Well, gates.. progress, he is not really inventive.
> Do you remember he said that the internet was nothing?
> And recently he also said that DVD was out....
> What he would likely like to see, is that you pay every time you watch a
> movie
> (get it from a server).
> Now they are boasting their multimedia PC, bah I have had multimedia on
> the
> PC for many years.
> Same with his software, Linux is way ahead, he is trying to cach up.
> There is an old saying about Unix:
> 'Those who critize it, are bound to reinvent it'.
> Because it is evolutionary.
> No, Gates even bought MSDOS, which was a quick and dirty imitation of
> CP/M.
> He mimicked Netscape's succes with internet exploder, his exploder's
> security
> is a disaster...
> No, Linux and open source anytime.
> Gates is just a software terrorist.
> JP
>

Jan,

Hi, I didn't mean to set you off, LOL.
I just meant Bill Gates, who is Running Microsoft the company, not
necessarily a person who invents anything.
Linux might be great, don't know I never tried it. I am happy with my
current software so have no need to look for
other platforms. I like Adobe products and especially the stability of
Premiere Pro which only runs on XP.
Basically because it needs the power of a modern OS.
That's all I really meant, that to use the latest version of software which
has bug fixes and more power that you need a modern up to date OS, and for
me that is Windows XP over Windows 98.
But if you are more happy with Linux, that is Great for you.
I am sure we can all get along happily together on the net which isn't OS
specific.


AnthonyR.