Buying a Printer

Hi
I'm looking to buy a new printer. I've had an Epson 400 Stylus Colour for 4 years now, and its still working well. I'm a brand loyalist, so I'd like to stick with Epson, but I'm open to suggestions from HP etc...

I'm not looking for either the cheapest not the most expensive printer out there. I'd prefer to buy something on the sweet spot of price/performance curve: i.e. something that will give me the best bang for the buck

I don't print a whole lot, and when I do its mostly B&W documents. However, I do print an occasional picture here and there, and when I do it has to be as good as possible and I print it on the best paper I can get (Glossy photo etc)

Any suggestions as far as models and price are appreciated. (Note that I live in Canada)

I've been thinking about Epson 880, anybody have one?
Does anybody know why the Photo 750 is the same price even though by specs it seems much worse (lower resolution, slower, while apparently the same technology...)

Thanx in Advance!

I just bought a new printer after a lot of searching. Of the Epson printers, I saw a lot of rave reviews on the 900.

I personally prefer the HP printers. They are solid, reliable, and the tech support has always been outstanding in those rare cases when I need support. I have an HP2000 that had a failure with one of the printer heads prematurely. HP replaced it for free!

I personally went with the HP970CXI. Its $279USD at buy.com which I admit is still pricey but it is worth it. The text output is as good as what I get from the laser printer--very important to me. The graphics and photos I have printed on plain paper have been outstanding. I have yet to try the photo paper. It also comes with a duplexor. I print a lot of text and this is a great feature for me.

James

I have the HP 932. Great color photos and perfect B&W documents. Never a problem, not once.
It costs $200, but I got mine free through Buy.com while there was a promotion going on with a software maker called EStamps.
Best printer I have ever had and I have personally owned and I have used probably a dozen at my different jobs and school.

No banging, moving, or clicking with my HP 970CXI. It is the quietest printer I have ever had. I have to look to see if it is working.

James

We sell heaps of HP printers and never have a problem with them, My fave is the 950 model, it has 2400x1200 res, photoret3 technology and a cancel print button so no more going into the print file or pulling the powercord, The Lexmark Z52 is a good printer too, it has the same res as the Hp, and it has the Lexpress warranty whereby if it breaks down they give you a new one and come and take the old one away (In Aust anyway)

At Buy.com there is also a coupon to get $30 off a $150 purchase.

I would look into getting either an HP 932C or a Lexmark Z-42 or Z-52. All three have gotten great reviews, and cost ~$200 or less.

Thanx all for your posts;
In case anybody's interested, in the end I got the Epson 880. Reasons are few:
first of all, I'm a brand-loyalist to a point -- Epson 400 has worked so well for so many years, I felt I should buy another Epson; Why mess with a good thing is my moto
second of all, its almost the same as Epson 400 as far as usage goes -- it looks similar, has exact same buttons, almost exact same software/drivers, etc -- in other words, no re-learning, a very very smooth migration.
Of course, it is quieter, faster and better than my 400 -- while having the same simplicity. I'm pretty happy with my choice right now, I've networked it and three of us (we have a small LAN in my family) are printing off of it:0

Thanx again for all your suggestions; even if I didn't follow them, I read, considered and appreciated them

Nice..
I am a brand loyalist as well. 7 Years ago I got an Epson Stylus Color II. It was heavy dissapointment, and since then I never get any printer but HP.
BUT as I can see, Epson has changed the way they make inc printers? I know theyr dot matrix printers are good. But may that be the case in inc as well?

And they said schizophrenia is annoying?

hi kodiak!

I think you did right to get an Epson. I have an Epson stylus 670 right now and I'm always amazed by the quality I get every time I print something.
ages ago I had a HP. was not bad but the paperhandling and the driver options didn't really make me happy.
I think the epson drivers are really good. I like especially the preview feature, makes a cancel button unnecessary. the print quailty is outstanding. pictures, taken with my digital camera, printed on photo quality paper look to the most people like normal photos. they are always surprised when I tell them that in fact it was printed with the Epson.
I was thinking of the HP930 when I was up for bying a new printer but it was £50 more than the Epson and I couldn't see any advantage (picture quality, driver, handling) of the HP. I'm glad that I took the Epson.

respect

I bought an Epson 880 about an month ago. I like it a lot. The print out looks fine. Printing text is very fast but printing full page picture is kind slow.