On Thu, 4 Jan 2007 16:24:54 +0000, MikeCT wrote
(in article ):

I'm now on my second printer, the first, an Epson packed up for good shortly
after coming out of the guarantee period. After using up the original ink
cartridges supplied with the printer, I switched over to compatible which
might have had a lot to do with my printer's early demise. Acting on advice,
I again chose Epson for my second printer, this time using genuine Epson
cartridges. Now my second printer is nearing the end of the guarantee year
in February, what should I do? Keep buying genuine ink cartridges until it
too packs up, or start saving money buying compatible cartridges in the hope
that it prints on for a further year or so?

MikeCT



I've given up on using Ink-jet printers because of the cost. However, there
are many suppliers of generic type ink-jet cartridge manufacturers. Most of
them are quite reputable, and the one I used would guarantee that if Epson
ever rejected a warranty claim because of the non-Epson cartridges they would
replace the printer free of charge.
Have a look at:
www.aktivdirect.co.uk
I hasten to add that I have no connection with the company other than as a
satisfied user.
The Epson insistence of using only their own cartridges is of course a total
rip-off.
May I recommend a course of action that I took, and I have never looked back.
Sell the ink-jet printer and buy a small cheap laser printer. Cost about
£80 to £100, and have your photographs printed by the local print shop. You
can still manipulate and improve your photos using Photo-plus or similar.
The cost of printing using a laser is miniscule in comparison with an
ink-jet. And it's fast and trouble free. I have been running a cheap
brother laser printer for a year now, and it's still on it's original toner
cartridge. If you have to do colour printing there are lots of print shops
around who will do it for you, and cheaper than you can do it yourself.