Digital BW, The Print

Hi Jim,

> 
> I would like to make a point in that, while I agree with the CIS/CFS
> 1280/1160 route being a cheap and proven way to go, AND that certainly
> the Epson 2200 carts will be $$$, that any economics class will
> introduce the concept of opportunity cost, which is

Actually, the definition of "opportunity cost" goes something like this:

"Something scarce can be allocated to a variety of different uses. When one
use is chosen, the opportunity cost of that choice is the value of the next
best alternative"

So, if you have $500 (something scarce) and your choices are two Epson 2200
carts @ $250 each :)  or a box of EAM for $500, and you choose to spend the
$500 on the two carts, your opportunity cost is the cost of the EAM. (The
inability to allocate scarce resources to buy it)

>hidden, non-$$ costs (like not paying $ for air poluution when you buy a car).

Actually the term for this is "externality" (actually there are positive and
negative externalities, your example is an example of a negative one). A
positive externality would be this: a darkroom printer would say "Ah, you
have to buy a computer to do your printing!" To which you would reply "I
ALREADY had the computer (for email, internet use, etc.)--it is just a bonus
that I can do my image manipulations on it". It is a positive externality
that you bought your computer for one use and derive extra utility from it.

That, however, doesn't explain the cost of Photoshop, Piezo, and the Gig of
RAM...  :)

Back to your regularly scheduled ink discussion...

Jon