Digital BW, The Print

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@y..., "Sam A. McCandless" 
<samcc@v...> wrote:

> 
> That is not a criticism of MIS's own CFS, which I think might be 
> competitive but don't really know anything about. Isn't Jim Hayes 
> using it?
> 
> I do have the impression that MIS tries to make good on any problems 
> with their stuff. So I'd give them another chance to, possibly via a 
> credit toward a CFS if that seems like a way around the bad-cart 
> frustrations. I might even try giving them a call this weekend. I 
> know they're sometimes in there beavering away and pick up even 
after 
> hours.


Yes, I am using it. My major complaint is that I wish they would 
rewrite the installation instructions to include how to install the 
carts with the PRINTER OFF AND UNPLUGGED. The woman that answers the 
phone doesn't get you very far. But somehow, perhaps because I did 
some testing for MIS, perhaps because I have a pleasant voice, I don't 
know, I can almost always get through to Bob Zeiss, and have had a few 
conversations with him about especially chips.

Back in May or June I was still using my own self-vacuum filled carts. 
Not a CIS/CFS- just plain own virgin carts I filled myself and stuck 
chips on. The visual appearance of the BACK of the chip changed, and 
about this time I started having red light problems with cart 
insertion. Even using the QB-7 chip resetter didn't help. I got 
through to Bob with an e-mail that was answered within 12 hours 
followed up by a long phone call. Bob agreed to replace the five "new 
look" chips I had just bought and tried to use.

 Then he explained how to install carts or CFS with the power off to 
printer as I have posted  yesterday in "Curing bad MIS chips". I have 
found this approach to be almost mandatory for me- I now almost always 
have problems unless the power is off. With the old looking chips or 
with Epson chips I could install with power ON. I really never 
resolved this issue with Bob as he claims that the new chips are the 
same as the old ones except for a slight visual difference. He thinks 
perhaps my electrical connector on the 1280 for the chips is bent 
slightly, but this looks okay visually to me.

BUT, Bob not only sent me five "new look" replacement chips, but he 
had had them installed on carts and inserted into an 1280 and tested 
by a real human, then removed and sent to me in a bag labelled  
"tested  on 1280 and found good". So in some cases MIS is able to go 
the extra mile, you see. I don't doubt that others have had opposite 
experiences but this is what happened to me with one phone call.

When I got my CFS, I tried installing it with the printer on and 
plugged in, which- yep, blew out the chips. Fortunately, I had my 
little cache of five chips, slightly used by now, and just stuck two 
on , used the QB-7 resetter (hard to do with the tubing connected), 
and tried again with POWER OFF AND UNPLUGGED. Went perfect. I've been 
using the CFS for about a month now with no problems. I removed the 
CFS carts once (power off) and put back in with no problems. Bob sent 
me two more replacement chips which I haven't opened yet- no need. He 
also replaced two tubing brackets I had ordered as spares which were 
misshapened.

All in all I think the nomorecarts CIS is much easier to install, 
having used two on 1160's. The CFS from MIS I found gets a little 
messy when I went to trim the tubing length, minor annoyance, and they 
should have a better way of clamping off the tubing (the blue clamp 
that comes with the CART vacuum refill kit, not the CFS kit, DOESN't 
work- it seeps air). The CIS chip is probably also much easier to deal 
with then the MIS chip, I don't know I haven't used it. The F-16 chip 
resetter from MIS is a little funky to use, but now I have the hang of 
it. The big plus for the CFS is the optional modified cart clamps they 
sell seperately which hold the carts down firmly- never have to worry 
about a cart riding up and unseating. The other superior thing about 
the CFS over the CIS is that the tubing clamps hold the tubing above 
the printer extremely well- the acriyllic arm that comes with the 
nomorecarts CIS on both of my 1160 units would seperate at the velcro 
from time to time and sag down.

I do have to remove the cover with the CFS. I replaced it with a 
fome-cor table to act as a dust shield. Now I can place a 13 x 19 box 
of paper on top of the printer<g>.

It boils down to: either system will work, the extra money for the CIS 
buys you less hassle except for the carts riding up which the MIS 
system addresses really well. And you won't have to worry about 
sagging tubing.
Jim H.