Digital BW, The Print

glewis4457@... wrote:

>  
>
>I am not really trying to be flippant...OK maybe a little, but there is alot 
>of crap in the form of unsubstantiated claims that goes around on 
>  
>
>websites....
>
True, there's no sure way you can even know that "I" am actually the 
person I say I am..  I could easily be someone else just posting as 
me... However, as Hegel makes clear when examining Berkeley's qualms 
about not "knowing with certitude" what will happen when we "walk out a 
door," at some point we have to either trust to the fates and  our 
 inferences, open the door and sally forth, or simply worry about the 
multitudinous potentialities and stand transfixed.

>why should we, the unknowing, believe you?
>
Ummm..  Let's see, I don't want to think you'll be wracked with 
indecision and stand transfixed, so I'll give you some bases for a 
modicum of trust...

1)    I handle a list of over 2400 EPSON users, meaning I listen to what 
they report... Since they are, taken as a whole, the REAL experts. If 
you want, feel free to head to the list and ask the members therein 
whether you should believe me.  The link is in my sig..

2)    I gave you specific cites of other people to contact if you don't 
believe me..

3)    I don't make unsubstantiated claims simply BECAUSE I do serve as 
caretaker for  that list and I have a significant degree of personal 
credibility involved.  I am not about to risk my credibility and 
reputation for "calling them as I see them" simply to say something I'm 
uncertain about..

4)    I have NO reason to lie or make up information, I don't make a 
dime of this one way or another..

5)    Feel free to call Greg McCoy (EPSON Pro Consumable Product 
Manager) at EPSON USA if you don't believe the incidents I referenced 
took place at Photo Expo Plus East...

6)    I got some of the first batches of EEM sold in the US? (A3+)

7)    I've been correct before on things like: coming offerings from 
MIS, Lyson, MediaStreet, etc. -- meaning I am probably someone who  
knows  what he's talking about and/or has one or two good connections in 
the biz

8)    Because I have enough contacts at EPSON and understand EPSON well 
enough to have, with others, took a series of actions that pushed them 
to to accept a buyback on the 1270s and 870s?  (Even after that my 
contacts with EPSON's product and engineering ppl remain good - I won't 
tell you that their marketing ppl like me though..)

9)    Because I pre-screened over 600 refunds for the aforementioned 
printers ON BEHALF OF EPSON.  (I personally handled the screening until 
they hit over 100/day). I made not a dime from any of that.

10)    Because I've been quoted on inkjet issues in places as widely 
varied as the Sydney Herald, Network World Magazine, and a good number 
of US Newspapers?

11)    Because I'm correct about where they make their inks, and other, 
not so commonly known, info on EPSON... Such as the fact that 
Mitsubishi, the parent company of their keretsu does the paper coating 
for EPSON of consumable media produced by other companies.... or how 
about the fact that EPSON told home market users of the 1270 and 
siblings to apply a thin coat of baby oil to glossy prints to prevent 
the "orange shift."  

12)    Because even when Jack Reznicki of the PPA had his lawyer 
threaten me, b/c I said PPA could be potentially liable for endorsing 
the 1270 for professional use (when it's prints did not perform as 
promised - "as long lasting as traditional silver prints"), following a 
publicly posted response to his attorney's letter, both Reznicki and his 
attorney backed off..   As I said, I don't just go sticking my neck out 
without a firm foundation in fact.

13)    Because I'm close enough to ppl in the industry, honest enough, 
and have enough users in our group that MIS, MediaStreet, and 
InkJetGoodies offer across the board discounts to our listmembers of 
 5-10% (with discounts from other vendors coming)..  MediaStreet 
introduced its Universal chip resetter on our group and on Bill Gore's 
Mac EPSON list... and included a discount from $25 to $20 for our 
listmembers.

14)    Because I've written respected online reviews of digital products 
and tradeshows?

15)    As a recognized industry "player,"  I get "review copies" of  new 
books (on the inkjet and Photoshop areas) for comment, etc., directly 
from publishers, prior to general release.  Considering I am not a 
vendor and I make no $$ from this, they aren't sending them to 
ingratiate themselves with a potential customer or reseller.   

16)    In past instances when I have been shown, in retrospect, to have 
been wrong, I have been the first to admit it (and apologize where 
necessary)..  Like any other human I am fallible.. I don't purport to be 
anything else..

If you want specific test results, I'm not the source.. You'll need one 
of the people I mention below..

>
>>From a cost and marketing perspective, why would Epson go to the substantial 
>cost and  risk product confustion, as evidenced here, to simply rename an 
>existing product with no new benefit?
>  
>
BECAUSE, "ARCHIVAL" implies ESPECIALLY IN EUROPE, a very specific 
longevity, while "Enhanced" has no specific implication of media life.. 
 (In the EU, generally a Blue Wool #6 or better rating).    IF they call 
something archival and it is not they expose themselves to liability not 
just from direct consumers BUT also  potentially from end purchasers of 
prints made with putatively "archival" materials. (Keep in mind EPSON is 
facing real problems in the EU already, since they outlawed sales of 
 printer cartridges which are design to prevent reuse or recycling - 
they're simply doing what is prudent)..

Just as EPSON had to back off on claims they made for the six-color 
dye-based inkset printers, once they were aware of the problem, they 
have rightly backed off on the implied claim they made by calling the 
paper "archival"... They, in my experience,  are an HONEST company, and 
when they become aware of a problem, my experience has been they try to 
resolve it  and/or alter promotional information accordingly.  That's 
what they did in the end on the 870/1270 and IMHO, it's what they are 
doing here. It's also how they seem to be dealing with the outgassing 
issue on the 7600 and 2200 (so far).

As for the paper's performance or  characteristics, ask Jerry Olson or 
Chris Bair..

Beyond that, feel free to disbelieve me... I don't have to convince 
you.. As with any consumer, you need to make your own decisions.   As 
they say: "caveat emptor."
Keith

 

"Just some guy," and founder of the Multiverse's largest EPSON printer 
User Community (highly recommended by Vogon Poets and MegaDodo 
Publications), at:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EPSONx7x_Printers/
 
"For the rest of you out there, the secret is to bang the rocks together 
guys"

 




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