Digital BW, The Print

Since I am new here, I have probably missed all info regarding 
what can and can not be accomplished with the 9000 in terms of 
beautiful neutral/neutral warm tones on, say Hannemuhle Photo 
Rag (rolls or sheets any different?), and, of course, in terms of 
archival reliability. I have no RIP, print from a Mac G4 via ethernet 
directly to the 9000, have been using only their substrates for 
papers (and a 3rd party for canvas) and inks for temporary 
purposes, in color of course.

I would like a sense of how to best proceed without losing my 
shirt, my hair or my hairshirt  ;-b in the conversion from their dye 
color inks to a reliable set of BW inks. I am aware of Jon Cone's 
site and have used some of his products in the past on a 
smaller Epson with some success. I can't afford the ImagePrint 
5.0 RIP for the 9000, which costs something like $2495 if I 
remember correctly, so I have been lurking among the BW posts 
for a while to see if anyone was even mentioning the 9000 for 
BW purposes. I would get a new smaller printer just for BW and 
leave the 9000 for the color work, but I can't figure out if you all 
prefer the 7000, 7500 or 7600 or hate them all...just joking.

I realize from the posts I've read that this whole archival BW thing 
is still in its infancy, so I am not exactly expecting a concise set of 
instructions written upon stone tablets to follow for perfect 
results, but a few pointers would be most gratefully appreciated, 
including any disinclinations regarding the 9000 if that is the 
case. I do need to print on wider paper sizes than 13"x19" Super 
B, but not if it becomes ridiculously expensive.  I still have a wet 
darkroom if that is the case, but I do prefer to use Photoshop 
since I use it professionally as a retoucher for advertising and 
am very comfortable with it as a result...rumor has it, by the way, 
the PS8, which will not work is Mac OS9 at all, is heading our 
way near the end of the year. OSX has descended upon us poor 
Macheads, most of whom originally chose the Mac not only 
because it was a far sight easier to control color, but also 
because it was much easier to use and troubleshoot than was 
the PC. I guess the playing field has been levelled now. I have an 
XP Pro upstairs in my wife's office, but I can't bear the interface. I 
am writing in OS9 on my primary G4 at the moment and I love the 
interface. Beside me sits a faster dual 800mHz OSX G4 which 
frustrates me so much that most of the time it is either off or just 
playing iTunes to keep me company...this is a sad time for early 
Mac adopters. OSX is just not ready for prime time. I can't print to 
the one printer I can see, and their are 3 other printers on the 
network it doesn't see at all because even with GimpPrint I am 
stuck with a direct USB connection, unless someone can 
enlighten me otherwise. The other two printers I would like to 
have access to in OSX are an Epson C80 being USB shared 
upstairs and an Epson 2000P connected either by USB to this 
machine or to the 100baseT network with one of those 
EpsonNet Print Servers, which are a bit buggy at times, hence 
the alternative connections.

Sorry for the long post. I won't be doing it again. Just introducing 
myself and my disparate interests and woes for now. Best to all.
Gary Barnett