Digital BW, The Print

Martin,

> I don't hear much about the 1520. Is this a viable alternative to 
the 3000?

http://www.tssphoto.com/sp/dg/news/13_comp/ provided the following - 

"Epson Stylus 1520 -- Technically, this is also a 13" wide printer 
(in printable width), even though this printer will take a 17" wide 
sheet. However, I've decided to eliminate this printer from the 
comparison, for sake of simplicity. It's a great old 4-color printer 
(very solidly built), but the age of this printer puts the technology 
and the image quality of the 1160 at a much superior advantage. The 
1160 has variable ink droplet sizing technology (producing cleaner 
and more "separated" highlights) and the 1520 does not. The 1160 has 
a 4 picoliters minimum ink droplet size, vs. the 1520's fixed droplet 
size of 20 picoliters."

At the time I bought my 3000 the major differences were a little bit 
in print width and the larger, individual ink cartriges for the 3000.

> How difficult is it to fill your own virgin cartridges for the 
3000? How is it done?

Again from Inkjetart "Epson 3000/5000/9000 - All these printers use 
large individual cartridges that hold 110 to 220 ml of ink per 
color.  A CIS system is not necessary for the vast majority of users. 

To support that.  I was printing out a full page 8.5x11 stock chart 
daily for what must have been a year before I ran out of ink.  It was 
nice enough to be equally low on all the cartriges.  Between the size 
of the ink holders and ability to replace them individually...just 
buy and swap 'em out.

Cleavis