Digital BW, The Print

> ...the forum is quite Epson-centered.

Superior design. The competitors all fall short in significant ways,
will catch up eventually. But not with current HP technology

I was getting excited about Designjet 130 until I looked closer at
HP...I won't buy just yet, but I'm eagerly awaiting Epson's new 4000
iteration (4800?)...or a good deal on 4000 when it's discontinued :-) 
  
 So, 
> initially I had no doubt about purchasing some good ole Epson piece, 
> specifically 1280 as it is dirt cheap right now.

Decide if you want cheap/good or contemporary/better.  

1280 is as good or better than the HP in every respect but Dmax, and
you can probably match that with non-oem ink.

> 
> Later I found that the printer has been on market for more than four 
> years, which is outrageous IMO.
 
35mm's been around since 1929 in still cameras, has only now got a
replacement...it took 75 years. OUTRAGEOUS! 

I've used Pentium IV's for 6 years, they work beautifully. They'll be
mainstream for another couple of years until Intel's new big thing  
dominates... a 10 year run? Some things last because they're good.

  I personally attribute this situation 
> to the lack of competition as Epson enjoyed a monopoly in that niche.

There's plenty of "competition," but there are winners and losers,
Epson's still the winner. Who wants the loser?


> As a responsible photographer I have to support competition

In other words, a quality-conscious smart photographer isn't a
"responsible photographer?" 

 I clearly see the following possible drawbacks:
> -less variety of paper;
> -difficulties to build ICC profiles as PrintFIX doesn't support the 
> printer yet;
> -less variety of inks;
> -no cheap RIP software available.

...Consider this: HP will dump current tech because of those
"drawbacks" (ie fatal flaws)... 

> Being the free market adept sometimes means taking some sacrifice

Consumers don't/shouldn't make "sacrifices" in the interests of
vendors. Would you buy a Buick to help GM?

> but ... did anybody get some decent  print out of this printer?

Of course ...people get "decent prints" from everything...those that
can't accept the "drawbacks" you mentioned use Epsons. Blame Canon and
HP engineers. 

Djon

> Lev