Digital BW, The Print

Steve,

 
> I've been planning on buying a refurb Epson 1280 since the rebate expires
> at the end of the month. ...

> Is the 1280 a wise choice for low-cost, larger b&w printing at this time,
> or is it too old to take advantage of the latest in inks?
> 
> Is there a better low-cost option at this time?

At the 8 x 10 size, the R220 is the way to go.  The problem is that taking
the next step to 13" paper gets very expensive.

The refurbished 1280s may be a real bargain.  The 1280 is capable of making
very good prints.  In actual prints, they are probably visually
indistinguishable from the best.  The UT2 from MIS is still used by many
people.  Additionally, the UT-FS & FSN as well as UT-R2 will run on the
1280, although I have not made curves or ICCs for the UT-R2.  With Roy
Harrington's "Create ICC" I now recommend that every serious printer learn
to make custom ICCs anyway.  So, the lack of pre-made curves or ICCs is not
that much of an issue.

The 1280 has a mixed record with respect to clogging.  I do not know why
some have great luck with it and others have had constant problems.  Some of
the older cartridge batches were probably part of the problem.  Used 1280s
with dye on the parking pads was also a source of trouble, as it is
incompatible with Eboni matte black.  (The parking pads should be rinsed
off.)  Non-use of the sepia toner in the UT2 yellow position may have been
part of the problem with that jet. 

What some of us have found recently is that Windex in a cart does an amazing
job of cleaning out printers.  As such, what I've been wondering is if that
approach to maintaining a 1280 would take care of whatever problems may
result from some basic design weakness of the machine.  At current prices, I
think it might be worth taking the risk.  An Epson-refurbished 13" printer
at just under $200 could be a bargain, but you've heard the downside story
also.

Paul
www.PaulRoark.com