Digital BW, The Print

This has been the topic of several recent threads, and you'll get a
lot of information if you slog briefly through the search function
here. I'll try to summarize what we know:

The R220 and its siblings have been replaced in Epson's lineup by the
R260 and its siblings.

The R220's cartridge-compatible siblings are: R200, R320, R340, RX500,
RX600, RX620. They all use the T048xxx cartridges. That means they can
probably use the T048 replacement cartridges, inks, feed systems and
accessories sold by MIS, and the various related BW printing workflows
and perhaps even the profiles with minimal tweaking.* The R340 adds a
card reader and LCD to the basic R220. The RX series feature scanners
as well (all-in-one machines). The RX5xx series deletes the LCD. The
R220 replaced the R200; the R340 replaced the R320.

People in this forum have reported the R340 behaves essentially like
the R220 for the purposes of B&W printing with MIS greyscale carts
designed for the R220. There have been no reports here on the RX
machines re BW printing.


R260 et al: Meritline.com has been selling third-party cartridges for
the R260 family for months, so obviously somebody has done some
successful hacking, but AFAIK no one has done any BW-printing-specific
hacking so far.


Where to get an R220-family printer as of 2/6/07:

- Retail Ritz Camera stores (including Ritz/Wolf/Kits/The Camera
Store) in many areas still have them. Most of their rebates and
giveaways have ended, though, so I don't know what prices you'll find.

- Ebay. I turned up 7 R220's and 24 R340's a few minutes ago, most of
them "new".

- The Epson.com clearance outlet. Today, they have refurbished RX600
and RX620 in stock. They may or may not have R220's and R340's in future.


* Caveat: I have no idea what issues might arise re adapting the
continuous feed system to the RX's, as it's a different body design to
accomodate the flatbed scanner. On the one hand, the heavy, flat
scanner lid may present a hindrance; on the other hand, the cavernous
interior may present an opportunity.


Good luck,
Bob L

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "lancscott"
<lancscott@...> wrote:
>
> 
> 
> Does anyone know what the next printer in the Epson lineup will likely 
> replace the R220 as far as use with MIS products?  I am trying to find 
> a 220 but am having no luck.
>