Digital BW, The Print

I have done some darkroom work in the past and have always had a 
special attraction to good B&W images, including a few I have 
produced. I am new to digital and would like to be able to do 
quality B&W along with color. I do not expect to turn out exhibition 
quality prints but would like to come as close as possible without 
having to spend too many painstaking hours. I am looking at two 
Epson printers--the 1280 and the R-800. Putting aside any price 
difference, any thoughts on the relative merits of these two? Does 
anyone have experiece with them? 

Thanks much for any information and suggestions you can 
provide.