All Ups-On Epson C80

I anticipated when I bought a new eMac to replace my vintage '95 Performa 6400, I would be entering the Brave New World of USB peripherals. Starting with the most necessary device, a printer, I stuck to a brand that had served me well, Epson, to help handle that learning curve.

The old Epson Stylus 400 was very much like a Sherman tank: reliable and indestructible, if somewhat lumbering and noisy. But, I'll accept a little wheezing and hacking in preference to the paper jams or communication problems I've seen my friends bear with on their machines. I can't remember a single instance of that kind of trouble for me.

I listened to a couple of pitches and passed on some super cheapie offers (why save $50 and risk a breakdown at a critical moment, weeks or months from now?).

Since my output is a mixed bag of text, photos and illustrations, as well as order forms that my employer insists must be filled in in RED, I decided on Epson model C80, with separate ink cartridges for each primary color. I knew my ultimate savings would more than make up the approximate $45 difference in the price over the C60 that has only separate black and color carts.

Set up was a breeze; took all of five minutes. The print monitor is easy-to-use, too, a nice feature when multiple files are printed. The noise level is greatly reduced, not totally silent, but not intrusive, either.

Loaded with standard paper (8.5" x 11"), the C80 takes up a little more desktop space than I would like: 18" wide, 18" deep (with minimum forward extension of the paper catcher) and 13" high. I suppose larger size is the downside of longer durability.

Epson has also improved the ease of switching back and forth between paper and envelopes, with easy sliding guides and stops. The old model was dicey when it came to envelopes; only a 50-50 chance the address would be straight and centered and the envelope feed unmangled. The new C80 has been 100% on target and not wasted a one.

I've printed more than a ream of paper without a jam or mis-feed and the copies are detailed, clean and crisp, even minuscule fine print. They also dry remarkably fast with no smearing. I have not printed any photos yet, which would be the real test... I'll leave this option for another Epinionater.

UPDATE 9/19/02: I discovered a nice feature included with the Epson PrintMonitor software. There is an on-screen graphic representation of each toner cartridge that shows the relative level remaining in each; AND, when the toner light begins flashing to warn of low levels, the graphic estimates how many pages may potentially still print, based on the type of printing performed to date. This is the type of thoughtful, consumer-friendly feature that turns ME into a loyal customer. (However, the %*&# cartridges are EXPEN$IVE!)