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August 28, 2007
[ EPSON CX5500 multifunction printer/scanner ]
Price: $100
Frustrating
The low-down: This is one of Epson’s sub $100 units that includes a printer and scanner and functions as a colour copier. The printer uses the Durabrite resin coated pigment inks that promise a print life of 120 years. Claimed resolution of the printer is 5760dpi. The unit comes with a good software suite to control all the functions. Ink is supplied in four separate cartridges which is good news for economy because only the depleted colour needs to be replaced.
Like: The best thing about this unit is the scanner/copier. Scans are reasonably fast and the software controls provide a high level of management of colour, exposure and, most importantly, de-screening of images scanned from magazines and books. Colour copying is surprisingly quick and of acceptable quality for the price.
Dislike: Let’s be realistic. What can we reasonably expect for $100? You get sharp and detailed prints but with dull, under saturated colours. You also get visible banding showing the tracks of the print head. And it is slow. A 10 by 15 cm top quality photo print takes 5.5 minutes to come from the printer. Text printing in black is reasonably fast but the output will never be mistaken for laser. Construction is flimsy and doesn’t bespeak durability.
Verdict: Epson, Canon, Brother, Hewlett Packard and Lexmark all offer these cheap multifunction units that seem irresistible, but we suggest that you think before you buy. Epson’s best domestic printer and scanner together cost over $2000. For that you get fast A3+ format printing, flawless prints, superbly accurate and fast scans and robust construction. It is an act of self-delusion to imagine that can be had for $100. But there are intermediate A4 multi function units costing a few hundred dollars that come close to being comparable with the best. These are the genuinely amazing bargains that will do the job without the frustrations.
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Posted by terry at August 28, 2007 01:40 AM
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Comments
Very disappointed with Epson printers. The black ink is gone in under a 100 pages with this particular printer. This is just with text. This unit is very slow and very noisy compared to their previous models. Ink cartriges got smaller and pages also decreased, not a good buy in my opinion at all.
Posted by: Gar at November 6, 2007 05:00 PM
I have this printer, my aunt said it wasn't a wise buy, but for me it is. The best thing i like abt this is that the scanning is really fast and the fact that the printer comes with it. i only got this because of the scanner since mine broke a day before and i needed to replace it since my hp started malfunctioning and having all the weird colours, the printer is an add on for me.. the only thing i dnt like abt this is that when you copy a document or a photo (without the use of a computer, there are lines on it that is very vissible. but besides this set back it does the jobe quite fine for me. The ink tanks being separate is a good thing more so if the ink that you used up is the only one that gets changed. On my Canon pixma ip1000, once the colors are out you need to replace the whole thing so its a waste moreso if i havent used up the other colors that come with it.
Posted by: Pj at April 22, 2008 05:36 PM
Do you really think that separate cartridge system is a nice idea? Not with the Epson way. The printer refuse to print when one cartridge is near empty or sometimes just half empty when the chip counter embedded on the cartridges reach certain number of prints. The chip monitor the pages printed and not the actual ink remaining. And when you think you just buy cartridge that is rendered useless by the chip even when its not fully empty, you are on a big surprise. When you installed the new cartridge, it automatically performs nozzle cleaning, spewing significant amount of ink. "Emptying" the other near empty cartridges. Go to canon printers if you want hassle-free and more economical printing.
Posted by: Anonymous at July 15, 2008 05:37 PM
This is a new identical review from the Age website. http://www.theage.com.au/news/reviews/epson-cx5500/2007/08/21/1187462343777.html
Posted by: Murray at August 16, 2008 02:16 AM
Murray:
I am the author of them both. What happens is this: I write a review which first appears in the Livewire section of The Age on Thursday under the heading "Imaging". The copy appears on the Sydney Morning Herald web site on the same day.
Then I post it here in this blog. So it gets three outings.
Believe me, there is no plagiarism involved, just multiple publishing. You will see my by-line in Livewire and on the Fairfax web sites, but I don't prominently display my name here.
Hope this clears things up.
Terry Lane [aka dpexpert]
Posted by: Terry at August 16, 2008 02:41 AM
Dear Terry Lane,
I am not particularly computer literate, I am interested in the purchase of a Printer-Scanner. I cannot believe they are so cheap. You mention medium priced machines of reasonable quality. Could you identify them for me please ?
Tony Trumble.
Posted by: Tony Trumble at August 25, 2008 11:41 PM
Tony: The Kodak ESP5 multifunction unit would probably suit you. Photo printing is very good. Print life is exceptionally good with high resistance to fading. Scanning is par for this type of unit. Running costs are probably better than any similar unit.
This is far and away the simplest printer to use and to give consistently good results.
It has only one defect. After every 15-20 prints you will notice banding in the colour prints. This means you have to clean the heads. It only takes a minute, but the first time you see hideous bands of speckled ink across the print you might think the machine is broken. You just plunge into the in-unit maintenance system via the LCD and find Head Clean, press the button and voila! the job is done. TL
Posted by: Terry at August 26, 2008 12:17 AM
so stupid, so bad. my Blue ink is out, Printer won't even let me print a normal document using Black Ink. I can not do anything unless i replace the Blue Ink.
Posted by: UMING at September 8, 2008 03:57 AM
No colour printer can print with one tank empty. it requires all four inks to complete it's task, to print with one tank empty will ruin the print heads. Don't be so cheap and carry spare ink tanks so you can complete your task. A hassle i know because you have to buy two sets of ink at the start. Also use good quality smooth paper at all times, less miantenance and better print results will result
Posted by: Ben at September 30, 2008 06:39 AM