OK - how many prints did you get out of this unit and what is the cost of ink refills / replacements?

Maybe you could factor these costs in your printer reviews using a table / simple chart with projected cost of ownership.

Frankly it depresses me that you can buy a $50 printer and after discovering ink replacements cost more than the initial purchase - you just throw it away. Buy another, do the same.

With so many short lifespan consumer products out there, it all adds to the e-waste cycle and it's becoming a very serious issue in waste management.

On a positive - thanks for all your thoughtful reviews!

MOTS: You are right. The cost of consumables is an important part of figuring the over-all cost of ownership of a printer. The hardware is getting cheaper and cheaper and the ink and paper are staying very expensive.

I wish that I could test the cost per print for every printer I review but at the moment it is not possible. I hope next year to devise a standardised test that won't cost me more than I am paid for writing the reviews!

The economics of printer manufacture are pretty weird. I have a Canon LBP300 laser that I use for everydat plain paper printing. It cost $130. A replacement toner cartridge costs $100. The incentive to throw away the printer when the toner runs out is almost irresistible. $30 for a laser printer!

My first laser printer [HP] cost $2200 and I thought I was getting a bargain. Toner cost $200. The Canon is a better, faster, higher resolution printer. I suppose that's progress. TL

Hi! By the way: Do you think there is a big difference for a amateur photographer in betwin having a R280 or a R290 printer? It means almost 2 set of cartige in bill!!
Thanks for your concern!

Johnny: The Epson R280 is a discontinued model. The R290 is the current base model 6 cartridge printer. The price of printers goes up with the increase in cartridges and the print quality improves in line with the increase. If you are only printing 10 by 15cm standard prints you probably won't notice a difference between printers -- except that the really cheap ones [under $100 AUS] are not very good. TL

Thanks for your response, very kind!
Do you have in mind to review the EPSON STYLUS PHOTO R1380?

Johnny: Right now I have the Epson R1900 on test for a review in the next couple of weeks -- so it will be some time before I get around to another Epson printer. TL

EPSON STYLUS PHOTO R290 printer - it is an woderful printer. actually im new to this website. it's too good. i was learned more information about the printer. your product is so good!!!
======
juliasam
Great printer toner and ink cartridge deals, discounts and coupons. Also, check out the latest printer reviews and technology news.
http://blog.concordsupplies.com

Hi Terry,
Does/can the R290 take paper rolls? It appears not frrom the specs. I have and old Epson Stylus 1270 but it doesn't use the new Claria inks so i was looking for a cheap alternative for printing panoramas.
Any major improvements in image quality over the older printer?
I initially had issues with the 1270 with oranges and reds but these problems have dissipated over my learning curve (and after Epson changed the ink quality) ie only use Epson Premium Glossy with a decent profile with the 1270. Eventually (if it keeps going) the 1270 will be turned into a B&W only printer there are plenty of products out there I believe, Lyson being one.
PS I have read a few reviews of this printer and yours is by far the most complimentary, most complaining of build quality and paper jamming. Why Epson changed their paper feeders is beyond me. Even the R2400 has jamming/alignment issues.

I recently bought the Epson Stylus Photo r290 and have been having problems with it. I have looked everywhere for the solution but i can't seem to find it and i was wondering if someone could help me out. The problem is that every time i try to print using the printer it seems that all the words are jumbled up not on the paper but on the screen. For example if i'd want to change the properties of something, i'd click on properties and when the mini screen came up it would have little boxes and lines. Now every time i click on some thing that has to do with the printer lines and boxes will come on. I am also having problems with printing on cd's. If anyone has any answers or anyhting they think might help can u please tell me. Thanx. (:

I have had my Epson R290 for about 6 months. To start with the colour balance was abysmal, but I adjusted that. Then, having just replaced the yellow cartridge, Epson brand, bought from a reputable computer shop, did a heap of printing and replaced the other 4 colours, all Epson cartridges, all bought from a different computer shop. Now it's printing with way too much yellow. Same files, same paper. Can only assume it's the strength of the ink. I would really, really like to throw it away and buy a mid-range printer, (about AU$350) just a straight printer, better than the R290, no extra bits. Do they exist any more?

Have a look at the Epson web site -- www.epson.com.au -- and see the list of different printers. The R290 really is their cheapest photo printer and is not comparable with their better, more expensive units. Sadly you get what you pay for with printers.

I would look seriously at the 8 ink printers -- even though replacing the cartridges can cause bankruptcy. I have mitigated printing costs by having a cheap Canon laser printer plus a high quality inkjet connected to the computer. Almost all my printing is done on the el-cheapo laser and the inkjet is only used for high quality photo work. [A cheap laser printer costs about $100 these days and the toner cartridges will usually print 5000+ pages.]

If you are serious about buying a new printer you should also look at the Canon range. They make very good inkjet printers, but not using pigment inks [except in their top of the line pro printer].