Epson Stylus C66 Inkjet Printer

Rating:
Summary: A bargin 4 your home office needs
Review: This is my 3rd ink jet printer. All of my printers have been used for my home office. The deciding factor for this purchase was the individual ink tanks. I regularly print the same color graphic for a sales flyer and only change the text month to month. With a "tri" color cartridge I was running out of "M" before the other inks had expired, which made the cartridge useless at that point. So this printer was a really economical option for my printing needs. $ for $ a smart buy.

Rating:
Summary: OK
Review: I bought the computer to print basic texts, and I chose it because of its low price. The printer prints text nicely and has no problem with colored images that go along with the texts. I am no printer expert, but the black ink went away very fast. I used up the black ink after perhaps 70 pages. Remember, the black ink cartridge is perhaps one third the size as the black ink in any other printers I have used. I do not understand why Epson decided to make the black ink the same size as each individual colored ink cartridge. And plus, the black ink is like $20 dollars!!!!!
I also don't like how the paper has to be left on the back vertically, most HP models let you put the paper flat at the bottom of the printer.

Rating:
Summary: better then I thought
Review: I brought this printer to replaced my old Epson C80 whose usefulness have ended. The Epson C66 proves to be a pretty good bargain for the price. I just finished giving it a good work out, printing out nearly 150 pages of text with images and over 90 4x6 color prints. Overall, the image quality proves to be quite good and the machine haven't fall apart on me.

The installation proves to be super easy. Unlike my old C80, the printing options seem to be bit limited but its easily within the acceptable range for any home user. Anyone, even those of very limited computer skills can get this printer going in minutes. Like most Epsons, the printer is bit bulky unlike these slim and tirm HP printers. It should be noted that this printer only got an USB connection. There is no other connection outside of that. (And you got to owned your own USB cable!!!)

The ink usuage was my major concern however, maybe it because its new, so far, C66 haven't been a hog. However, like most Epson inks, it would be expensive to replace. It almost ironic but the price you pay to replaced all four ink cartridges, you can almost buy yourself a new C66 printer!! (Secret of Epson and HP is that their printers are cheap, their inks are not!) I enjoyed the "Film Factory" software it came with it. Its easy to use and simple to function for my needs. The printing speed is very acceptable and it very quiet printer.

For simple home computer use, I think this printer meet all the requirements. However, I don't think it can handle the real heavy duty work every single day.

Rating:
Summary: It works, but...
Review: My C60 just bit the dust and I wanted another so I could use up the extra ink cart's that I've been storing. I suppose the C60 has been discontinued so I went for the nearest thing - the C66. Compared to the C60 this printer just creeps and I thought it would probably be faster. I have had less trouble with nozzles clogging, but it is still only several weeks old and this could change with the next priting. My biggest complaint is that it will not accept a standard 4 1/8x 9 1/2 envelope feeding landscape. It goes exactly to 8.5 wide so the envelopes must be fed portrait which now screws up my envelope printing program as it will not print portrait. I thought it would be a new and improved C60, but it is actually a step down. It will also run a sheet of blank paper before it starts printing my CD labels for some reason and this is a major waste of time. I wish the C60 were still available honestly.



Rating:
Summary: Epson Cartridges Waste Ink & Have "Smart Chips"
Review: Wonder why you're getting a printer so cheap? You're probalby only getting reject half filled ink tanks included, and look at the cost of new cartridges and consider how frequently you may need to buy them unless you hardly ever do any printing.

People are fed up with printer manufacturers having cartridges with sponges that don't refill well (Lexmark), or smart chips that prevent refills (Epson), not to mention HP's methods including "Expired Cartridge" messages, etc. If we don't, as consumers, vote "no" by not buying these printers and sending letters to CEO's we'll just get more of the same scamming.

I was excited to read about Canon Pixma IP3000 & up models with separate ink-tanks & no smart chips. Examining all the Pixma models at a local store I noticed this extra pull down tray in the front-middle. After full investigation, it's a disabled/never will work CD/DVD printing bay. Yet the same models in Europe have a working CD/DVD print bay. The USA price does not reflect the non-functional CD/DVD printing either. So I will (doubtedly) try to get a Euro model or wait for Canon to release USA models that are fully functional. I may end up temporarly buying the Epson R200 but I feel like I should be ashamed supporting Epson and their smart-chip scam. There is a chip resetter device (avg. $10 to $15) but I don't know if it works well yet. Forget Lexmark unless you have money to burn on cartridges. And there's concern about Epson printers wasting/spraying ink all over the inside (read all R200 reviews) that soon causes problems (dries solid/hard). The Canon has ink tanks with no smart chips, look easily refillable, and their print head underneath the ink tanks holder is also removable (i.e. replacable, but I don't know what that will cost. If other printers' print heads go you pretty much resort to trashing the printer). It looks like the Pixma line is leading the way in printing and cartridge technology. Canon: Kudos for heading a little more environmetally responsible with the Pixmas obviously designed for long-term usage in mind but PLEASE get those CD/DVD printing trays functional soon!