Re: Mac OS X + Classic + 1160?

["Dave Emmerson" <dave@xitroneurope.com>]

In a message dated 3/25/02 5:45:54 AM, billagee@redsilver.com writes:

>What would be wrong with having someone who has a high-level contact
>at Epson write a request from the list to Epson asking that the 1160
>drivers be upgraded for System 10. I am sure we could get everyone
>here to agree with that...don't you think?  After all, we are their
>market.  I think I know someone living in Maine who has those
>contacts...

CDTobie@aol.com  replied:

< Do you think that Epson isn't already aware that every current Epson
printer
owner with a Mac would like that particular model to be supported under OS
X?
The 1160 is considered a business-grade printer by Epson, and is not a
flagship photoprinter, so Epson is unlikely to view it as important.

[snip]

I'm not convinced that it's as cut-and-dried as that. Epson are working very
hard at improving their 'market share' (and from my viewpoint as a
developer, they are leaving their competition way behind in terms of
support). While there's no money to be made directly in updating drivers for
printers which they and their dealers are no longer selling, 'customer
confidence' is an important factor which they may take into account. If they
earn themselves a reputation for selling printers which rapidly become
obsolete, then this may damage their sales in the longer term. Also, they
may want to continue selling 'consumables' for all of their printers for as
long as possible - at the low end of the market in particular, that's where
they make their money, because the printer itself has to be priced
aggressively. Lastly, Microsoft themselves have long advocated supporting
'legacy' hardware on their new OS's, because they know that omitting them
will slow sales. I don't know if Apple take the same view.

IMHO, given that much of the mail in this group relates to using 3rd party
materials, I wouldn't count on a petition from it being received
sympathetically, though I guess there might be a silent majority who are
using genuine Epson inks and media without any problems, and who have little
to say. We'll probably never know.

D.

ObDisclaimer : These are solely my opinions, my employers may not share
them. I have no knowledge of Epson's commercial strategy beyond my own
limited personal experience.




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