RE: New "Smart" Cartridges-Some thoughts

["Steve Jacobson" <stevelists@jjworld.com>]

I guess I should throw my $.02 in here, since I started the original thread.

The impression I got as Seybold was that Epson is creating two lines of
printers--a consumer line and a commercial line.  The consumer line (1270,
etc.) consists of low volume, inexpensive printers so that Joe Home User can
print out his digital photographs he took at some birthday party.  These are
the printers that will have the "smart" carts, are designed to compete with
the HPs, Cannons, and Alps.  These printers will be the $400 and under
units.

Their other line (3000, 5000, 8000, etc.) is high volume production
equipment that will have large ink tanks, a better fill system, more rugged
construction, better paper handling, etc.  These printers are intended to
compete with the Encads, Rolands, Colormasters, etc.  These printers will be
the over $2000 units.  I doubt that these printers will have "smart" carts.
Encad ain't gonna lock their users into high-priced inks.

These are two different markets, and frankly, it makes sense for Epson to do
this.  By segmenting the market in this manner, Epson can build printers
that can compete well in each market, without sacrificing profits.  The
average home user probably doesn't care about refilling.  They just want the
printer to print when they need it.  If they run out of ink during a
printout, it doesn't matter for them.

The introduction of archival inks by Epson addresses the longevity problem
that faced the ink-jet industry.

The commercial user (of which it seems many on this list are) who really
wants a lower-cost version of the Encads and Rolands has a problem.  The
bulk ink refilling seemed to take care of most of this need, but the smart
carts will eliminate this.  The guys that are pumping volumes through their
1200s are either going to have get a commercial printer, or stick with the
older non-smart cart printers.  Epson is making that choice for you.
Personally, I think the paper handling capabilities, ink capacity, speed and
reliability of the 1200 is terrible and would never consider using it as a
commercial printer.  I waste more time babying it than I think it's worth.
I would dearly love a 6 color version of the 3000, and would probably plunk
down $3K to get one when it came out.

I believe Epson will license the smart cart technology to 3rd party ink
suppliers so that there will be a variety of inks to choose from.  Don't
expect these inks to be much cheaper then the OEM inks, since Epson will
"approve" a 3rd party vendor to insure ink compatibility.  They will also
make up the loss with license fees.

The 3rd party ink suppliers will still be around for the commercial
printers.  AmJet makes their money this way, and some of the others
(Mediastreet, WeInk, etc.) will as well.

Just my $.02.

-------------------------------------------
Steve,
stevej@dji.com
<mailto:stevej@dji.com>





-
Please turn off HTML mail features. Keep quoted material short. Use
accurate subject lines. http://www.leben.com/lists for instructions.