Re: Epson-What is the truth?

[Bailey Donnally <donnally@hermes.lfc.edu>]

<x-charset iso-8859-1>> I like so many others have been keeping up with the thread on the Epson
> 1270/870 and then the problems with the 2000p. Just before this came out I
> was about to write a my check for the 1270.

Yea, isn't it a bummer that both these two "solutions" to the print lifetime
problem have some distinct flaws.  I got out my checkbook and purchased the
2000p, and I am satisfied.  I am not satisfied not because I got the printer
that I would like to have, but because before I purchased the 2000p I knew
about its problems with metamerism, and decided that I would live with its
faults.  We may have to live with that imperfect world for a while until the
problems truly get minimized.

>
> I just talked to someone who has  a 1270 and heard the story and decided
to
> call Epson about the problem and the buy back program. According to him
Epson
> says there is no ink problem accept with one type of paper they have and
> there is no buy back program. I am not surprised to hear Epson says there
is
> no problem they have a lot to loose.

This does not excuse Epson, but few companies are the prime source of
information about the flaws in their products.

>
> What I would like to know is this a story been spread by a competitor of
> Epson or is there really a problem. If there is only a minimal problem
with
> paper why is  Epson not  addressing this and allowing the bigger questions
to
> multiply.
>
> I have an older Epson that I am quite happy with. But I want buy a  1270,
> 2000p or any other machine until I know there is no problem. The Internet
can
> be great tool but if it is going to be used to spread stories or inflate
> minor problems into big ones then we might as well shut it down.

People on the Internet DO spread stories and they DO inflate minor problems
into big ones.  Still, if one keeps on listening to what is said by a
variety of people, eventually something approaching the real truth tends to
come out.  I tell people in my workshops that the Internet is like a giant
garbage dump with no restrictions on what is dumped.  Like any large garbage
dump, there are wonderful things and tremendous riches scattered around with
the true garbage.  It is the challenge of the user of the Internet to sort
out which is which.  This takes a bit of time.

> I don't
> believe all I see or hear any where but this has been a big story for
weeks
> and effects many people that own or are about to purchase equipment. What
is
> the truth?

By this time some outline of the "truth" seems clear.  Prints from the 1270
sometimes shift color due to certain, as yet not fully defined, atmospheric
conditions, but certainly in atmospheres with ozone.  If you or the photo's
users are in an atmosphere that provokes these shifts, it may be serious.
The problem is worse with some glossy papers than with some matte papers.

In the case of the 2000p, the prints tend to shift in color toward green if
they are taken from tungsten lighting to daylight (metamerism is the name
for this effect).  In some photos and for some uses you can live quite
happily with this shift, in others you can't.

I am not holding my breath until the solution of these problems is reached,
but I am - perhaps foolishly - hopeful.  In the meanwhile, I am thankful
that the Internet has not been closed down because of its occasional
excesses.

> LRodgers

Bailey Donnally



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