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kevs · Jan 9, 2005, 01:35 PM

I've been using the HP 842c series for a long time. I now use Brother laser for all fast BW text, but once in a while need color, not that often.

The HP works for OSX, then does not work, then works, then does not work, and this goes on an on, depending when they update driver etc or who knows why-- never ends!

What is the most OSX stable, inexpensive, color printer people like? thanks.

tooki · Jan 9, 2005, 01:37 PM

Do a search of these forums for Canon. You'll find a loyal following (with good reason).

tooki

Disgruntled Head of C-3PO · Jan 9, 2005, 02:27 PM

You will be very happy with any $80+ Canon.

Your HP experience is anything but unique.

Gankdawg · Jan 9, 2005, 03:27 PM

Just bought a Canon Pixma iP4000 last night. So far it's great. Really fast photo printing on 8X11 sheets.

Finally got fed up with HP drivers so made the switch. It can be had for $120 at Circuit $hitty this week.

kevs · Jan 9, 2005, 11:32 PM

thanks, always good to know my suffering is not alone. looks like Canon. Surprised, always thought Epson was traditionally the Mac popular printer, but maybe that was pre OSX. I assume Canon has taken the OSX stability lead.

tooki · Jan 10, 2005, 01:12 AM

It's not just that. It's that Canon's hardware is much better. People are sick of the Epson printers clogging if they don't get used daily. Epson's use of chips in the cartridges (to keep you from refilling) is also annoying. And finally, the Canons are MUCH, MUCH faster in high quality photo mode, and the Canons are much faster in draft mode than Epsons.

So, um, I don't really see why anyone would buy an Epson right now. (Well, in the U.S. Epson has an almost-stronghold on direct CD printing for some reason. Europeans can get Canons with that feature.)

tooki

kevs · Jan 10, 2005, 09:36 PM

thanks Tookie:
Well Epson (I have the 2200) are the most popular for photographers like me. But their drivers are so bad with OSX that many like me end up paying $500 for a RIP -- but that's a whole nother category.

So I guess HP and Epson just can't get it together with OSX, while Canon can (apart from hardware issue)

Disgruntled Head of C-3PO · Jan 10, 2005, 11:37 PM

Out of all the computers I have ever owned all all the countless peripherals I can honestly say I am happiest with my G4 Cube and my Canon i950.

Both our outstanding pieces of technology.

skybolt · Jan 11, 2005, 10:58 AM

Not to mention that Canon has the lowest cost per page of any printer. The cartridges are less expensive (even the proprietary ones), and being that each color is its own cartridge, cheaper because you only have to replace the color that is needed -- not all of the colors at once. They seem to last a really long time, too. Canon has my vote!

kevs · Jan 11, 2005, 09:56 PM

For what it's worth -- my MAIN concern is stability with OSX. printer stability seems to the the Achilles heel of OSX.

Disgruntled Head of C-3PO · Jan 11, 2005, 11:09 PM

Originally posted by kevs:
For what it's worth -- my MAIN concern is stability with OSX. printer stability seems to the the Achilles heel of OSX.

Never had the slighest problem with my Canon drivers, even after a major OS update it still works fine.