Summary: High maintenance but good results
Comment: I think the criticisms of this printer are unduly harsh. No, I would not recommend this printer to the casual user but if you're an enthusiastic photographer on a limited budget looking for more that 3 inks, this printer could be what you're looking for.
I'm not going to deny that this printer sometimes clogs but there are precautions and fixes and it's an ink jet after all and clog is what ink jets do best. The first precaution is to turn the printer off when you're not using it. This will park the heads in a tray that helps to stop them from clogging. Despite this precaution, after a month of inactivity I do find the heads clogged sometimes when I return to the printer. In this instance I use a trick that will, no doubt, void your warranty but seems to work well without harming the printer; I press the button to move the heads into position for cartridge replacement. I then put a couple of drops of windex on the park tray pad and then turn the printer off so the heads go and sit on the windex for 5 minutes or more. When I go back to the printer I run check print head utility and the clean print head utility once (if required). Usually that takes care of any problems and I'm ready to go.
I always use epson ink and high quality paper. I don't use the printer for anything but photos (I have a great hp laser for everything else). I have taken the time to color profile my monitor and I print my photos via photoshop letting it take care of the printer's color profile. I always use the highest settings available to print photos - yes, it takes a bit more ink, but the results are worth it. I estimate each 8.5x11 glossy print I do costs me a bit over a buck but the control and great results I achieve are worth it. I can even get pretty good and neutral B&W prints out of this machine using Epson's own driver set to monochrome (don't use the 'black ink only' option - let it use all the inks and the results are very good).
I'm not advocating that you go out and buy this printer at this point (mid-2004) - there are now better options available. I am advocating that you don't give up on this printer so easily - it is worth investing a little time and effort in.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Echoing - A Waste of Ink!
Comment: I have long been a fan of Epson printers. I have had four dating back to the original Epson Color Stylus. Tried an HP back then ('94) and had miserable results. Only reason I usually upgraded was to get better technology. I found this stream of poor reviews because I have become exasperated with cleaning the heads on this printer. I just printed out a color document (with text) just fine. Less than twenty minutes later and I couldn't print out B&W to save my life. Not so much as a drop of black ink on the page! I think the only way I'll be buying another Epson is if I can clean only the B&W, I don't need color to print B&W, and I read where they have improved the problems with the ink clogging. I hope you're listening Epson, because I used to always brag about you. Now I'm ashamed I have one!
Customer Rating:
Summary: the worst printer ever made
Comment: this is without a doubt the worst printer i have ever used- right from the day i bought it. it never prints out the right color ink for anything. right now i have 1 color and that is blue.it's loud and the paper is always getting jammed. i also think epson tech support sucks to.... I thought in the beginning maybe it was me but it has a mind of its own. I will be throwing it away soon, and will never own another epson...
Customer Rating:
Summary: print head plugs up
Comment: You spend all your time and ink trying to clean the print heads. Epson should refund our money for this one. Black and color plugs up without warning. It doesn't appear to matter how often you use it or how long it sets.
Customer Rating:
Summary: I agree. Awful!
Comment: Yup. Same problem here - a handful of good shots over the course of a few weeks, then...*WHAM* Sorry, no more output. Ink starts banding. Colors don't print. Black is a mess. I tried cleaning the nozzles, buying all new ink, cleaning the nozzles again, running a bunch of high-ink, high-color print jobs. No luck! This printer is a P.O.S.! I will never buy another Epson as long as I live. My HP lasted for years. This printer lasted a month. It's amazing that a product like this is even allowed to hit the shelves. Where's the Q.A. Department at Epson? Smokin' wacky tobbaci out in the parking lot. That's where. Get it together, Epson!