Hello everyone, its time for me to get a new printer.  I am interested in one that will be able to print directly onto blank media.  Any suggestions?

Thx.

I suggest the Epson R300 (or the R200 as well) they are great printers.  However, get ready to spend alot on INK.  Each uses 5 cartridges, and they don't last at all.  But if this is of no concern to you, I have the R300, and the R200, and both are superb at printing to the CD/DVD's.

(in reply to dc_519)

Price of ink is a lot cheaper if you use alternatives, rather than originals.

A few issues, some say that cheaper alternatives clog more easily, though with an Epson, you MUST excersize it occasionally or it WILL suffer serious clogging.

Colours with "clone cartridges" can also be less accurate.

(in reply to MP3Mogul)

Canon Pixma series is very good.

(in reply to Matthew)

thanks for the suggestions...I will look into the 2 models

edit**
are all the Pimxa series printers capable of printing on media?

(in reply to Iggy)

I believe some of the Canon printers do but as far as I know only the European models, option isn't available in the US versions so far. I also have a Epson R200 and it prints nicely to media with the included software.

(in reply to dc_519)

Canon Pixma iP3000 is the one that my collegue has, and we print all the time media with it. No problems so far.

(in reply to Dartman)

I would suggest HP Inkjet printers but then again i don't know which models are available at US.

(in reply to Iggy)

I recommend the EPSON Stylus PHOTO R210 (in Aus thats the #) as it has the same printing heads as the R310/RX510/RX-630 but no scanners or card readers etc. built in. Select premium surface when printing onto media and only the R800 does a better job but costs quite a bit more and also is more expensive for ink (8 instead of 6 to refill)

(in reply to emperor)

Not sure about abroad, but in the USA, HP puts a chipset in their cartridges, and when it reaches a certain date, it tells the printer that the cartridge is "empty" whether it is or not.  This has personally happened to me, and I trashed my HP printer, and vowed to not buy another one.  I like the Epson R300, and the R200, but the ink is a bit pricey in both (same cartridges) when printing high quality to media.  It's worth it though, they look excellent!

(in reply to Clint)

thanks for all the input guys...I think I decided on the Epson R200.  Now just to find the cheapest price..

(in reply to MP3Mogul)

quote:

ORIGINAL: MP3Mogul

Not sure about abroad, but in the USA, HP puts a chipset in their cartridges, and when it reaches a certain date, it tells the printer that the cartridge is "empty" whether it is or not.  This has personally happened to me, and I trashed my HP printer, and vowed to not buy another one.  I like the Epson R300, and the R200, but the ink is a bit pricey in both (same cartridges) when printing high quality to media.  It's worth it though, they look excellent!

Definately worth it, should see the R800 MP3, with matt and glossy ink carts. (!)

Makes me think, my Epson T049x. cartridges have an expiry date, so I guess they will also do the same as they have chips on each one aswell  Have you tried install the older ones (past their use-by)?

(in reply to MP3Mogul)

There are places that sell chip resetters for Epson printers so you can use the cart till it's really empty then refill it, or they sell refills that are allready done so you can refill them yourself later. There are also some software tools that work for most, do a search. I'm pretty sure somebody has similar for HP's as well. I haven't looked for one for my old 990 as it seems to run till it's actually empty and I can get huge carts for a OK price at Costco here. Now the R200 can really use the reset or whatever as all 6 can be pretty spendy and the first carts you get run out fast what with charging the printhead and generally playing with the new toy. The carts are also pretty small so that doesn't help but most new printers get small carts now as they make more money now selling supplies then they do the printers, hence the small carts designed to run out fast or shut down before empty. I use my 990 for general printing and reserve the 200 for just media and a ocassional photo, although the 990 and 200 are pretty close on good photo paper.

(in reply to Clint)