RE: [WinMac] Re: COLOR PRINTER for MAC network


Dan Thurgood(dan[at]ergo-id.co.uk)
Thu, 21 Oct 99 16:09:42 +0100


>Within another discussion list there seemed to be a consensus that the Epson
>Stylus Color 3000 was a fine printer but that the Stylus RIP software was
>questionable. Many commenting seemed to have migrated to the Birmy PowerRIP
><http://www.birmy.com> software. I have no experience with either the Epson
>3000 or Birmy's software.

Hi! I have experience of both the Epson 3000, the Epson RIP and the Birmy RIP.

Our problem with the epson RIP is this:IT IS SLOW!! But the quality is unsurpassed. It appears that the Birmy RIP does not produce a true stochastic (that is, entirely random) dot screen, but instead uses a repeating pattern. This perhaps explains why it is about five times faster than the Epson RIP, whic does use a stochastic screen, with no discernible pattern whatsoever.

All this said, if you don't require PS printing, you don't need a RIP. In fact the later Epson printers are considerably faster than the 3000, and if you don't need the ability to print 5 metres long, A2 wide posters, why pay for it?

I believe that certain HP printers have built in ethernet AND postscript, but they admittedly cost about the same as a similarly equipped Epson on a RIP, and quite frankly the quality is not as good.

Dan Schwartz' advice on the 3000 as far as ink consumption goes is spot on; when you have just forked out £25 on a colour cartridge for your little Epson 600, and throw it away a week later because the cyan ran out after that report with the sky photo on the front, you'll really appreciate the 3000's individual ink cartridges!

Cheers, Dan Thurgood

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