My new Epson 4900 -vs- my old trusty Epson 3000

[GrafixxMan]

I have used this Epson 3000 with Fast Rip, then Quick Film Rip for the better part of 10-11 years. It has always done what I asked it to do...albeit sometimes not without a hitch. for the most part though, it has outlasted every single computer, hard drive, everything else I use on a daily basis and continues to do so.

I had an issue 2 weeks back where it quit working after installing some new rip software. After 2 days on the phone and them having control over my computer, it still wouldn't work. I decided then to go get a new 4900. After two more days on the phone and them having control over my computer, the new one wouldn't work either!!! At this point I was livid being out over $3000 ($1900 printer, $600 ink, $500 rip) hard cash and missing 4 days of work...and now two printers not working! the issue stemmed from Quick Film Rip offering ZERO support anymore and it crashed on me bad. I couldn't get it back up and running myself so I went to a new software.  I will not mention their name here.

Well, I decided to get rid of everything (software related) of theirs and start over. I downloaded a copy of accurip (with a 14 day free working trial) to use on my 4900 and was convinced my 3000 was just a huge paperweight now. Well, it is back to working again as smooth as it ever did with the Quick Film Rip now and the 4900 with the accurip....well....WOW!!!

I bought the all black system reusable cartridges for it and it is simply amazing. After some tweaking of the options within the program, I have produced the blackest and sharpest films I have ever produced in over 15 years! On top of all that, the 17"x15" white base output job on the 3000 that took 13-15 mins to run......now only takes 4 and a half minutes!!!It makes darker, better and hugely faster films. I am a believer now!!!

It was a big pill to swallow financially, (and it sucks because technically I didn't NEED it now that my trusty 3000 is working again)....but it is soooo nice to have things work like their supposed to and to be able to produce better and WAY faster films......there's definitely something to be said for about that.

If you're on the fence about replacing your 3000 with something.....I 100% recommend the 4900 and Accurip software.

[jasonl]

i got the 4900 with all black and I TOTALLY agree.

[DCSP John]

Yep. The 4900 and All  Black Carts was a great move for us.

[inkstain]

Got the 4900 with accurip as well and am super stoked!
Mostly for being able to print wide format and gang the heck of designs within it.
Just trips me out how huge the printer is. 

[tonypep]

Thats the direction I'm taking in the Art dept. I'm building a one color all over/over the seam "press" that will require the wider format. The 4800s were quircky but the 4880/49000 seem to have worked out the bugs

[inkman996]

I will go out on a limb here and guess it was Film Maker that gave you grief. Ask me how I know

[ebscreen]

Thats the direction I'm taking in the Art dept. I'm building a one color all over/over the seam "press" that will require the wider format.

Will this be machine or human powered?

And also, while it is ancient technology by comparison, my Epson 9000 can print up to 44" wide and has been kicking
ass for 3 years or more now, day in and day out.

[tonypep]

Human. And thats a stinking wide ass format! Might need to have you output some film one day!

[shirtz]

Where did you get the refillable carts from? I'm looking into the 4900 as we speak.

[Nation03]

Wish I could afford a 4900. I have the 1400 and I almost always run into problems. I don't think it likes running off mac software, but I just decided to sell it before I chuck it out the window. Gonna give the Canon Pixma iX6520 a try. Only cost 100 bucks and it does 13x19 which is fine for now. Can't find refillable cartridges which use to be a must, but the black ink refills for it aren't that expensive so I should be okay.

[jasonl]

Where did you get the refillable carts from? I'm looking into the 4900 as we speak.

inkjetcarts.us

[beanie357]

We use cobra ink carts and dye ink.
4880, 7600, 9600.
Both versions of Accurip. Bit of pia as you have to change ports to print to the selected printer, not a drop down menu, but the girls are coping.
Actually our only Accurip bitch.

[Evo]

If you're on the fence about replacing your 3000 with something.....I 100% recommend the 4900 and Accurip software.

And...your registration will mysteriously improve as well. Accurip is the shizz.