Epson 1500w or Ricoh Virtuoso 800..

[JMugs]

Thinking ahead here in case my 7890 is terminal.
Epson is cheaper and should be better colour rendition.....but my old ricoh SG3110 just keeps going on and on so do I go that route arghhh! I need reliability which was why I forked out for the 7890 hmmpph.
Resolving issues before 6am on Sunday mornings and at 9pm Sunday night is not my aim!

[Justin]

The 800 would certainly be the way to go for reliability and ease of use. The 1500W imo would be a better print quality but not as easy day to day to live with if you put a fair bit through. 1500 gives you options with the CIS though......

[JMugs]

Justin you are right, Cis would be the route for the epson.

[Justin]

I loved my 1500. Still have it, just don't use it. I'm going to get it out again and use it for screen printing positives with the Blacquer system. Print was always superb, only slight problem I had was the paper catching the edges when it went through which was annoying. The Ricohs are better for paper management and a more compact unit but compromise is with the 4 colour print. Only this last week I've had a supplier 'telling' me that 6 colours are wasted with sublimation. Sure, 4 colour is adequate but for certain prints the 6 colour really can make a difference.

[JMugs]

Decisions decisions......

[socialgiraffe]

If you want reliability with Sublimation inks, right now I think the only option (for small format anyway) is Ricoh.

Four years ago I purchased a secondhand SG3110 as a back up. It collected dust for most of that time. However I took it out of retirement due to gaining a contract that is just black on hi vis. I wont say what sort of ink I chuck through this thing as we can not discuss that, but suffice to say, this baby is banging out about 500 plus sheets a week on plain paper and crap ink and never misses a beat.

Prior to that, I thought I would give Epson a go. Purchased a new machine which lasted a day before I threw it out.

If colour is really really really important, then there could be a case for something else, but for decent colour and reliability there is no other option, ask any reseller and they will tell you that error/returns/failure wise, Epson out strip Ricoh by a long way.

[JMugs]

Hi Social.
Yep my old Ricoh 3110 just keeps going. If I don't sort out or replace my 7890 then I have to reduce my range. I will need A3+ though....which in the ricoh is a lot of dosh for a small printer. But.......

[socialgiraffe]

Have you considered a wide format?

Pisquee is the obvious man to ask about them. But from my small knowledge the print is considerably cheaper and the bigger machines made by Epson do tend to be better built.

[JMugs]

Social...see my other post.
My Epson 7890 appears to have died after 14 months. I am working through things with xpres at the moment but it isn't looking good!

[socialgiraffe]

AH yes, sorry.

Personally I would stick with Ricoh. Never let me down as well as many many other people. You get 1 year warranty on them so its only got to go another two months after that to match the Epson!