Two universal events that guarantee printer failure.

Any design firm (engineering, architectural, etc.) will tell you that there are two events that, when they occur, will guarantee your printer will fail.  These events are:

1. A hard deadline.
2. The repair tech visited the day before.


You have all experienced these things. It never fails. You could use the printer all week and nothing happens. But when it comes time to print your drawing set for a submittal and there is a hard deadline it will jam, run out of toner, run out of paper, shred your paper, or catch fire. It always happens.  Always.

photo credit: jtyerse via photopin cc  

Many veterans have learned to dread the unsolicited visit of the printer repair tech; not because they smell of old toner, but because of the waft of destruction that typically comes in their wake. You know the drill; they show up to clean out the toner tray, perform a routine cleaning, or to get a counter read. The next day the printer seemingly dies. No reason given; no warning; it simply refuses to work properly. My personal favorite is when the tech comes to repair a broken printer, runs 50 gazillion prints (or your paper) and signs off as if everything was actually ok. Within minutes of them leaving the darn thing is now hiccupping where it was sneezing before.

In all fairness to the repair techs we work the snot out of these devices. We run them super hot and run print after print after print. Nobody would work in a consistent manner under these extreme circumstances. Not without breaking down. But at least now we don’t have to endure the wretched smell of ammonia these days! Oh the memories.

Epson announces new T-Series line of large-format color plotters

Epson announced a new line of large-format color plotters aimed at architects, engineers and GIS professionals.  It is the SureColor T-Series line.  This line has three models; T3000 (24”), T5000 (36”), and the T7000 (44”).  Each are said to deliver a “combination of precision, performance and value with the fastest plotting speeds in its class, as well as industry-leading plotting accuracy and all-new Epson UltraChrome® XD pigment ink for brilliant, crisp output on virtually any media type”

For more information see:
www.proimaging.epson.com
and
SureColor T-Series

Review-HP Designjet T2300 eMFP

Brief Overview

The HP Designjet T2300 eMFP is a large format, inkjet color printer, scanner, and copier with web connectivity that allows users to print to it remotely on either their computer or via a mobile device (such as a tablet or smartphone.)  It has two media rolls for continuous printing.  A color touch screen panel controls all the aspects of the device and a USB port next to the control panel where users can print directly from the USB drive.  HP sent me a review unit (and this thing is a huge beast of a printer by the way) to test.  Here I am sharing with you what I found.  What I liked and what I didn't care for.  In short, I really like this printer and I recommend it.

HP Announces new Entry Level, Low Budget Designjet Large Format Printers; the T120 and the T520

HP has introduced its two latest large format printers in its Designjet series; the T120 and the T520.  Both models are meant to be lower budget, entry level, large format color inkjet printers.  Both models are color, web-connected printers that include the HP Designjet ePrint & Share web service.  The T120 has a list price of $1000 (USD) and the T520 has a list price of $1800 (or $2500 for a 36” print size).

HP is targeting small office and home office users.  They hope that AEC, GIS, and MCAD students, freelancers, and entrepreneurs that have not had access to large format printing will purchase one of these new products.  HP also wants smaller AEC (and other design fields) firms will pick up extra printers for remote offices, or as back up units.