Pro 10 questions

[RyanC]

I recently bought a second Pro 10 as a daily deal with MIR from B&H. Of course, it also came with 50 sheets of 13 x19 paper. I plan to keep at least the paper and the ink. My question to the Pro 10 users is this: Would it be a good idea to also keep the printhead, or even the entire printer as a spare? What is the reliability of the Pro 10? I've been using mine for about 6 months, and have been refilling with PC inks, and have had no maintenance issues. After Mike at PC helped me solve a color cast issue, I'm having a great time printing beautiful images. The refilling is a breeze with the PGI-72 cartridges, so I plan to keep using PC inks as long as the printer is working.

So, would it be a good idea, or a waste of space to keep the printer as a spare?

Thanks!

 

[palombian]

If you guys there buy printers only for the paper, we should start to make a pool to send the printers overseas .

 

[stratman]

would it be a good idea, or a waste of space to keep the printer as a spare?

This really is a decision only you can make. There is a possibility your current printer might malfunction and having the spare could be a tremendous money saver since who knows what printers will cost in the future. Or, you could be storing something you won't use. Some of us on the Forum would keep the printer as a hedge against future need, but that may not be for you.

When Canon stops deep discounting these printers in the future you may be able to sell it for a profit. (but not to one of your Forum friends, of course ) The inks and print head hold the most value currently. Canon stops manufacturing print heads 5 years after introducing the printer, so the value of the print head will rise in the future when sources eventually become scarce.

Do you have the space to dedicate for 5+ years?

 

[RyanC]

Palombian, I'd be happy to sell it to you cheap, but international shipping costs for a 56 lb box might cost more than the printer!

Stratman, thanks for the thoughts. That's about where I was going with my thinking, too. Sort of a hedge against future unavailablity of parts or the full printer. We've got plenty of space, its just a matter of do I want it around, and can I convince my wife it is a good idea!
Thanks.

 

[mikling]

If you have the space, then it is a good idea to have a spare well into the future as long as you can enjoy it.
Here's why. The last generation of printers might well be the last one that you can have the versatility of refilling. The likelihood of easy refilling and full chip control continuing into the future with newer models is extremely low. If this is the case, then having a replacement is a good idea and if not for that the possibility of an investment is also there as well. For example have any idea what a new in box Epson Pro3880 is worth right now versus how much they were selling them out for as clearance for the P800 over a year ago? There is likely no pigment ink printer that will have as low and reliable running costs as a Pro9500 and Pro-10. It is a gem.

 

[RyanC]

thanks mikling - I think I will keep it and see what happens.