After 2 days of HEAVY printing my Epson Artisan 1430 stopped printing. Troubleshooting resulted in learning the ink jet pad needing Epson's ($$$) repairs. In one area, Epson's WWW site says to just buy a new printer since the repair would no be cost effective. $300 to replace a 2 year old device that was working beautifully before? Googling I found you can purchase a "reset key" for about $10. I'm concerned since the seller of the keys hails from an area of the world not known for being completely trustworthy. I'd gladly spend the $10 but concerns about credit card security, etc. give me pause.

Have any UHHers gone the purchase key route? Good experience or not so good?

Anyone have other advice? Thanks.

"Inquiring minds want to know."

If any Canon user has Magic Lantern firmware on their DSL, updating Canon firmware might possibly cause difficulties with the camera. I tried checking their site but couldn't find the exact post for which I was searching. <magiclantern.fm> Caveat Emptor.

"On many inkjet printers what really consumes ink is the printer, not printing.
That is, especially if you are not a heavy duty printer, many printers each time activated consume very significant ink in its operating protocol to avoid clogged jets."

I recently read that it is not recommended an inkjet printer NOT be turned off (and never by turning it off using a "power strip") unless it will not be used for an "extended time." If my memory serves me correctly the author was talking about 2 weeks or longer.

The explanation was each time an inkjet printer is turned on it uses as much ink as is used in a cleaning cycle. And, a power strip turn off does not let the printer go through a shutdown cycle - something about parking the printer's heads properly (not seating/sealing them.)

Concern conservation of electricity - inkjets reputedly consume minuscule amounts of power.

I've not verified any of the above quotes. "Caveat Emptor."

At the recommendation of a 3rd party ink supplier, I bought an Epson Artisan 1430 about 30 months ago. Had to use the OEM carts to set it up but immediately switched to refillables. Cost to replace the 6 carts with Epson's - $136 USD, plus tax. 3rd party supplier - $99 (includes 6 refillable carts with ink, 6 3.5 oz ink bottles, enough ink to refill empty carts 7 times.) $49 for the 6 3.5 oz without the carts. OEM's - $932 for 7 sets of 6 carts. I've had 2 Epson Stylus Photo R280's using CISS, an Epson Stylus Photo RX620 using refillables, & an Epson Workforce WF3450 using 3rd party single use non-OEM carts.

Downsides: With CISS or refillables - ya gotta wear plastic gloves to keep the ink from staining hands! Trust me on this - it takes about 3 days for the ink to "wear off." Also, using refillables, you MUST stay aware of the ink levels in the carts. If you print with an empty cart in the system, you can ruin that color's print head. (But then, again, with the savings, run out & buy a new printer, and still be way ahead of the game. A tad of advice - using refillables, keep an extra set of filled carts on hand so when 1 color needs replaced, replace them all, refill the just removed ones & you'll be ready for the next changing cycle.

Upsides: SAVINGS SAVINGS SAVINGS!

I could detect no differences in the colors between OEM & 3rd party inks. Had no clogging problems as long as the printers were used a couple of times a week.

Apologies for the rant/long post but, I print a buncha color pages, like my Epsons, and love my 3rd party carts/inks.

SHALOM

I have a reconditioned by Apple 2010 MacBook Pro 17" with an Oyen Digital 2 port USB 3 ExpressCard adapter, <https://oyendigital.com/hard-drives/store/HBU3MAC.html> I5 CPU, 8 GB RAM, 1TB SSD. Bought a powered 5 port USB 3 hub hoping to add a few more ports. Doesn't work with the Oyen adapter but does work as a USB 2 hub from the MacBook's ports. I can simultaneously run 2 portable USB 3 external HDD's from it.

HTH.

"You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar." https://www.usingenglish.com/reference/idioms/you+can+catch+more+flies+with+honey+than+with+vinegar.html

Welcome. Really nice shots. 'Specially liked the big horns "locked" in mortal combat.

If you finally decide to go the MAC route check out the apple.com site for refurbished computers: http://www.apple.com/shop/browse/home/specialdeals/mac

Upside - lower prices, same warranty as a new machine. (re warranties: with an extended warranty - admittedly expensive - but you get 3 full years of free repairs unless you spill something on it or break it - drop, etc. - and 3 full years of no cost support instead of the initial 90 days. I've found the brick & mortar OOPS glass and mortar Apple stores to be extraordinarily knowledgeable, helpful, and oftimes bend over backwards to assist/accommodate you. Additionally you can run Windows software (admittedly just a tad less than straight forward) on the MAC. In a few instances, some Windows software runs "better" on MACs.

Downside - your choice of computers is limited to what is on hand at the time of your purchase - no custom ordering. However there have been times when you order a refurb and the one sent to has superior specs than what was ordered.

FWIW: I've owned 2 MAC desktops (G4 & G5) and 3 MacBook PROs (13", 15", 17".) This is being written on the 2010 17" upgraded to 1 GB SSD. It runs faster than when new.

In the end, "You pays your money and you takes your choice."

As Peter Falk says, "And one more thing..." Consider the longevity of the MACs. Mine are: 2008 - 15", 2010 - 17", 2012 - 13".

OK, off the soap box, for now.

Been using third party inks for about five years. At about the cost of one Epson OEM color cartridge I get enough ink to refill all six color cartridges for my Epson 1430 about 10 times. Consequently, there are many more pages with color spewing forth from the Artisan.

Been using Staples Brand (USA,) almost free after rebates, photo paper for everyday picture printing Stapes, also, used to have extraordinary sales on HP photo paper but haven't seen one in over a year. I use HP for "special" prints.

Thought it may sound improbable, my estimate is $0.03 (three cents) per color print - paper & ink.

SHALOM

2 pieces of software:

http://rasterbator.net/

https://posterazor.secursoft.net/?network=ContentSearch&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=US%3A%20Design%20Photography%20Software&utm_term=PosteRazor&utm_content=posterazor

https://sourceforge.net/projects/posterazor/?source=typ_redirect

Haven't used Rasterbator. I have used PosteRazor 2 Christmases ago. Made four 20 inch by 36 inch posters for grandchildren (using multiple sheets of 8 1/2X11 photo paper.) Took a while to get the process down but the results were pleasing for the kids and their parents. Down side was lining up the individual prints so the overlaps were correct and no white space was visible. If I remember correctly, you specify the photo paper size you are using & the software interpolates how many sheets needed. I also seem to remember alignment marks as an assist in getting the sheets properly positioned.

If you go this route I would URGE you to use cheap copy paper the same size as the photo paper you would be doing your ultimate print(s) on. Viewing up close the individual sheets of paper are noticeable. From a reasonable distance not very noticeable.

My greatest pleasures were seeing the kids' expressions after the wrapping paper was off and the satisfaction of having done it myself.

IMHO <duckduckgo.com> is a superior search engine. It does NOT track activity.

From a former Air Traffic Controller.

The following were true at the turn of the century, however procedures/phraseologies may have been changed:

At altitudes of 18,000 feet and above the ATC/pilot terminology was "Flight Level One Eight Zero," "Flight Level Two One Zero" (or written as FL180, FL210, etc.)

Normally, a Control Tower would not be issuing control instructions to aircraft at such high altitudes. The facility having control jurisdiction would have been an ARTCC (Air Route Traffic Control Center.)

Just my $0.02.