"THE INKSIDER" _______________________________________ September 2002 Newsletter #14-0901 ======================================= Hi <>, This newsletter only goes to people who subscribe to it. Unsubscribe instructions are at the bottom of the newsletter. This newsletter is brought to you by Atlascopy.com. Company Goal: Offer you, the consumer, a cost savings alter- native to expensive OEM cartridges. Our cartridges are 50 to 80 percent less expensive than OEM's. We also have Refill Kits, which can save you up to 90 percent. We accept articles for publication in this newsletter. If you have an article or just wish to express your opinion please write to bshultz@atlascopy.com. ============================================================== This month's edition features the following: 1. News from the InkJet Industry New Epson Stylus C62 printer New HP Deskjet 450 printer New Canon i850, i550, and i320 New Lexmark Z65p Photo Jetprinter 2. New Products at Atlascopy.com *** Look for special on C6578AN, T017, T018 and C6625AN *** 3. General Tips on Getting the Most for Your Money ============================================================ Editorial Epson is apparently feeling the loss of revenue from the new chip re-setters that are so prevalent on the Internet today. The refilling industry cheered when they finally came out with a solution to Epson's "chipped cartridges" problem. Refillers were daunted with cartridges that were easy to refill but useless because of the "chip" that would communicate to the printer information that made it impossible to use a refilled cartridge. All that changed with the introduction of the re- programmers. The cheering are turning into moans when it came to light last month that Epson has re-designed the chips on the T026201, T027201, T028201 and T029201 cartridges. The new chips render the re-setters useless! The re-setters will still work on the generic cartridges using non-OEM chips but if you want to refill a new cartridge, you're out of luck, at least for now. It won't take long for the industry to come up with a solution to this but it could complicate things if they don't make the new re-setter downward compatible. In other words I hope they not only work with the new cartridges but also with the old ones and the generics. We'll have to wait and see. For those of you who were weighing an Epson to a Canon the scale just dipped heavily to the Canon side. Canon, to my knowledge, has not introduced any technology into their inkjet cartridges. Let's hope it stays that way. Happy printing. Barry Shultz ============================================================ 1. News from the InkJet Industry EPSON provides high speed color printing to the home user Stylus C62 a high speed print solution with a world leading resolution of 5760 x 720 dpi 01 August 2002 - For the home user looking for an advanced home printing solution, EPSON today launches the Stylus C62. The Stylus C62 is an A4 4-colour inkjet printer providing high speed, high quality output at a cost effective price, and is designed to be easy to use. Print speeds for the Stylus C62 are 14ppm in black and white, and 13.9 ppm in color, and it features a world leading resolution of 5760 x 720 optimized dpi* producing fine detail, advanced tonal gradations and image reproduction. The Stylus C62 combines speed and high quality output to make it ideal for home printing applications such as letters, newsletters, sophisticated DTP documents, internet downloads, and photo quality output. For those with an artistic streak the new Star Wars Creative Studio is included within the box. The software allows users to design and print their own custom Star Wars posters, letters, birthday cards, envelopes, calendars, invitation and T-Shirt media using Attack Of The Clones images and templates. Pre-set designs also allow users to create emails with pictures and sound effects. The Stylus C62 uses EPSON's Intellidge ink cartridges providing feedback of ink levels to the user at all times. Beneficial when printing large jobs where a semi-used cartridge might not complete the job, the user can replace this with a full cartridge and the semi-used cartridge can be reinserted at a later date and therefore eliminating waste. Connectivity is simple whether working with Windows PC or Macintosh the Stylus C62 offers both standard parallel and simple plug and play USB ports. For ease of use the EPSON driver has been designed to meet the level of user expertise. The driver is plug and play and automatically creates optimized settings. Containing a further optional screen the driver also allows the user to access further features, which offers greater functionality and creative control. * Maximum print solution of 5760 x 720 optimized dpi available on the following media: Photo Paper: Premium Glossy Photo Paper Premium Semigloss Photo Paper Photo Quality Glossy Film Stylus C62 Features Summary Print speeds 14ppm black and 13.9ppm color High Resolution 5760 x 720 optimized dpi resolution 4-colour printing for a wide range of printing applications EPSON 4pl Ultra-MicroDot for finer detail and smoother gradations Simple plug and play USB connectivity as standard - compatible with Windows 98, ME, NT4.0, XP 2000, and Macintosh (iMAC, G3 G4) including OSX support as standard Advanced driver functionality including PhotoEnhance 4 ============================================================ Color Printer Family Specifics: HP Deskjet 450 Printer PALO ALTO, Calif., Sept. 23, 2002 Designed for mobile professionals, the HP Deskjet 450 printer is a compact powerhouse full of features for fast, hassle-free mobile printing. The high-performance HP Deskjet 450 delivers 4,800-optimized dpi,(1) true-to-life six-ink printing (with separate photo cartridge purchase), long-lasting lithium-ion battery and flexible connectivity options (parallel, USB, fast infrared and Bluetooth). Busy professionals can reliably print from a host of wired and wireless devices, including notebooks, PDAs, select mobile phones and digital cameras. For added convenience, high-capacity ink cartridges print up to 400 color pages, without user intervention. An optional auto/airline adapter and carrying case accessories support mobile printing. The HP Deskjet 450 printer is expected to be available in October for an estimated U.S. street price of $299. ============================================================ NEW LINE OF BUBBLE JET PRINTERS FROM CANON OFFER ADVANCED HOME PHOTO PRINTING CAPABILITIES New i850, i550, and i320 Provide Excellent Quality, Performance, and Ease-of-Use September 16, 2002 Canon announced three new Bubble Jet printers - the i850 Photo Printer and the i550 and i320 Color Bubble Jet Printers, which offer sleek new industrial designs and high levels of performance. The i850 Photo Printer offers excellent image quality and speedy borderless photo printing with a new print head and ultra- fine 2-picoliter (pl)droplet size. The i550 and i320 focus on value and performance for printing photos and general output with Canon's advanced Microfine Droplet Technology. Canon's i850 Photo Printer, the flagship of the new i- series printers, features a new printhead with an exclusive technology that combines 5 picoliter (pl) droplets for fast coverage and ultra-fine 2 pl drops for exceptional quality and detail when printing photos. This brand new printhead features 1600 nozzles and features Canon's exclusive advanced Microfine Droplet Technology to eject the exact amount of ink for each printing application, resulting in a higher quality photo print, increased print speeds, and, with the Canon Think Tank System, efficient and economical printing costs. The i850 Photo Printer has Advanced Precision Color Distribution Technology to practically eliminate color variance. With up to an ultra-high 4800 x 1200 color dpi and super fast printing speeds of up to 22 pages per minute ppm) for black, and up to 14 ppm for color, the i850 performs borderless photo printing of 4"x 6" sizes in approximately 47 seconds. The MSRP of the i850 Photo Printer is $199.00 and it will be shipping in September 2002. The i550 Color Bubble Jet Printer offers high-performance printing at an amazing price. Featuring up to 4800 x 1200 dpi color resolution, the i550 prints up to 18 ppm in black and up to 11 ppm in color and prints 4" x 6" borderless photos in less than 47 seconds. From text to web page graphics to photos, this printer is a great fit for the home office professional. Advanced Canon printing technology found on the i550 include advanced Microfine Droplet Technology for high reproduction of detail. Precision Color Distribution combined with a 1,088-nozzle printhead assures consistent prescribed-volume ink droplets for accuracy and fast printing. Canon's Think Tank System provides economical ink use using four individual tanks that can be replaced as each tank runs out. The MSRP of the i550 Color Bubble Jet Printer is $149.00* and it will be shipping in September 2002. The i320 Color Bubble Jet Printer delivers an awesome combination of quality, stylish new design and value, and brings 4" x 6" borderless printing down to an ultra-low price point. Color resolution is up to 2400 x 1200 dpi with printing speeds of 10 ppm for black and 7 ppm in color. The i320 features advanced Microfine Droplet technology for accurate ink delivery, and Easy-PhotoPrint software for making the photo printing process easier. The MSRP of the i320 Color Bubble Jet Printer is $79.00 and it will be shipped in September 2002. ============================================================ New Lexmark photo printer integrates camera card readers with 4800 dpi resolution for easy photo printing at home Priced at $199, the Lexmark Z65p Photo Jetprinter offers easy-to-print photos that rival photo lab quality -- LEXINGTON, Ky. Sep 30 2002 Lexmark International, Inc. (NYSE: LXK) introduced the Lexmark Z65p Photo Jetprinter, a complete solution for Windows users interested in printing color photos at home. The Z65p features on-board camera card readers that make it easy to print images from digital cameras, using a PC, at a stunning 4800 x 1200 dots per inch (dpi) resolution. Features for Simple Photo Printing The Z65p offers the following features to simplify the photo printing process: Photo card slots - Four slots accommodate six camera card types - CompactFlash I & II, Secure Digital, SmartMedia, Memory Stick, IBM MultiMedia and Microdrive - supporting virtually all leading digital cameras. Users simply insert memory card, edit and store photos, via a PC. Fotoslate software - Shipping with the Z65p, Fotoslate intuitively guides customers through the process of taking images from a photo card and formatting them to print, helping users select size, layout and the number of prints. PrecisionSense™ technology - Automatically senses paper type and adjusts printer driver for optimal output. Dual paper trays - Supports the ability to alternate between media, such as photo and plain papers - or multiple sizes of photo papers, without having to manually switch the paper. Stunning Photo Resolution The Z65p enables customers to achieve the kind of detail traditionally associated with photo lab prints. This printer offers brilliant 4800 x 1200 dpi resolution (5.8 megapixel) in black and color on multiple paper types, including glossy photo and coated papers, as well as 4800 x 600 dpi on plain paper. The Z65p boasts a three picoliter microfine color drop size, allowing for better color transitions and more detailed textures. Lexmark Signature Features Like all members of the 2002 Z-line, the Z65p includes sophisticated ease-of-use features. The intuitive graphical interface system helps ensure an enjoyable printing experience with quick installation, helpful "how to print" wizard, improved trouble-shooting tips, an electronic cartridge ink gauge and special job finishing options such as booklet and poster printing. Also, the patented Accu- Feed™ paper handling system that accommodates a wide range of print media up to 150-pound stock, including envelopes, transparencies, card stock, labels and iron-on transfers. Availability The Lexmark Z65p Photo Jetprinter will begin shipping soon and will be sold at popular retailers such as Best Buy and Office Depot as well as from Dell. ============================================================ 2. New Products at Atlascopy.com There's plenty of new products up this month on Atlascopy.com. We encourage you to take a look at our website because we update product listings regularly. To speed your shopping along, here is a list of the latest items you can find on Atlascopy.com, with pricing and URL linkage: ------------------------------------------------------------ *** SPECIAL on HP C6578AN CARTRIDGES *** We came into some nearly expired OEM C6578AN's that we are letting go for only $38.95! These cartridges are selling on HP's web site right now for $54.99. The expiration date is August, 2002 but we are giving a full guarantee with them. We only have 1 left in stock. First come first served. (If you need more than one we can get more but we are not going to stock them any longer.) http://shop.atlascopy.com/ Click on the "Specials" link on the left. -------------------------------------------------------------- We have a few brand new OEM cartridges that are unadvertised specials. They are ONLY available at this price at http://shop.atlascopy.com. Look for the specials link on the left side of the page. They are in date and we are selling them at below cost. Epson T017 (4 left) Retail $27.95 Special price $23.95 Epson T018 (1 left) Retail $25.95 Special price $20.95 HP C6625AN (1 left) Retail $36.99 Special price $26.95 ------------------------------------------------------------ Generic Chipped Cartridges for the Epson C80 and C70 T032120 $14.50 T032220 $7.80 T032320 $7.80 T032420 $7.80 http://atlascopy.com/cartridges/epson/ -------------------------------------------------------------- If you are looking for Greeting Card stock or Photo Glossy paper, then check out our Media and Paper section. Our films and papers are designed to perform equally well with Repeat-O-Type Brand inks and those offered by the printer manufacturers. http://atlascopy.com/media.htm ============================================================ 3. General Tips on Getting the Most for Your Money Epson Tip If you read the editorial above and you own an Epson which uses one of the cartridges, T026201, T027201, T028201 and T029201, you still have a few options. Don't use OEM's. The generic cartridges still work great with the re-setters and you can refill them just like the OEM's. Make sure you only order the cartridges with the small chips. There are some generic cartridges that have larger chips that will not fit into the re-setter. We only sell the cartridges with the small chips so if you want to be sure, order them from us. A shameless plug! After all, it is our newsletter. :-) ********************************************************* Lexmark / Compaq Tip I just answered an email about contamination with Lexmark cartridges. It's easy to inject the wrong color into the wrong chamber. Luckily it's not a big problem with Lexmark cartridges. I have covered this before in this newsletter but I think it is important enough to repeat. It's practically a 100% fix for all Lexmark color refilling problems. The trick is to remove the clear plastic cover over the sponges. Use a sturdy pair of needle nose pliers. Pull out the sponges and thoroughly clean them out with warm tap water. While the sponges are still damp put them back in the cartridge in the correct chamber and refill right away. Toss the clear plastic cover because you will destroy it when you remove it. Put the lid back on the cartridge with tape, glue or use a hot glue gun. *********************************************************** Canon tip (I am repeating this tip from last week because a lot of new subscribers are asking about it) Canon Cartridge Leaks: (Canon tank type cartridges) 1. Sometimes the sponge shrinks when it dries and takes time to expand when refilled. Lay the cartridge on its side for a while after refilling to allow the sponge to expand. After a number of refills the sponge in the cartridge gradually loses its absorbency and will not hold as much ink. 2.A cartridge may also leak for a while if it is slightly over filled. Allow it to drip or keep blotting the print head to draw out the excess ink. 3. If you drilled the cartridge make sure the drill hole is sealed. The seal must be absolutely air tight. Use electrical tape or a hot glue gun for best results. You should be able to refill about EIGHT times before having to replace the cartridge. Make sure the cartridge has stopped leaking before installing it back into the printer. *********************************************************** HP tip What's up with those fickle HP C6578 cartridges? Yes, we know they are tough to refill. HP has done a remarkable job incorporating anti-refilling technology into these babies. Such as self destructing nozzle plates and a raised center chamber that makes it easy to puncture the lower screen resulting in a leaking cartridge. Also, the seals around the outer chambers have a tendency to spring a leak. Even with all these obstacles it is still possible to successfully refill this cartridge. You can increase your success rate by gravity filling. Remove the plunger from the injector and let the ink flow by gravity into the cartridge. We also sell a solution by Repeat-O-Type called starter solution. http://www.atlascopy.com/startersolution.htm The starter solution can greatly increase your success. The solution is a catalyst that helps the sponges absorb the ink. It sells for $7.50 for a 2oz bottle, which will last for dozens of refills. =========================================================== BFILL? We may have the Epson refiller owners' most useful tool, and the best part is it only costs 50 cents! I'm talking about the BFILL tool. The BFILL attaches to any injector and can suck the foam from a cartridge faster than a vacuum cleaner on steroids! Foam is the main reason why Epson cartridges stop printing. It's easy to use and you will be surprised how much foam a small cartridge can hold. We have a nice little primer complete with pictures for this useful little tool. Check it out here: http://www.atlascopy.com/BFILLinstructions.htm ============================================================ If you have a tip you would like to contribute you can e-mail it to atlas@dvol.com. ============================================================ If you would like to advertise in this newsletter please see our rate card at: http://www.atlascopy.com/ezines/index.htm ============================================================ Special note: Some of you are confused by our offering of two different web sites. Essentially, they both offer the same products but the difference is in the shopping cart area. Many of you asked for a shopping cart that retains the user information. The new site does that. Others complained when they were required to set up an account in order to purchase anything. So we are keeping both sites active to make everybody happy. The other difference is the new site has the ability to process credit cards in real time. The security is much higher and people get frustrated when their credit card is declined. If you want to order from the new site you MUST use the correct billing address, which is the address where your credit card statement is sent to. Also, the new site will not accept any International credit cards. If you are having problems with your credit card on the new site then you should use the old site. The old site does NOT have real time processing, we will run your credit card manually which means you won't get rejected, unless of course you deserve it. :-) The new site is at: http://shop.atlascopy.com The old site is at: http://atlascopy.com ============================================================ See ya next time! Barry Shultz Editor bshultz@atlascopy.com