The Epson 1270 appeared to offer it all: vivid, 1440dpi near-photo quality outputs, speedy printing, a wide carriage that can print 11"x14" enlargements, easy setup, etc...it even offered a manufacturer's claim of archival inks that wouldn't fade over time.

But the 1270 has already been replaced by the 1280, within just a few years of its introduction.

Why? Well, who's to say for sure...

But what we do know is that ink wasn't all that it was cracked up to be, and there are a few reports of quiet hardware buy-backs by Epson.

While I've not had the "fade-to-orange" ink problems (perhaps because I use Kodak paper?), it has been a major hassle for me just to find color ink (at ANY price) to keep it fed. None of the 3rd party suppliers support its unique cartridge format, so there's very few alternatives.

As such, the time is quickly passing for the 1270. As hard as its been to find ink for the past 6-9 months, I wouldn't be surprised if it hits a complete dead end within the next ~18 months or so, and I'll be forced to replace a printer for the want of a supply cartridge.

My recommendation is to check out your local office store and look for 1270 color cartridges. Odds are that you won't find them, which means that you should also look for another printer.



Recommended: No

Amount Paid (US$): 475
Operating System: Windows and Macintosh