Switched to Canon ip5000 from Epson R200

[mowermanEd]

For the last year I've used an Epson R200 to print the discs for my backups. The R200 did a decent job but it does have it's drawbacks, i.e. it's slow, print quality isn't that great, it's a crapshoot if the tray will feed correctly without you having to push it in. I wanted a disc printer that used the same ink as my regular photo printer, an i960, thus reducing the inventory of carts I had to have. For this reason I kept a keen eye on any info on the net concerning the ability of Canon printers to print CD's/DVD's. Only the European and Asian models from Canon are CD print enabled. I discovered that the firmware in Canons printers was easy to change but I either had to make my own CD tray or find one on ebay for upwards of $30. I chose to make my own out of a piece of fiberglass signboard with a cavity routed into it to hold the CD. All of my efforts have paid off handsomely. Not only is the ip5000 much faster than the R200 but to my eye the print quality is superior. Best of all, the feeding of the tray is sooooooo smooth and quick when compared to the R200. Anyone desireing to convert a Canon US model to enable printing CD's should view the long (over 1400 posts) thread at: http://www.stevesforums.com/forums/view_forum.php?id=40 and at: http://pixma.web1000.com/Pixma345/345.html to see detailed pics of the actual conversion. If you do not now have a printer to print Cd's and are contemplating purchasing an R200, believe me, you'll be happier with a converted Canon and it is worth paying a little more for a lot less aggravation.

[p_l]

I agree. I'm a convert, too. I'm quite happy.