Other than epson R200?

[jaxxboss]

Ark, I've been following... I think. Anyway, are you saying that your UK printer wont let you print onto dvd/cd ? or no, or are you speaking of ur usa version? Im guessing some of this convo has been on steves site and some here. Just trying to figure out if the UK machine is going to be a viable option or not.

[arklab]

Ark, I've been following... I think. Anyway, are you saying that your UK printer wont let you print onto dvd/cd ? or no, or are you speaking of ur usa version? Im guessing some of this convo has been on steves site and some here. Just trying to figure out if the UK machine is going to be a viable option or not.

I'm afraid that the UK version is begining to look like the ONLY option for those who want an easy and high quality way to have a Pixma printer print directly on CD/DVDs.

Period.

I began with the assumption that the Pixma printers sold in the US and UK were the same, save not having a tray and software included.
THEY ARE NOT!

I had hoped to convert an Epson tray (quite possible and not too hard), add a tray-print program (again, the downloadable Epson prog. works with Pixma), perhaps hack the registry and/or mod the firmware and BANG anyone in the US could have a CD/DVD Tray Print Pixma.
It seemed inconcievable that Canon USA would go so far as to actually CHANGE the physical printer just to disable CD Printing for their US/Canada customers.

Now that I have both machines side by side, it is obvious that is a exactly what they have done.

THANKS EVER SO MUCH CANON USA

It may still be possible for someone use one of the "bypass" methods combined with a converted Epson tray to print a few CD every once and a while. This may be all some people require.

If, however, you want to be able to print CDs as offten as you want with NO trouble, I now feel that Expansys-USA is by far the best solution.
They pay for shipping from England.
They deliver is a very reasonable time.
They a fair return policy (100% for unopened to 25% restocking fee if used)
If confused, you can CALL them and they really ANSWER the phone and are very helpfull.

Their prices are about what US MSRP is, so not cheep, but not a rip-off considering the shipping from the UK.
Canon Pixma iP3000 $147.95
Canon Pixma iP4000 $175.95
Canon Pixma iP5000 $244.95
Canon Pixma iP4000R $299.95

http://www.expansys-usa.com/ (type "Pixma" in search box.)
1.309.820.7913

[brookelh]

Well, I guess that I will install the US driver for my printer and tell my computer that I live in the US again. And write on my CDs with a Sharpie!

Oh well, thanks for trying!

[arklab]

Thanks for helping!

[Bucky_Katt]

check out the EPSON R200 R300 R320 R500 Continuous bulk ink system on Ebay.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=1246&item=6739261174&rd=1

[jaxxboss]

Ark, you havent mentioned anything about the power supply switch you were goimng to do. Or did I miss something here?

Did you swap out the power unit and put in the 110 volt unit?

[krupted]

the epson r series just dont match up to the piximas. canon printers are pretty sweet

Its not canon usa's fault for changing the printers, if they made it easy to convert you could bet on a lawsuit from epson.

Its epsons fault for patenting a cd print process. Im surprised they could even do that, but then again if i were ceo of epson i sure as hell would have done it

[spiffy]

Please verify for me -- so if I were to order the UK printer from expansys-usa.com, do I need to get a voltage converter as well? There were previous posts stating that expansys ships a plug adapter with the printer, but I didn't quite understand if that was enough?

Also, I must use only the UK driver (and all the subsequent updates), and I must change my computer's location to UK prior to installation, correct? What about afterward? Can I change the location back to US?

(I've never owned an inkjet printer, let alone an imported one, so pardon my confusions.)

Thanks in advance!

Spiffy

[krupted]

from what i am seeming to believe, the straight through plug adapter works ok without a voltage converter

[nelsonb]

I'm afraid that the UK version is begining to look like the ONLY option for those who want an easy and high quality way to have a Pixma printer print directly on CD/DVDs.

Period.

I began with the assumption that the Pixma printers sold in the US and UK were the same, save not having a tray and software included.
THEY ARE NOT!

Arklab,

Despite the rollers on either side of the UK tray feed I just want to be able to make the machine lift up a little bit the white rollers on the back automatically as I assume it does when you print cd’s in the UK printer in order to make room for the entering tray. I know this is possible with the US printers since these rollers already lift up in some check or cleaning cycles.

So please before you leave:

1.- Mail me the following registry keys of the UK printer ( “.reg” file is better than “text” file):

“[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Pr int\Printers\Canon PIXMA iP3000]”

“[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\En vironments\Windows NT x86\Version-3\Canon PIXMA iP3000]”

“[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Fr oms]”

2.- Mail me the contents of the following folders of the UK printer:

“C:\BJPrinter”

“C:\Windows\System32\Spool\Drivers\w32x86\3”

“C:\Windows\System32\Spool\Drivers\w32x86\ canonip……..”

Just ZIP all the files in one. Make sure all the information is for the UK printer since I have the US ones.

I want to be able to at least improve the by-pass method for those of us that have to stick with the U.S. printer.

THANKS

[jaxxboss]

We don't want to get one.

[mccoady]

I second that, the UK Canons in my opinion are so much nicer!

[spiffy]

I hate to nag, but does anyone know the answers to my questions a few post above? I'm about to order the printer (still trying to decide between the 4000 and the 5000), but I'd really like to know the answers before I do so...

Thanks again in advance!

Spiffy

[mccoady]

Well I ordered my ip5000 from Expansys and a plug converter was shipped with it but I had already ordered a voltage converter because some had said here that was what I needed. I called Expansys and they said you just needed the plug converter to use in the US but I'm a little scared to try it without the voltage converter until someone here verifies it. I guess I don't understand how a simple plug adapter can convert 110 to 220 to the printer.

As far as installing the software, when I was going through the setup process it had US ticked when it came to asking about the region so I just left it and it works perfectly.

Don't know if this helps you any or not. By the way these Canon printers look great, print great and are absolutely amazing with the UK's ability to print on dvds

Mike

[jaxxboss]

some guy in another thread is asking about printing to hub printables. is there any issues with printing to the hub with the cannon dvd software?

[mccoady]

Not at all when using Canon's CD-LabelPrint. I have 2 screens (templates) set up one for hub printable (118mm outer & 22 mm inner) the other for non hub printable (118mm outer & 42mm inner). I usually just download labels from the net and I have no problems printing to cds or dvds using that software.

[jaxxboss]

Thanks for the reply. Just wish somebody would post on the power issue. LOL.

[mccoady]

You're not the only one, I think Ark must have left us.

[jaxxboss]

mccoady ( or anyone with a European version) cant you unplug the power cord from the PRINTER and hook up a volt meter to it just to see what voltage coming thru?

[mccoady]

I could if I had one, maybe Ark will be back sometime to elaborate on this subject.

[jaxxboss]

LOL. i think ark flew the coop.

[arklab]

I'll be back tonight ...

[striker570]

To answer Mccoady's question, expansys shipped the ip4000 to me with a complimentary physical plug adapter. In my experience this is adequate, as many manufacturers use the same power supply across their lines to simplify and lower cost of production. A good example are my IBM laptops... their power supplies accept 120 to *220* and *50* to 60 hz. In short these genius power supplies *know* what's being fed to them! (unlike a lot of people I've met)
To summarize, the manufacturer's "penny pinching," for once, helps you out in this case, as well as when you take your cell phones, pda's and laptops abroad.

[jaxxboss]

I still havent seen anybody say that they have plugged it in directly without stepping down the voltage.

[spiffy]

Aaargh, I watied too long... Now it looks like it's going to be almost the end of Feb. before 4000 or 5000 will be available for shipping!

(Still can't decide which model to buy... Anyone care to share some additional ownership experiences on either or both models?)

Spiffy

[krupted]

i hear the ip3000 is really nice, i usually try to go one step up from the mainstream, the 4000 isnt much more, it would be my pick

[kenowell]

what striker570 said is true all u need is the adapter the power supply knows what its getting example i have a panasonic tv from overeseas that i have to use the plug adapter for, ,tv automatically recognizes voltage,, mind you the tv is 12 y/o and still going strong

[striker570]

(Still can't decide which model to buy... Anyone care to share some additional ownership experiences on either or both models?)

What pushed me toward the 4000 was a review I read at one point that described the photgraphic performance as being better on the 4000 than the 5000, despite the 5000's higher cost. I recall that it had something to do with a characteristic of the 5000 that increased text and graphics performance at the *expense* of photo image quality. If i can find the article in the next few days, I will post a link.
I think you guys on this thread are really on the right track. I suffered with epson for years with misfeeds, clogged nozzles and ink tank b.s. until i moved *up* to a Canon BJC-8200 several years ago and never looked back... it is still faithfully pumpng out image prints that my graphic artist/photographer brother gives me a "thumbs up" on. Reading some complaints on other threads on the new epson R series mirror my prior experience.

By the way, was really pleased w/ expansys. Knowledgeable, helpful and super quick turnaround.

[richdvd]

If I buy a cannon printer from Canada (from like Ebay) will it work on USA's 120 volt electricity? Also does the ink run when wet like Epson's?
Thanks Mike

Just remember, if you decide to buy one from Canada...the shipping will take about 4-6 weeks to get to the US. We don't have vehicles here. We use dogsleds in the winter and horse and buggy in the summer. If you ask me....I think you are better off buying it in the US

[soundforbjt]

The Canada model won't print on dvds either.