Epson disc printers and ink volume use...

[FredThompson]

I've noticed my Epson Stylus Photo R200 printer displays all ink levels are the same, even if only black has been printed. The Epson FAQ on their website says a "small amount" of color ink will always be printed to keep the ink nozzles clean.

Fair enough except the remaining ink volume shown is identical to the black level. That should only happen if an identical amount of ink is used. An identical amount of ink would not be "a small amount" nor would registration be so perfect that color is never visible on the printed items.

Do any of you who have the same printer see the same status? It sure looks like itentionaly misleading or lazy coding. If this is only a problem with my particular unit, that's one thing, if it's a common occurrence in all printers of this class, Epson is liable.

[Zyphon]

Hi FredThompson,

I have an Epson Stylus Photo RX425 all-in-one printer and I have the same problem.

My printer has individual cartridges for each colour and low and behold they the monitor shows that they are all running out of ink at the same time.

This to me seems strange or maybe it's a con on Epson's part making you buy all 4 replacement cartridges at once. I don't see also how all four could run out at exactly the same time.

I used a lot of black ink in printing off text documents and making black & white photo copies yet still all the colours are at the same level.

Im as stumped as you are on this subject. :(

[abbadon]

I have an Epson R200, as does my brother and a friend. All three of us end up replacing the ink at different times, and the ink levels reflects this. However, I do remember that the initial cartiges that came with the printer did all seems to be used at the same rate, but the replacements (generic) showed different ink usage.

[FredThompson]

Hmm...

I have a set of G&C cartridges purchased from Supermediastore. (They're a web-only frontend for a distributor, just like Meritline.) abbadon, where did you get your cartridges?

Don't know if these will show individual levels properly.

It is total BS to claim all the ink is connsumed at the same rate.

[abbadon]

yeah, same stuff, g&g, on my 3rd set, they work great. i agree, all ink should be consumed at different rates, and should be refltected in the ink gauges. maybe the original cartidges are starter catridges, or maybe they just have different amouts of ink thaqn the g&c or maybe the difference in ink usuage doesn't show up until several hundred cd's/pages have been printed.