Buying a scanner/printer combo, with printer that prints directly onto CDs

F

filmguy123

Veteran
For my small business, I want to buy a printer that prints directly to CD/DVD for labels. This is my key purpose - I need something to get professional quality direct to CD prints, quickly and easily.

Second, I need to replace my old scanner - it connects via serial port and is old and slow, and small. I'd like a printer with a good scanner that is high speed and can fit four 4 x6's on the bed.

Finally, I'd like it to be a good general purpose printer. What do you think of the Epson rx680?

http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/...infoType=Specs&oid=63069505&category=Products

$130.00 shipped... plus ink....

And if this is a good choice, where can I get good ink for cheap?

And it's a bad choice, what would be better? I don't have a ton to spend, but I'm always willing to put in a little more cash if it is well worth it - to a certain extent.

Thoughts?

Thanks a bundle!

PS - I am running on a MAC (OS X 10.5 Leopard)
 
I've used epson printers for printing on to DVD/CD and it was always a HUGE pain in the ass. The printer never wanted to recognize what the CD tray. It was awful. I used epson printers for years but will never use one again because of that very problem. It drove me NUTS.

I use a canon now and have been much happier.

As a side note the epson quality was fine, no different than the canon but it was NOT worth the hassle.


-rook
 
bump - any help here?

The Canon PIXMA MP610 looks great... but it doesn't print direct to CD... and from what I see it doesn't appear that Canon has a printer that prints direct to CD?

That is the feature I need most...
 
I use an Epson RX 595, (along with an R220 and 1400) to print on DVDs. I do occasionally get some weirdness, but it's never stopped me from completing a job.


But I've never used it to scan.
 
HP Photosmart C5280

Cheaper inks, and they come in XL versions. The demo, small ink cartridge printed 50 full page color DVD covers, 50 pamphlets (on photo settings), and 100 disk covers.

Haven't had any problem with it ever being recognized.
 
So I found this:

http://aricsblog.blogspot.com/2007/02/canon-pixma-mp830-hack-to-enable.html

Apparently someone else in the US owns the patent for direct to CD printing and wouldn't license it to Canon? So Canon's UK models have direct to CD print feature, but not the US models...

But this guy says you can hack it to work... because the printers come with the feature, but just disabled in the US region.

My only wonders are, does this work on the newer models like the mp610?
And, what about the software that is supposed to make it easy to direct print to CD/DVD?
 
I've been using the Epson R300 for one-off prints for about 5 years; never a hitch; always great-quality prints. You do want to be sure to optimize your print settings, though.
 
sheeep said:
HP Photosmart C5280

Cheaper inks, and they come in XL versions. The demo, small ink cartridge printed 50 full page color DVD covers, 50 pamphlets (on photo settings), and 100 disk covers.

Haven't had any problem with it ever being recognized.
Click to expand...

That doesn't print directly to CDs that I can tell.
 
Be careful of the Epsons, I own one and it does work, but the ink is ridiculously expensive. And this thing seems to run out every month. I'm about to try HP just for the cheaper ink.
 
Isaac_Brody said:
Be careful of the Epsons, I own one and it does work, but the ink is ridiculously expensive. And this thing seems to run out every month. I'm about to try HP just for the cheaper ink.
Click to expand...

I have the r300

Ink can be expensive if you buy it retail. At Staples about 14$ for each of the colors (5 carts) unless you buy two or more then about 11$ per cart. Black is about 17$ or 18$ per cart.

I'm cheap and adventuresome so I buy them off ebay. Recently got a set of 12 (2 complete sets) for 36$ including shipping. They are refills of course but I rarely have problems with them.

Printer.... Like it and need another. I have printed so many disks the printer quit and I had to find instructions online to reset the counter. Is now working again.
 
Hm, now I'm looking for one but reviews on the internet are hard to come by. I don't care for scanner/copier as I have a Samsung SCX-4200 laser all-in-one that does the trick for me pretty good. I have a lot of printable media that I'd like to start using though. All the reviews/forum posts I've seen online are at least 2 years old and nothing has been updated. Other than the R300 and the HP in the thread...there's no other recommendations?

-Kegan
 
I have a canon mp600 and love it. The mp610 is the newer model. It's extremely easy to use and has lots of good features. I'd highly recommend it as I've never had a problem with mine, but I hear complaints from many Epson users.

Canon doesn't actually make US printers to print onto discs, but the US and UK versions are exactly the same. I bought the printer tray off ebay for about $10 that came with instructions for switching the printer from US to UK so that disc printing would pop up in the menu. Very easy process and the discs look great.

I'd say get the Canon mp610. You'll be very satisfied.
 
Thanks a lot. I checked it out and apparently has gotten great reviews. The tray is on ebay for about $20 including shipping. There was some debating between the mp970 and the mp610, but I think the mp610 looks really good. I'm going to check it out in store and post back with my thoughts if I decide to purchase it.

-Kegan
 
dust'n the callipygous said:
I have a canon mp600 and love it. The mp610 is the newer model. It's extremely easy to use and has lots of good features. I'd highly recommend it as I've never had a problem with mine, but I hear complaints from many Epson users.

Canon doesn't actually make US printers to print onto discs, but the US and UK versions are exactly the same. I bought the printer tray off ebay for about $10 that came with instructions for switching the printer from US to UK so that disc printing would pop up in the menu. Very easy process and the discs look great.

I'd say get the Canon mp610. You'll be very satisfied.
Click to expand...

YEESSSSS.... so the current canon mp610 supports direct to CD printing? Just buy the tray? What letter designation is the tray? AND - where can I get the software that supports it? Is it available for Mac OS X?

If so, I'm ordering the 610 today!
 
Well, according to ebay, the letter designation is "F" and if you purchase from the seller I saw, it was $20, INCLUDING the software for both PC and Mac.

-Kegan
 
awesome.

Any suggestions on where to get good ink for cheap for the mp610? I love the ink replacement system, and I'd like to order:

- The Pixma mp610 from Newegg (unless better deal elsewhere??)
- The Tray F w/software from ebay seller
- Ink (what/where? suggestions?)
- Printable DVD media (suggestions?)
 
I'd like to hear some ink suggestions as well (hopefully from users in Canada as well). I use and really like TDK printable media. Works wonders for me. I found the printer at Canada Computers for $127.99 CDN, the tray for $20 (including shipping) but ink advice is always appreciated. Seems like I'll be going for it as well.

-Kegan
 
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