fix canon i960 or buy a new one?

Hi, found this group while searching for info on what my printer
error means. I have a canon i960 that we got when they first
came out. It just started giving me a 5 flashing orange light
code and saying there was an 'operator error'. I checked on the
cannon site and it said to try reseating the cartridges and to
turn the printer on and off (rocket science! but neither of
those things worked. Then it said it might need a new printer
head. I checked and those cost about 60$.

So I guess I am looking for advice...is there any way to know if
the printhead is really the problem without buying a new one or
paying to take it in for repair. If we decide to buy a new photo
printer, what would you recommend? We print a lot of pictures
and documents for my son's home autism therapy and I am kind of
freaking out about not having a printer so am inclined to just go
buy a new one. Any input would be greatly appreciated.

-kim

Ï "Kim E" <aqa12nospam@yahoo.com> Ýãñáøå óôï ìÞíõìá
news:PZ%_h.95$dj2.63@trndny02...
> Hi, found this group while searching for info on what my printer
> error means. I have a canon i960 that we got when they first
> came out. It just started giving me a 5 flashing orange light
> code and saying there was an 'operator error'. I checked on the
> cannon site and it said to try reseating the cartridges and to
> turn the printer on and off (rocket science! but neither of
> those things worked. Then it said it might need a new printer
> head. I checked and those cost about 60$.
>
> So I guess I am looking for advice...is there any way to know if
> the printhead is really the problem without buying a new one or
> paying to take it in for repair. If we decide to buy a new photo
> printer, what would you recommend? We print a lot of pictures
> and documents for my son's home autism therapy and I am kind of
> freaking out about not having a printer so am inclined to just go
> buy a new one. Any input would be greatly appreciated.
>

Hi there,
when there's a problem with the head you usually suspect it has dried up
nozzles-thus printing "intermittedly" or badly-I'm not certain if you'd get
an error.Usually these things obviously give up cryptic error messages when
they reach the end of its life or just fail in one way or another.I have the
canon pixma iP 4300 and I must say,I'm extremely happy with it.It has the
smallest droplet of ink in the market and is therefore very economic with
ink (got a magenta ink warning almost 30 4X5" prints back), can print almost
laser-like documents on both sides automatically, can print (printable) cds
and dvds, has a permanent paper tray, has also a disposable head, has 5
separate ink tanks(magenta, yellow, cyan, black and bulk black)...for me
gives the best bang for the buck (it cost 130 euros, complete with taxes and
inks and 5 printable cd-rs from maxwell).Strongly recommended to use only
original canon ink cartridges and paper, though.Ink is not very expensive;15
euros for 13 ml but since the tanks are separate, (black outlives magenta by
4to 1 at least, yellow 2 to 1, cyan 3 to 1 and bulk black depends on how
many documents you print)...



--
Tzortzakakis Dimitrios
major in electrical engineering
mechanized infantry reservist
dimtzort AT otenet DOT gr

On Sat, 05 May 2007 13:51:43 GMT, "Kim E" <aqa12nospam@yahoo.com>
wrote:

>Hi, found this group while searching for info on what my printer
>error means. I have a canon i960 that we got when they first
>came out. It just started giving me a 5 flashing orange light
>code and saying there was an 'operator error'. I checked on the
>cannon site and it said to try reseating the cartridges and to
>turn the printer on and off (rocket science! but neither of
>those things worked. Then it said it might need a new printer
>head. I checked and those cost about 60$.
>
>So I guess I am looking for advice...is there any way to know if
>the printhead is really the problem without buying a new one or
>paying to take it in for repair. If we decide to buy a new photo
>printer, what would you recommend? We print a lot of pictures
>and documents for my son's home autism therapy and I am kind of
>freaking out about not having a printer so am inclined to just go
>buy a new one. Any input would be greatly appreciated.
>
>-kim
>

With new printers being very inexpensive it is usually not economic to
repair older printers. You can buy a new Canon IP4200 for $45 from
Circuit City after rebate. It is a discontinued model. I have one
and I think the photo prints are better than the i960 it replaced and
since it does not use the photo cyan and magenta cartridges it is
cheaper to operate.

On May 5, 9:51�am, "Kim E" <aqa12nos...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Hi, found this group while searching for info on what my printer
> error means. *I have a canon i960 that we got when they first
> came out. *It just started giving me a 5 flashing orange light
> code and saying there was an 'operator error'. *I checked on the
> cannon site and it said to try reseating the cartridges and to
> turn the printer on and off (rocket science! but neither of
> those things worked. *Then it said it might need a new printer
> head. *I checked and those cost about 60$.
>
> So I guess I am looking for advice...is there any way to know if
> the printhead is really the problem without buying a new one or
> paying to take it in for repair. *If we decide to buy a new photo
> printer, what would you recommend? *We print a lot of pictures
> and documents for my son's home autism therapy and I am kind of
> freaking out about not having a printer so am inclined to just go
> buy a new one. *Any input would be greatly appreciated.
>
> -kim

I upgraded from an i560 to the Pixma ip4000 and have been totally
satisfied.

Paul B.
www.scienceteacher.biz

Thanks all for your input - I am just going to go and buy a new
one. I will definitely check out the models you mentioned.
Perhaps I should start a new thread for this question - but how
does Canon compare to other brands like HP and Epson?

-kim