Customer Reviews

Epson Stylus CX4600 Photo Printer, Copier, Scanner

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(19)
1 star:		(64)

 

 

August 28, 2004 - I just finished installing this machine for my parents, who are running OS X 10.3.4 (Panther) on an aging iMac G3/400 DV. The entire process was simple and uneventful. My surprise came afterwards when I started playing with the CX4600. It's a very solid little All-In-One (AIO)!

After reading reviews of older Epson, HP and Canon AIO's, I was worried about several things. So far, the print quality is very good, on par with my own C84. In fact, the CX4600 uses the same 4 separate CMYK ink cartridges as the C84, which means you won't have any trouble finding them at stores. The paper transport is a little loud, but not too bad. Printing is very quick once it gets going, with a quiet side to side undulation.

The scan quality is excellent for most uses and you can freely choose your resolution. Hint: the installer will put Epson Smart Panel on your desktop, but I prefer Epson Scan which is also installed in your Applications folder. This is the same control panel you might have seen before in the Epson Twain driver. You can choose Full Auto mode, where it will magically figure out what you are scanning and adjust settings to match (even finding and scanning multiple photos into individual files), or Professional mode, where you choose everything. To be honest, I use the middle "Home" setting on my own system, since it offers that very cool auto-magic assist with the ability to override when necessary.

Using the Copy function is.. fun. I can't explain why, but it's nice to *not* configure, adjust, crop, fit, or launch anything. Just hit the Color or B&W Copy button and it goes to work immediately. I must be easily entertained. Again, the quality is excellent. Professional designers will likely own a scanner and photo printer, but they (I) might consider owning one of these for convenience too.

Memory Card slots are the bonus which puts the CX4600 over the top. I think I spent the most time looking up info on these, to see if they could be used with iPhoto in OS X. The web site doesn't say. The owner's manual doesn't say. But the answer is YES! Along with everything else, the installer drops CardMonitor and PhotoStarter onto your drive. The latter can be set up to launch iPhoto when you plug your camera's card into the CX4600. The 12 test photos I took imported perfectly afterwards (set PhotoStarter so that it does not auto-download the photos; let iPhoto handle it). The manual does mention this functionality for Windows, so I'm sure it works just as well.

Minor annoyances: The CX4600 can only be connected via USB, so there is no longer any excuse to make customers "choose" their own cable. It should be in the box. And the installer warns that it will take a long time. They're not kidding. But it's only because it runs several individual installers, which all require your admin password and often spend a very long time searching your drive for some reason. It would be less painful if you could do this in one pass and walk away while it works. However, that's all history. Once set up, it is a thing of beauty.

Don't be turned off by the photos of the CX4600. In person, it actually looks very classy. The top portion is covered in a metallic paint, making it appear less like a recycling bin and more like a stylish computer peripheral. It's also smaller and heavier than it appears. The software is fairly seamless and lets you dig deep if you know where to look. That's about as good as it can get. If you've been looking for an All-In-One, this new Epson is a great choice.

UPDATE

It is now November 2005. About one month ago, it was time for the 3rd round of cartridges in the CX4600. Not bad for one year of light printing. My parents hadn't reported any major problems beyond one color clogging every so often. I was not pleased how much the ink level dropped when doing a single head cleaning, but I've used Epson printers for years and I wasn't surprised either.

However, all is not well. If I hadn't been there and seen it myself I wouldn't believe this. Yellow was running low first, so we replaced that cartridge. Levels check showed a fresh, full yellow tank. But when we printed a test page, there was no yellow at all. So we started a cleaning cycle. This emptied the magenta tank, so we replaced that one. The resulting test page now had no yellow or magenta. The same occurred with cyan and black, so I thought maybe we had received some bad (or old) Epson cartridges from Amazon. The little PC board connectors did look slightly different, but the product numbers were the same. I could hear ink sloshing inside and everything else checked out. In fact, after cleaning, Epson's own software showed ink levels dropping. So there was communication happening.

We went out the next day and bought more new ink, again only true Epson brand. Same result. One day, the CX4600 was printing fine. As each new color ink was installed, it simply stopped working. The scanner and card reader still work. Epson's advice? 'Clean the print heads.'

We ended up getting a good deal on a replacement CX4600, since we had all this ink, the original was out of warranty, and it would likely cost more just to ship it somewhere to be 'looked at.' The new one works perfectly with the very same ink cartridges. I believe Epson changed the electronics in these ink cartridges at some point, which broke compatibility with first generation CX4600 units. I don't know if this was intentional or accidental, but I know this one was registered with Epson and we were not notified.

The CX4600 was a nice little AIO when it worked. It's too bad Epson has fallen so far into the disposable product model, that they feel no responsibility towards their customers.

This one is the best for the money. I just returned an hp one for a problem with the cartridge getting stuck. The printing resolution is better than others in the same class. The speed of printing is also faster than others. The scanner does not have a higher resolution than say the hp 1315 but for my needs it's sufficient. I don't see why anyone would need a better resolution scanner. For my 1 gig computer it would take me 38 minutes to scan on a resolution of 2400 x 2400. The highest resolution is 9600 x 9600 perforated. I compared the copier of a Brother machine with this one, and the Brother machine copying quality doesn't even come close. The only gripe I have is that it doesn't come with a usb printer cable.

The Epson Stylus CX4600 is the best multi-function printer you'll find for the price that it is.

The Scanning quality is superb. The top-lid is removable for large items, and it does it quite quickly. They definately didn't just slap on a scanner as a quick qimmick for sales. There is an auto-scan mode - it recognizes what it's scanning and how to handle it (although it sometimes crops out what I WANT there, but no biggie, as there are manual sttings), a home option - more advanced settings but not too confusing, and an advanced option - total control over what is being scanned.

Printing quality is wonderful as well. Text is crisp and clean, and photos come out at very good quality. It's even better when coupled with the included 4x6 photo paper. You just have to be sure to make the correct paper settings before you print.

Copying is insanely easy and straightforward. (...) and it came out at a quality that is good enough for a casual copy, though not photo-realistic. If you want a great quality copy, it's a better idea to scan it to your computer, edit it with the included software (or photoshop if you have it) and then print. But for casual copies without a computer, it's great!

Installation is also simple. Just remember to GO BY THE BOOK. If you don't you're in for a bumpy ride. Once it's installed, you're ready to go. The scanner shows up right in my computer (if you have windows XP)

It has an included media-card slot for your digital camera, which can be used for 1.) transfering pictures to your computer (showing up as a "removable disk" drive in windows XP - my computer) and 2.) printing directly from the card using an index sheet where you fill in bubbles of the pictures you want printed, scan said index sheet, say "print from index sheet". Very, very cool.

Other things include the following:

the printer itself is compact compared to other multi-function printers, and is a bit bigger than the standard inkjet printer.

It's fairly quiet and won't annoy you as some printers do.

It has four ink containers, which makes photos look better from what I hear.

Ink containers are more cost effective due to the four ink containers instead of the standard two.(if you run out of cyan, just buy the cyan ink, not the entire color one).

A usb cable is NOT included, but it's not a very big deal (we already had one from the epson stylus color 880 this replaced).

Some may gripe as USB is the only option for computer connection, but I have no problem with it.

It includes some cheap photo software, but it'll do the job if you want to touch up scanned pictures. I don't need it as I use photoshop elements, but as the standard consumer doesn't have photoshop, this is a good add-in.


All around a fabulous printer if you want a great scanner, photo printer, and casual copier. Of course if this was a perfect world, it would have a built in ethernet port for network printing (so my computer doesn't have to be on for my brother to print to it for example), but I'm just dreaming there as I have yet to see a consumer printer with an ethernet port built in.

Ideally if you print a LOT of text, than you should consider coupling this printer with a monochrome laser printer (my recomendation is the $100 samsung, I forgot what model number it is, but BestBuy has it - white n' shiny) But the average family shouldn't worry.

For the price it is, above-par features included, and outstanding performance/quality it dishes out, I reccomend this as a multi-function printer that does it all.

Just be cautioned that the included ink containers are only about half-filled (as all included ink containers usually do), so the life of the ink containers should not be based on the included ones.

This printer is convenient to use because it has copying and scanning capabilities. It really saves space. However, the ink is used up quickly. This makes the cost of printing or copying very high. Another problem is that the printer head needs to be cleaned quick often. The software cleans the head, but has to repeat a few times before the head is clean.

I've never regretted a computer purchase as much as I regret this one...and it has nothing to do with print or scan quality...both are perfectly fine.

My complaint is the incredible amount of ink that periodic cleaning cycles have wasted since I purchased the Epson CX4600 in October. I don't do a lot of printing, I just want a decent printer that can do its job when needed. Only a small number of one page sheets (20-30 at the most, none of which were elaborate) have been printed with the Epson since October--and the remaining ink level is already below 50% with each cartridge.

As mentioned above, I know what the problem is, but don't know how to correct it...short of hacking the firmware, which is beyond my capabilities. Periodically, upon powerup (or before printing), this ink waster goes through an elaborate cleaning procedure...and everytime it does, the ink level drops considerably--you can see the levels drop on the status monitor.

Another reviewer insists that the supplied cartridges are only half full...that's not what the Epson manual claims. The supplied ink cartridges are filled to the same capacity as off the shelf replacements, according to the literature.

My old Lexmark 3200 printer, purchased with my first computer in 1999, wasn't perfect--but with the type of printing that I do, I could get 12-18 months use out of a single B/W or color cartridge. That's never going to happen with this printer, the folks at Epson have seen to that.

Avoid like the plague, unless your pockets are deep or you don't mind the mess/hassle of cartridge refilling. Personally, this is my first and last Epson purchase. In fact, even though I'd like to ditch this one after only three months, I'm almost hesitant to buy any new inkjet after this experience, for fear that they'll all behave similarly. The Lexmark still works, maybe I'll go back to it and a separate scanner. Thanks a lot, Epson.

October 24, 2005--Small update to this review, which was originally submitted to Amazon in January 2005. The CX4600 was boxed up/donated to a local thrift store yesterday. I took a tremendous chance over the weekend and purchased an inexpensive HP all-in-one. Print/scan quality is gorgeous, and cartridges for it are roughly 40% cheaper than the Epson. Printhead is built into the HP cartridges, same as my old Lexmark 3200, so I'm hopeful that most of the ink consumed in this model will actually go towards printing, and not towards cleaning cycles. Only time will tell.... I'm happy to say that I never put another dime into Epson's pockets for the CX4600, outside of the initial cash outlay for the product in October 2004. When the dreaded "one cartridge is out of ink, so now I won't print any longer" message appeared almost a half year ago, I simply let the printer sit idle and did without an inkjet. Epson, you've lost a customer for life.

November 30, 2005--One final update. The first HP unit would sometimes refuse to turn on, unless the power cord was momentarily pulled/reinserted. A replacement HP (same model) is working beautifully, and...wonder of wonders...not a single drop of ink has been consumed by any type of automated cleaning cycle. Ink actually being used to print pages...what a novel idea! The printer, of course, does offer a cleaning cycle--but it's manual, totally initiated by the user when and if it's needed. The ink cartridges in the unit I purchased are small, they'll never last as long as the ones in my older Lexmark 3200...but they're considerably cheaper as well...and, for the first time in over a year, I feel as if I have a printer that isn't designed to consume as much ink as possible, in the shortest period of time possible.

I agree with the reviews that recommend not purchasing this unit unless you print frequently, like everyday. If mine isn't used to print for a day or so, it requires a cleaning cycle to print properly. This uses large amounts of the very expensive ink. I intend to dispose of mine when the cartridges run out and try a different brand. I previously had an HP and never had this problem with it, even when it wasn't used to print for weeks at a time. All the manufacturers overcharge for ink, but you should at least be able to use all the ink for printing, not to constantly clean the printheads. If you use the 4600 everyday, it may not be a bad machine, but for the occasional user, I recommend not purchasing this machine or other Epson printers that use this type of cartridges. I gave it 2 stars only because it will make excellent photo prints and the scan/copy functions worked fine for me.

I wanted a printer that was reliable. He wanted me to have one that made pretty pictures. My friend, the photographer, told me to buy this printer. I'm not sure we can be friends anymore. I've had it for 6 months and I want to throw it out the window at least once a week. If you can get it to work right, the print quality is fine. It just rarely works right. DO NOT LISTEN TO YOUR FRIENDS - LISTEN TO ME. Don't buy this!

Like a previous reviewer, we purchased this printer from Tiger Direct about 8 months ago and have now replaced the ink cartridges 3 times since the original ones that came with the printer. We print a few pages per month, and very rarely print pictures. It seemed like a good value at the time, but we've now spent $150 in ink and the printer doesn't print in color...online tech support recommends changing the ink cartridges (they're 3/4 full). Instead of spending the money on more ink, we'll be buying a non-Epson printer. After doing some research, it appears that Epson has changed the way their ink cartridges operate. There is a chip in them that makes the ink expire in 4 months to force you to change your cartridges whether you use it up or not and there is no way to save the ink!

I thought I'd write a quick review since I've used the Epson CX4600 over a year. At the time I wrote this review, there was a link to a video demonstration of this product and a description that provided good basic information. The purpose of my review is to add to that review and try to avoid repeating information that is already available.

The Epson CX4600 is an overall nice all-in-one that can copy, scan, and print. It can also be used to scan documents for faxing too.

I have been using HP printers (deskjet and photo printers) for about the past 10 years. I found the cartridges on these were pretty easy to fill. However, the printhead is on the cartridge itself so I could only successfully refill the black and tri-color cartridge about three times before the print became noticeably worse due to the printhead wearing out. Also, the tri-color versus single color cartridges can be more difficult to refill. A long blunt needle is needed for some cartridges, and colors can mix if the cartridge is overfilled.

I wanted a printer with a built-in printhead and separate cartridges for each color. I refused to pay the approximately $70 a new set of HP cartridges would cost. I would go through about three or four a year. For some reason, the stores around me quit carrying the compatibles that would work in a quick fix until I could order more of what I needed online. I also needed to replace an out-dated scanner because there was no updates so that it would work under Windows XP.

The Epson CX4600 was very affordable and would replace printer and scanner.

The print quality with the Durabrite inks is outstanding! However, I do find that sometimes the plain paper setting works better with photos versus using "glossy". The problem with the Durabrite inks is that the pigment can make the printhead clog faster and more often. I say this because I've used dye-based inks since then and had relatively fewer problems. I haven't really noticed a difference in colors. However, if you print photos be aware that dye-based inks dont resist fading, smudges, and spills as well. Since most of mine go in a photo album protected by a sleeve or slip into a refrigerator magnet with a clear cover, I'm not really concerned. I still use my 35mm too. You should still print something at least every few days either way.

In the beginning I was very frustrated with this printer. This printer drinks ink! Literally. Gulping it at times especially when head cleaning is needed. That's not an understatement. It is true that you only replace the color that runs out, but they all seem to run out at the same time anyway. I would have gone through about $50 worth of cartridges every 6 weeks. Some online places will show instructions for refilling the original cartridges, but I don't recommend that at all. It didn't work well at all. Epson has designed this cartridge to discourage that. The good news is that I did find some refillable compatible ones specially designed for refills (no drilling) that didn't cost any more than a new set of OEM ones. Though messy, I was able to refill them. A chip resetter was needed. A major costs of printers is the cartridge, and any manufacturer looking for a "niche" in the market should also consider this as a key selling point and to keep customers.

Be aware that these chips are patented which is why the Epson is able to tell when non-OEM cartridges are inserted. Sometimes the Epson won't read the chips on the compatible cartridges. At the very least you'll have to deal with an annoying message that pops up to let you know these aren't Epson cartridges. If these chips happen to come loose from the original or compatible cartridge, do NOT put the cartridge into the printer. Though you can snap the cartridge into the printer, you cannot remove it without damaging the pins in the cartridge holder. I had made the mistake of doing this while refilling another so the ink would not dry up in the printer. Fortunately, with a lot of patience I was able to use a pair of tweezers and pull the contact pins back into place. This brings me to the next frustration. If ONLY ONE cartridge shows to be out of ink, the chip is not recognized, or the cartridge is missing, you CAN NOT print at all! For example, it doesn't matter if you need to print something in just black and the problem is only with a color cartridge. Keep a spare set if you don't have another printer. I still use an HP as a backup.

Just recently, I have found some transparent cartridges from a popular online auction site. The seller is from the U.S., but these cartridges were shipped out from a place in Hong Kong. These cartridges feature an auto-reset chip (no resetter needed) and an easy access port that allows a "vacuum fill". Finally! I can enjoy the features of this printer without the expense of OEM cartridges or the hassle of refilling the other compatibles. There are also some CIS (continuous ink supply systems) that should work with this. It's worth checking out if you do a lot of printing.

Also, Amazon does have a link to an older version of a software program called Inksaver. I have the newer version which I hope they carry soon if they don't already. It provides a lot more control over print quality especially between "normal" and the basically unusable "draft" quality setting. Draft setting is very poor quality, and the black alternates with green on my printer. This Inksaver program gives you quality print but makes the print lighter the higher the setting is. I printed a test sheet out and find that 50% works well for most projects. There is an icon that lets me adjust it darker or lighter if needed. Even the 75% much better than the "draft" mode Epson offers. Hopefully, I'll be refilling much less now!

There is a free program called SSC Service Utility for the Epson printer that you may find useful too.

The printer has other quirks. Eventually, the whole printer is going to shut down with some type of a message that indicates factory service is needed. This happens when the ink waste pad is full. A tube siphons discarded ink and routes it to this pad. Since this printer drinks ink cleaning cartridges, it won't take long for this to happen. It's not going on the paper which means it must be going to that ink waste tube and pad. There is a Epson service utility software program that can reset it, but I had to purchase it for $10 from a web site. SSC Service Utility program didn't support this feature at the time I needed to but is expected to so check there first since this option is free. You will still have to find a way to replace that pad or route that tube to a bottle otherwise the discarded ink will eventually overflow and leak out. On the back of the printer, there is a small door secured by a screw. I removed that door and just took that tubing and connected it to a tube that I run to a bottle under the printer.

I have mixed feelings about the printer. It's great if you don't have to worry about the cost of cartridges. Now it can work for those where cost of cartridges and ink is a factor too.

On of the nicest things about this all-in-one is I can copy a sheet without having to turn the pc on. You can also print pictures too.

I have always used a software program to scan in anything needed to fax, but this is supposed to have a feature on the Smart Panel that makes this easy.

The top of the scanner lifts off so it's easy to scan odd-shaped stuff.

The software is pretty easy to install. Start setup first and follow the directions which will tell you when you need to actually hook up the printer to the pc.

Epson's site is helpful. They have links to updated sofware, manuals, and other information about this printer.

It would have been nice is this had a port so I could have hooked this printer to a router or a wireless connection. Instead when I print to this printer from a computer located elsewhere in the house, I have to turn on the pc it is connected to. In other words I have a home network and have to share this printer that way. I haven't looked to see if there is a USB adaptor that would allow it to connect in the other ways I've described. However, this would probably be more expensive than I'm willing to invest given that I don't print that much from the other room right now.

When it comes time to replace this printer, I may consider another one. I will definitely keep what I have mentioned here in mind and choose a different brand unless I know up front I can "fix" this myself. I would consider a Canon. At least if the printhead gets clogged, it can be replaced by the user. The cartridges are easier to refill on the models I looked at too, and the printer is supposed to be able to continue to print even if it's low on ink.

These printers have come down in price. I hope this review has been helpful. Software programs and some of the new accessories and improved accessories may decrease or eliminate some of the disadvantages others have mentioned and I myself have experienced.

:-)

If you dont print much avoid this machine, and it's durabrite inks. They will clog the head carrier rendering the printer useless. It prints well enough, but if it sits too long it will fail, ('and you cant clean it out with aclohol and Q-tips. I've tried'). I've had mine since September, and I've used it sporadically. Again it's a decent printer but who ever came up with the Idea of using ink to clean the heads was a foolish person, and or persons with a bad idea. 'That' should have been stopped when they proposed it. My previous printer was a Cannon BJC 1000. A simple machine with another bad idea for cartridge technology, but I digress. I got five years out of that little bugger before it locked up on me and wouldn't print anymore. The Cx4600; 'seven months'.
Also beware the software. The on-screen preview display for the scanner has this tendency to migrate up the screen with each use. If you dont drag it down when it gets to close to the top of the screen. All you will be able to do is watch as it moves further and further up the screen with each use until it is gone forever. If you buy this device you may will very likely wind up chasing this window everytime you call up the scanner. And if you are not mindful of it when it happens; All you'll do is regret it; 'just - like - me'. It's also not that easy to use. The software that came with my previous Plustek scanner was far easier to relate to and had a larger on screen presence that made it easier to do what you wanted. Now; if I hadn't accidently thrown away the power adapter when I was trying to remove my dead printer I'd still have it. (Silly me.)
To sum it all up. All I wanted was machine that took the place of my printer, and scanner that would fit in one spot as I have limited space. When I found the CX4600 I thought I had found that machine. Turns out I was 'wrong'. I am so dissapointed in this device that I will never buy another Epson printer again until they abandon the use of seperate print head and cartridge technology. HP and Canon had it right all along. Their way; if the cartrige head goes bad all you lose is the cartridge. NOT THE ENTIRE MACHINE! Don't put good money after bad technolgy.

Seperate is not better when it comes to catridge technology. Expensive yes, but not better. As for the all-in-one philosophy? You decide. For me; it was a bad call. One that's left me with a scanner that has bad interface software, and a useless printer.

P.S. I only gave it one star because it's a decent printer. At least when it did print that is.