Digital BW, The Print

Hey!

In reply to Richard Smallfield <r.smallfield@p...>, Tom O'Connell
<tomoc@...> asked:

> Where did you learn that the 2100/2200 is being phased out? that is
> news to me.

The correspondent on the Luminous Landscape page relating to this topic
states "Epson is keeping the 4000 in production along with the 5000"
(http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/printers/px-g5000.shtml)

In the current pamphlets (which I have) the PM-400PX (aka 2200) is still
listed, along with the new PX-G500. It is also still on the Epson
Japanese web site.

Of course, they may turn around and delete it any time I guess, so all
this may mean nothing. However, at this stage, as far as I can tell, it
is still in production (or they have enough produced to keep supplying 
them).

Sooner,
Dean

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, Dean <dean@t...> 
wrote:
> Of course, they may turn around and delete it any time I guess, so 
all
> this may mean nothing. However, at this stage, as far as I can 
tell, it
> is still in production (or they have enough produced to keep 
supplying 
> them).

Companies don't phase out products until they have something else on 
the market in the same price and feature range,   Here in the US what 
would that be?

You assume the US is in front of the curve.  The reference below was, I
believe, noting the situation in Japan where indeed a new A3+ printer is
available.  Watch this space to see the US (and Europe) play catch up.....

> From: Peter Nelson <pnweb@...>
> Reply-To: <DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com>
> Date: Mon, 01 Nov 2004 18:08:39 -0000
> To: <DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com>
> Subject: [Digital BW] 2200 being phased out or not. (was Re: Duotone Grey
> printing with 2100)
> 
> 
> 
> --- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, Dean <dean@t...>
> wrote:
>> Of course, they may turn around and delete it any time I guess, so
> all
>> this may mean nothing. However, at this stage, as far as I can
> tell, it
>> is still in production (or they have enough produced to keep
> supplying 
>> them).
> 
> Companies don't phase out products until they have something else on
> the market in the same price and feature range,   Here in the US what
> would that be?
>

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, Steve Kale 
<stevekale@b...> wrote:
> You assume the US is in front of the curve.  The reference below 
was, I
> believe, noting the situation in Japan where indeed a new A3+ 
printer is
> available.  Watch this space to see the US (and Europe) play catch 
up......

The US market is a vastly bigger market than the Japanese one (a 
combination of a much bigger population and a much richer economy) so 
Epson isn't going to phase out the 2200 until they have a replacement 
available.   Ditto with the EU.

It is well known that Epson tends to release its new products in Japan
several months before their release in the US and Europe - hence members of
this forum keeping an eye on the Japanese "I love Epson" site.  It has
released in Japan an A3+ version of the R800.  I would expect this product
to be released in the US and Europe soon.  This does not mean that it will
halt production of the 2200 (note the 1290 is still available).  However, I
bet Epson considers the new R800-style printer to be its current
state-of-art A3+ printer.  The 2200 brought us 7 (or more accurately 8)
colour pigment inks.  This has now evolved to 7 different colour pigment
inks to broaden the colour gamut and a gloss optimizer to tackle the
bronzing issue on glossy media.  Furthermore, there were improvements in the
droplet size.  If you trace back to where this subject was first raised,
there was no inference that the 2200 was going to be phased out but rather
simply that a newer and arguably, for most, a better model was just over the
horizon.  BTW, it is a dangerous assumption to presume that a bigger and
"richer" economy is an appropriate environment for launching new products.

> From: Peter Nelson <pnweb@...>
> Reply-To: <DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com>
> Date: Mon, 01 Nov 2004 21:29:00 -0000
> To: <DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com>
> Subject: [Digital BW] 2200 being phased out or not. (was Re: Duotone Grey
> printing with 2100)
> 
> 
> 
> --- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, Steve Kale
> <stevekale@b...> wrote:
>> You assume the US is in front of the curve.  The reference below
> was, I
>> believe, noting the situation in Japan where indeed a new A3+
> printer is
>> available.  Watch this space to see the US (and Europe) play catch
> up......
> 
> The US market is a vastly bigger market than the Japanese one (a
> combination of a much bigger population and a much richer economy) so
> Epson isn't going to phase out the 2200 until they have a replacement
> available.   Ditto with the EU.

Not sure I'd characterize it as "dangerous"...more like misguided. A
smaller market, closer to home allows Epson to shake out the bugs in a more
controlled environment.


 "BTW, it is a dangerous assumption to presume that a bigger and "richer"
economy is an appropriate environment for launching new products."

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, Steve Kale 

>  BTW, it is a dangerous assumption to presume that a bigger
> and "richer" economy is an appropriate environment for 
> launching new products.

Yes, and luckily for us I never even COMMENTED on the advisability of 
introducing a new product in a bigger, richer economy!

As you can below I commented on the advisability of PHASING OUT a 
product in their biggest market before they have a replacement 
available in that market and market-segment.

No company in its right might allows a product gap to occur in any 
segment of its lineup in a significant sized market.

> > From: Peter Nelson <pnweb@s...>
> > Reply-To: <DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com>
> > Date: Mon, 01 Nov 2004 21:29:00 -0000
> > The US market is a vastly bigger market than the Japanese one (a
> > combination of a much bigger population and a much richer 
economy) so
> > Epson isn't going to phase out the 2200 until they have a 
replacement
> > available.   Ditto with the EU.