not truly a linux topic, but related to a non windows OS
(i think).

i have an epson 777 printer which cost about $80, including
both the color and black cartridges, which seem to retail for
about $30 each.  common sense would tell me i got a reasonable
deal on the printer and am getting screwed on the replacement
cartridges.  i have replaced both cartridges several times with
no apparent problem except annoyance at the price.

however, at a recent kgp show i bought both a non epson
replacement cartridge and some inks for refills.  carefully
following the directions (obviously written by an ESL person)
for refilling the black cartridge (an epson which had just
run out) looked ok at first.  i got one page printed just
fine, and then the blinking red light.  turning the printer
off and back on produced lots of noise and action.  the
paper fed, a half line of gibberish on each sheet, and on
and on . . .

i then tried the replacement non-epson cartridge with exactly
the same results.  i did notice in the instructions with the
cartridge, some notes on what to do for certain error messages
(non oem cartridge, etc).  the linux driver seems not to
support printer auxilliary functions, such as cleaning the
print head, buttons for ok'ing non oem cartridges, etc.

my next step will probably be to go out and buy an epson
cartridge and see if the problems go away, but i hate giving
up.  anyone have any words of wisdom?

tia,
dan

j. daniel moylan
84 harvard ave #2
brookline, ma 02446-6202
617-232-2360 (tel)
810-454-1823 (fax)
jdm34@cornell.edu
moylan.info