Will the Epson 3800 work with the MacMini/Snow Leopard?

[photolandscape]

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I bought a new MacMini--4GB RAM, fastest processor available--to use for post-processing. Initially, it worked well, and in fact, it's a lot more capable and quicker than my old Mac G5.

 

I made a number of prints right when I got it, using my Epson 3800, with great results. Then, just in the past week, I could no longer print. I have checked and rechecked the USB cable and ports. I know the computer*can "see" the printer, as it can read the ink levels in the printer*cartridges. But everytime I try to print now, I get an error message.

 

I have loaded the newest Epson drivers from their website, and it still won't work. I am concerned that this may be a chronic problem with Snow Leopard/Intel-based machines and the 3800. I have seen Epson orphan and neglect popular printers in the past and take their sweet time addressing problems.

 

Does anyone else have this problem? Any remedies? Many thanks.

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[wlaidlaw]

Have you done the usual Mac first aid steps of verifying your hard disc (repairing if required) and repairing permissions. Then you can go on to clearing caches with the excellent bit of Freeware - ONYX. Have you checked on the Apple and Epson websites to make sure the 3800 is supported. I am sure I would be, as in the UK at least, you can still buy them new. I regret to say that in many years of using Mac O/S, Slow Leopard is by far the buggiest. I would delete and reinstall the printer. I have been having problems from time to time on my wife's MacBook Air with Snow Leopard, printing to our network printer, a Xerox Phaser 8400. I have had to delete and reinstall at least twice.

 

Wilson

[adan]

Outside of getting the newer drivers, my Intel iMac 27" running SL has worked just fine with my 3800. The newest drivers are specifically for SL, so the 3800 isn't orphaned - yet.

 

There seem to be at least 3 Apple Stores in Portland (Washington Square, Pioneer Place, and Bridgeport Village). Carting in your Epson + Mini to the Genius Bar is probably suggesting too much, but you might take in the Mac alone and have them check the hardware (USB ports?) and software for any glitches. They likely have access to Apple's "known issues" database for guidance on whether there are any quirks specific to the Minis, or to SL, or to Epsons, or any combination thereof, that can be fixed with some of the SL updates that have come out over the past few months.

 

You might find these threads interesting or helpful (probably only the former):

 

Apple - Support - Discussions - Snow Leopard + Epson Stylus Pro 4000 ...

 

Apple - Support - Discussions - Epson R800 "Sending Print Data" - Now ...

 

as well as the overall forum:

 

Apple - Support - Discussions - Printing, faxing and scanning

 

It does seem like the newest update 10.6.3 has introduced some printing problems (I'm on 10.6.2 myself).

[archi4]

After many trials, I downloaded the driver on the uk site and it has been working perfectly on my iMac running the latest version of snow leopard.

Drivers for the Epson Stylus Pro 3800 Large Format

[LuxBob]

I have had similar problems with my HP from time to time. I usually power down the printer, clear out the print queue, re-boot the Mac and start all over. It has been known to work.

[wlaidlaw]

A very useful utility for Mac users is to put the address http://127.0.0.1:631/ on your bookmarks bar. This takes you into the CUPS admin area. There is all sorts of info there on printers installed, their detailed status, jobs in progress, jobs completed, etc etc.

 

Wilson