In response to the recent release of formidable 60" giclee printers from Canon and Hewlett-Packard, Epson has just introduced a 64" model, the Epson professional 11880 inkjet wide format printer. The giclee printer industry has become so competitive that Wide Format Printer Developers are introducing brand new printer technology just about every two or so years. The Epson 11880 is the 1st time ever Epson has released a printer wider than theirvery successful 44" size, as perceived on the Epson 9800, Epson 9600, Epson Stylus Pro 10000, and Epson 10600 Wide Format Printer. This is an big benefit to assembly-oriented facilities who favor the value and evidence of the Epson logo, but urgently require the extra width. Given that Canon and HP printers are only 60" wide, the Epson Stylus Pro 11880 offers an additional four inches in width which could provide evidence of a deciding issue in buyer decision making. The reasoning is that if one can choose between two reasonably comparable printers at the similar price range why not invest this large sum of money into a printer that gives larger ability



As most authorities know, to be accurate that none of these inkjet printers from Canon, HP, and Epson are all alike. Granted the reasoning of them and the market they supply is similar, but the technical makeup and capabilities of the inkjet printer vary quite dramatically. The Epson 11880 was specially developed the explanation to these technologigical voids when compared topast printer model releases. First, it makes both matte ink and photo black ink all in one, without needing to change out Epson 11880 ink cartridges. Epson has been condemned for not having the answer sooner. This will conserve the Epson 11880 printmaker thousands of dollars in ink substitution and wasted time. Next, the printing capacity is superior overall. The professional 11880 inkjet is expected toboost the speedof the Epson 9600 Wide Format Printer, therefore making it an inspirational power within production environments. Given the quickness of the Canon and HP printers, the Epson 11880 will now draw the high volume printing audiencewho, until now, were relatively required to invest in non-Epson technology. The large number market uses a load of ink and purchases a significant sum of equipment each year. The arrival of the Epson 11880 should therefore free up a significant advancement for Epson. Epson counting on features like these (but not limited to these) to push the Epson 11880 exceed the recent wide format printer releases from HP and Canon. The open market share and wide-ranging adoration for the Epson brand due to its blatant first-mover plus into the giclee printing segment, most expect the professional 11880 inkjet to control the 60" printer segment.

One issue amongst inkjet printmakers is of the hostile response to Epson for the quick and continual release of new technology over in a small period of time. Epson's market mainly consists of small business owners who cant continue to afford to purchase printers more or less, and they simply cant keep up. The result of such an approach is a market busy with obsolete Epson printers such as the giclee printer, and the Epson Stylus Pro 10000, printers, and plentyof entrepreneurs wondering how they are going to compete and differentiate themselves. Although this might produce some bad publicity for Epson, in such a aggressive market does Epson really have a choice?