EZ/CD 5700 CD printer reviewed

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Manufacturer: Basic Micro.com, Inc.
Web Site: WWW.EZCDPRINT.COM Review Unit supplied by: ComputerGeeks.com
Average Price: $199.95
Compatibility: Windows, MacOS, MacOS-X
Connection: USB, Parallel port
Test system: Windows 2000 SP4 w/USB link

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Introduction

PRINTING MY my own CD has always been a dream. I had good results with glossy inkjet labels, but applying labels is messy, and the cost of glossy, quality inkjet labels is high. Why not save the label cost and print directly on the CD?

Until recently, CD printing has been an expensive proposition, only justified when you need to print long batches of CDs. The smallest, entry level thermal cd printer like Primera Technology's "Inscripta" model will burn you a thousand and a half dollar hole in your pocket.

But there's hope. While browsing the printers section at one of my favorite sites, I came across Basic Micro.com's "EZ/CD" line of printers, specifically, I settled my eyes on the EZ/CD 5700, which seemed like an incredible deal, at around $50 off the MSRP price.

A clever approach
When you open the box you will notice something: Basic Micro takes standard Epson inkjet printers, and "hack" them to include a CD-feeding rack in the back, along with a cd feeding tray. This means you can use the regular paper feeder with the original epson drivers and use it as a normal desktop inkjet printer, and leave the "back feeder" and the included cd-printing software for times when you need to print cds.

The original Epson manual is included, along with a "folded poster" type of manual by Basic Micro, showing the cd printing procedure in a fool-proof way. Obviously, the Epson warranty is void by this modification process, and Basic Micro handles all warranty claims.

Putting it through the wringer
Four "inkjet printable" CD-R discs are included, two silver and two white, along with two CD-ROMs containing drivers and CD-printing software for Windows and Mac (MacOS classic and MacOS-X). The unit also included two original epson cartridges, but unfortunately both were dry. By the time I got the yellow color to print correctly, I had almost wasted all ink in sample prints and cleaning cycles on regular paper, before being able to test printing on CDs.

So I ended up using "alternative", epson-compatible cartridges made in China for my test.

The cd printing process is easy:

1. Take an inkjet-printable cd-r disc, put it in the plastic tray,
2. Do not, I repeat: do not place it into the printer yet.
3. Run the "EZ/CD Print Utility" select "Print on CD" - this will configure your printer for CD printer.
4. Load the CD cover design program included with the printer - "Discus Labeler", and create the text and graphics that you intend on printing.
4. Save your CD design.
5. Select "Print"
6. Watch the printer go through a clean cycle -all Epsons have this nasty ink wasting habit, and try to feed some paper. Only problem: there will be none. This is normal and "working as designed".
7. ONLY when you see the printer flashing the "out of paper" LED are you expected to insert the cd tray into the cd-feeding rack in the back. There is a clearly marked line indicating the position the tray should have. Do not insert it more, nor less.
8. Press the paper feeding button and watch the CD along with the tray passing through and getting printed.
- if it goes through without printing, go back to step 7.

I loaded the "Discus" CD label design software and in a few minutes had a nice design by using assorted bitmaps of IT industry moguls and the INQ's logo. On it and above the Inquirer logo, Linus Torvalds looks in shock as Richard Stallman plays the flute. Next to them, Steve Jobs just smiles, self-absorbed. Below it, we see Bill Gates looks frustrated and Carly Fiorina points the blame finger. Finally, Scott McNealy looks worried, Steve Ballmer plays the crazy dancing monkey, and self-centered Oracle CEO Larry Ellison couldn't care less about what going on around him, eating a hot dog. Isn't this the perfect description of today's IT industry?. Anyway, you will find pictures of this CD print design, along with screenshots and sample prints, by clicking on the link at the end of this article.

Back to CD printing: on my tests the results were good, just not "spectacular" (in other words your inkjet-printed cds will not get confused with "factory painted" pressed CDs or expensive thermal printed CDs, but will be much better and convenient than using inkjet labels. Caveat emptor: on my tests I first inserted by mistake some media that I purchased long ago, media which was described as "printable CDR". The result was some noticeable smearing and some black ink spills in the left and bottom edges of the media. When I realized my mistake and used true "inkjet-printable" cd-r media, the smearing, spills and lack of detail went away.

Moral of the story: when you see "printable CD-R" it's always media for THERMAL printing. When you are looking for CD media for inkjet printing, it has to say "Inkjet printable", otherwise it's safe to assume it is not. Simply put, ink drops will not "stick" to the surface of thermal printable media, think about this like trying to use a fountain pen to write over plastic. With white -or gray/silver- inkjet printable media, the results are OK.

My Verdict
The Good: 1. This unit delivers the promise of providing affordable cd-printing. The printer can be used with regular paper using the normal paper feeder like any other Epson inkjet, and used for cd printing when need arises. 2. Good print quality. The printer buttons, marked in a "stealth" way on original Epson printers using icons embedded in the plastic case, are identified using clear, big text descriptions on a colorful sticker placed over the original markings. Nice touch!

The Bad: 1. Uses Epson cartridges with an "ink level chip". However all tricks and "alternative ink cartridges" for the Epson Stylus series also apply to this printer.

The ugly: 1. More often than not, the printer will pull the tray through, without printing anything. You have to take the plastic tray back to the "back door", and press the printer's paper-feed button to make it load the plastic tray and -hopefuly- begin printing on the cd. 2. You may need to keep some tissue paper around to clean up the plastic cd tray between prints, as ink (specially black) may stain the borders around the cd.

In short: I think that if you want to do some low scale cd printing and also need the cash (or the desk space) for a regular inkjet printer for your paper printing needs, this is the one to get. If I used a rating system, I would give it three of five Fernandos. [FFF--]

As folks say on the newsgroups "YMMV" - your mileage might vary.

L'Inqs
All the EZ/CD 5700 review pictures at Fernando's site
EZ/CD 5700 item description