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Hello all, I'm new to the bullboard and looking forward talking with other sign people. I have a quick question. I'm thinking of buying a Roland PC 600 and was looking for good or bad feedback or sugestions. Thanks in advance.
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Before you buy anything from Roland I must say that I have honestly had the worst experience dealing with them about the PC-600 I own. See all my info and how they have handled my case at www.pc-600.com
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Bill, a quick hint to a new board participent. Try hitting the small "SEARCH" link at the top of each page. This issue has been debated almost monthly for the 1-1/2 years I've been here & I'm sure many who have offered detailed advice may be burned out on re-hashing, so for more info then you could read in a day, that is a suggestion for you while you wait for more replies here.
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I started to just skim over that 'pc-600.com' site as a ColorCamm owner myself. After reading most of it, I couldnt hold my tongue any longer.
I do not care what machine a person owns - Roland, Gerber or Summa - if you're mentally retarded, have no experience with computers, monitors, programs, are optically impaired or even if you're just all thumbs when it comes to anything more complicated than a TV remote control - you will not be satisfied with your purchase.
The Roland's are great machines for their niche, and properly operated (heavy on the properly part) will give you what you expect, time after time. As will the Gerber and Summa.
Anyone that has used CorelDraw (or any graphics program) with the color-calibration off knows that 'cyan' on screen is a too-bright, almost neon greenish-blue. When printed, it's a nice mid-blue. A mid-blue on your uncalibrated screen will be VERY dark when printed. Duh huh... yet time and time again we hear complaining about color matching and why it's Rolands fault. Another burr under my saddle is 'banding'. Gee wilkers, these are SIGN machines, not a surgical tool labeling device. It's not meant to be looked at from .005" away. Good thing you didnt decide to get in the grand format printing business, that 16DPI would've really made you cry.
If Roland is at any fault with their equipment, it's for not pre-qualifying their prospective owners with an IQ test.
It's fortunate that jet fighters and automatic weapons are not available at Manny's House of Scratch-N-Dent.
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Again, I apologize deeply to anyone I ever sold a Roland to. (Yes even those of you who still spit on me for it).
Bill: you will find a plethora of insight and experience here by searching Roland. I would not rec'd their website as that will most probably be biased. The best thing to do is catch one of the trade shows and hangout by Rolands booth. You wanna see some some ****ed off people and some scared sales reps???
Tim: from my experience, your problems are the rule and not the exception. Very typical and honestly nowhere near as bad as some of the horror stories I've shared in. It is good that you share your experience so others can begin to understand the trouble and frustrations they need to be aware of. I truly feel for you.
Sounds like Robb is defending his Kia. "It's a great car if you know how to drive!" PLeeeze!
Color calibration is only effective on machines that work.
Sometimes reading this stuff is the best entertainment going.. Robb Please keep in touch. You are an accident waiting to happen. You remind me of my 5 year old telling me it's okay to play in the street, becuase she just doesn't get it. Do your customers arrive at your shop on a short bus? Where are you? I'd like to open my next branch in your town. A customer base with such low expectations? Sounds like a Goldmine. You will also find that most people here don't agree with your notion that 'it's just a sign what's a little banding going to hurt?' I imagine you don't get much return business with that attitude. Here's a lesson: There's nothing wrong with producing a quality sign that you can be proud of, even if it's not life saving surgery.
Also Note: Graphic/sign equipment and programs should be designed so a retard or atleast an artist (which most true sign guys are)is able to operate it with little frustration and potential problems. You just made a great point as to why no one should consider getting Roland. According to you it takes a rocket scientist to operate a piece of equipment that Rolands own engineers can't figure out. Half the guys that work for me (and a large number of sign guys) are stoned all day, I want the equipment and software thay deal with to be user friendly, like an image setter or a digital camera or an xp32 space modulator. Do you even know what those are?
Add another meatball to the plate of pasta we all know as Letterville.
Doug: Just FYI, judging from your postings you seem to have your sh*t together. I see you on Edgetalk as well. You seem to always bring a sincer informatitive viewpoint. I'm glad to be apart of a forum like this where I can communicate with such a wide range of people.
Good luck.
-------------------- Jeff Garst Garst Signs Ct Posts: 19 | From: CT | Registered: Mar 2003
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