The big benefit in using an S9000 over a 1280 is that Canon's entire printhead is user-replaceable, which allows one for color printing and one for the Piezography B&W system. The B&W samples they printed for the show were all done on a S9000 and they did a lot of them - each taking only 60 seconds and were SUPERB!! They intend to fully support the S9000/9001 in the next month or two. Second and probably more exciting was from Piezography. First from Canon - they're replacing it with a S9001 that features new firmware that enables full-bleed 8.5 x 11s. Just got back from the PMA show in Las Vegas and learned of some interesting news about the Canon S9000. Oh yeh, the setup out of the box for the canon is a little lenthy but once completed thats it. I love the prints that I get from Photo Paper Pro paper. Quality of print is probably a personal opinion but there is not much difference between both printers in my opinion. (The Canon runs away from the Epson when it comes to print speed). Compared to the 1280 I like the Canon a little more probably due to the speed issue. Maybe there are some good ones out there but I didnt find them. I tried some generic print profiles supplied on the net and found if you really want to screw up your pictures they are the way to go. With one paper type I had to create a profile as it printed a little dark but that was not hard to do. I have not used more than three manufactures papers but used several types of papers from those manufactures. When using Epson papers I never change the setting from photo paper pro and I get the same results as using the canon paper.

I find the 9000s output excellent when used on the highest setting. I do have the 9000 and a friend has the 1280 and I have had a couple of Epson printers myself.

I understand that the ink that Canon uses with these printers is updated from the earlier inks so I dont feel that it is an issue when comparing the two brand inks. I keep checking for my own information and I dont believe the problem is with the printers but with the paper and the inks. Has not released any information on the s900 / s9000 yet so reference to them is dated and not valid for the new Canon printers.

Canon s9000 printhead