Are you saying that all marketers are liars
In the real world we just had a customer who replaced their 2nd print head in 5 years. That was on an FX. We had another customer who had an Edge 1 who turned it over. That's over 999,999 minutes, or 5.7 years worth of 8 hr printing days. There's no difference in the print head model. We had to replace a foil motor or two and a board on that Edge 1. Early on, I agree, the FX had some issues. GSP sourced some parts that weren't perfect, and they made it to the field. Oops. But I honestly don't think you can pin an award to one machine over another. It has a lot to do with the environment and how well it's kept. It's also a matter of personal preference. We service and support Gerber equipment, primarily Edges and plotters. We have lots of real world experience. (It's not in our best interest to exaggerate, or steer anyone wrong.)
With that said, I can vouch for the Edge II. It was my favorite machine until I worked with the FX for a year or two. The Edge II is a direct connect and doesn't experience the hiccups that a networked FX might. But that's a network issue. That can be solved by direct connecting with a crossover cable. (Stay away from wireless.) I can change a cartridge in the Edge 2 with my eyes closed faster than I can with the FX. However, I don't have to open the FX to change the cartridge. Not opening the cover keeps your prints cleaner and saves those gas pistons that hold the cover up. The point I was making for your best interest was that Gerber will stop servicing them at some point.
Your Edge II is working well today. Many of our customers will wait until their machines break. Then instead of fixing them, they will redirect that $ to an upgrade. That may be a good lead to follow.
Doug Goodloe
800-232-8018
Doug, please don't get me wrong. I wasn't suggesting that that you were just a marketeer. But, you do work for the company and can't or shouldn't say anything negative.
Not that has any relevance here but 17 yrs ago I worked in field service for a company you probally know that's headquarted up your way. One of their pieces of equipment was in my opinion was rock solid and they sold a ton of them because of it's reliability .
The company decided to stop production and build a better one. You know, more bells and louder whistles. The new one... WHAT A PIECE OF JUNK.
I left the company 3 or 4 years later and even with all the redesigns, it still was junk.
So when I'm looking for comments from end users such as myself, that can basically say what they feel, that's why I call it real world. Please don't be offended
Now this discussion is a good one because I would have never thought about direct connect and will make sure I stay away from the network thing.
I not sure but I think reading your post, that if you were an end user, that you would be saying you prefer the edge 2 as opposed to the fx. Just sounds that way to me.
Your last comment was about waiting until my machine breaks and then replace it.
That's why I'm at this point. I want to put something in place before I have to scramble.
My options:
I can keep what I have and have Gerber or Reseller take it back and do whatever it needs to make it like new. I'm sure that won't cost as much as buying new, and I know how reliable it is. I feel it's still in very good condition, but it will never be new.
Or I can upgrade
I will get a new FX and plotter ( my old one needs work )
I will be able to upgrade my computer to something newer because my old one is a dog. I also wouldn't be tied down to a parallel port that nobody seems to supply with a new computer.
Lastly, it would upgrade me to ver 5.0. I'm on ver 2.5 but all I use it for is to bring in a GAD file from Flexi, set the colors and cutlines and send it to the edge. I could never design in it.
Sounds like upgrading is the way to go but it is expensive, but I have this bad feeling in my stomach that it may be a headache especially since not many here are commenting.
Is it that people are not interested in commenting ( I doubt it in this forum ) or has Gerber not sold many of them and there are just not that many people in the pool to draw from
C'MON KIDS
There must be others that have an opinion
PS Doug, I think I have the LE model. Is that the same as the Edge 2. Is it eligible for the trade in ?
