I would like to take part to the thread seeing the plenty of opinions. I'm planning to buy my first wide printer and I'm hesitating which brand and model I will pick at the end.
After two years searching and discussing with resellers, watching many printers in actions, I've put finally 2 models and I will choose one of them.
My first choice was the Epson SureColor SC-S40600 which is a workhorse machine, very reliable with a stunning quality. I print all sort of applications : from vinyl including stickers, perforated and backlit, papers, posters, wallcovering, vehicle wrap...
The problem is the vinyl cutter, I don't have enough money to buy a wide format cutting vinyl so I'm forced to pick a Roland GS-24 which is not productive but will allows me to cut small medias like flex, direct cut vinyls and stickers/labels printed on a 600mm vinyl roll which is not easy to find.
Or I can go for a HP Latex Print & Cut solution 335, I saw it in action in an exhibition hall and I was dazzled by the quality on a wide media delivering high quality application especially textile. This combo solution comes with the latest SAi FlexiPrint & Cut RIP software, really amazing with powerful and nice features. The vinyl cutter which is a Summa D160-R rebranded under HP Latex 64 Cutter is fast and accurate, just load the vinyl into the cutter which will read the unique barcode and procede to the cut automatically.
HP unlike Epson offers users nice services like HP Signage and WallArt suite for designing many applications, HP PrintOS (Print Production Operating System), HP Media Locator to find the medias suitable with you printer and the products you want to print, a knowledge center, an after sales service... Absolutely all the tools a user need to achieve all kind of high quality products are at his hands.