What’s new? What do we think? What do you need to know? New devices are being pitched at the education market all the time. INTERFACE Editor Greg Adams checks out a new player on the printer scene.
Epson EcoTank ET-2710
It can be one of the most frustrating things – the printer running out of ink. Not only does it leave a half-printed sheet stuck somewhere inside, but also there’s the hassle of finding and installing refills. So, when Epson announced it was expanding its EcoTank large volume ink tank range, we had to have a look. There are six new models in all; here are some thoughts on the ET-2710.
What is it?
The ET-2710 is a wireless, all-in-one printer. By ‘all’, this means printer, scan and copy functions.
Overall feel
Out of the box, it looks and feels like a decent piece of kit – as is the norm for Epson. It features a revamped, compact design and integrated front-facing ink tanks to make using them even easier. Not too big to overpower the desk space but enough to be a reassuring presence, measuring 375 x 347 x 179mm and weighing just 3.9kg. Setting up was remarkably easy.
Printing and performance
Printing proved to be quick and clear – the control panel buttons could hardly be simpler or more intuitive. It holds 100 sheets, A4 plain paper (80g) or 20 sheets, glossy photo paper. Scanning’s just as easy; up to A4 and 1200 x 2400 dpi.
What is the ‘integrated ink system’?
Instead of cartridges, the ET-2710 comes with integrated, high-capacity ink tanks, which supply ink continuously to the printer. So, there are no cartridges to replace; you simply top up the tanks and keep on printing. Yep, you never have to change a cartridge again! The new drip-free ‘key’ ink bottles have also been designed for easy, mess-free filling of each tank – and they certainly appear to do that.
How much printing?
EcoTank printers include up to two years of ink. That’s enough to print some 3,600 pages in black and 6,500 in colour without worrying about replacements – or the equivalent to about 20 ink cartridge sets. The refill bottles hold enough ink for 4,500 pages in black and 7,500 pages in colour.
Connectivity
This printer supports the latest wireless standard, 802.11n. Plus, thanks to Epson Connect solutions – which supports Android, iOS, Chromebook and Windows, amongst others – it’s possible to print from smartphones and tablets
Ideal and impressive
The ET-2710 is ideal for everyday projects at school and in the classroom. It’s quick to set up, efficient and easy to use, and provides quality printing and scanning. An all-round, impressive machine. It’s a shame we can’t keep it!
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For more on Epson’s EcoTank solution go to epson.co.nz/ecotank/
