The Epson WorkForce WF-3540DTWF is uniquely designed for the home office environment. All promised basic functions controlled it satisfactory to very good. in detail:
- Print: good.
Text / graphic documents on plain paper are printed very quickly and neatly. Who prints often and much, is happy with this workhorse. Duplex printing is completed without problems, but the luxury service takes a moment. A drying time can be adjusted between the front and back print. Also can be reduced in several stages with light paper, the print density so that the pressure does not show through. Laser quality must of course not be expected, because the ink dissolves on plain paper is always a bit. The paper feeding during printing is already clearly loud, the printhead carriage is buzzing bearable - in the office perfectly okay. Anyone who wants to place the printer in the bedroom (haha) can activate the sleep mode, the significantly reduces the background noise, just as clearly as well the print speed.
A relatively major shortcoming of the second paper tray is the fact that it can be fed exclusively with plain paper or the paper is not only can be adjusted (the field is grayed out). Therefore, I have Tray1 with photo paper tray 2 filled with plain paper - can I endure.
For essential I think the rear sheet feeder, which also thicker sheets and envelopes can be printed.
In accordance with high quality photo paper printouts succeed quite photorealistic, although this is not a true-blue photo printer, which the manufacturer has never claimed. Borderless printing works quite well, sometimes it prints about 1 mm beyond the paper, depending on how exactly he drafted the paper. The accuracy when borderless printing can, however, set specifically. The top paper guide in the form of tiny, pointed cogs leaves on the pressure side subtle traces - but only on glossy photo paper and with an unfavorable light disturbing. The printing speed in the best possible photo quality could be faster - an A4 sheet is even in bidirectional printing only in perceived (not stopped) 4-5 minutes ready. Whether the case significantly increased ink consumption is normal, I can appreciate bad - you can watch formally decline downright CMYK ink level as photo printing. Well, "Nothing comes from nothing," my grandfather used to say ...
- Scanning: satisfactory.
Right at the biggest mistake that leads to the devaluation: Unfortunately, an unforgivable mistake happens with every scan, which is noticeable fortunately only from 600 dpi up and only on some subjects. The scanner produces eg at 1200 dpi on each column of pixels 688. scanned an error. It seems as if he had the 688th column simply omitted! And 688 columns continue again missing a column, etc ... For simple texts / graphics / photos do not fall in the missing columns, with gridded templates (newspaper photo or similar) or falls when copying originals with a regular pattern on that regularity by missing pixels is disturbed. For clarity, I have uploaded a rasterized image (see customer images) and the affected area marked with arrows. I will ask the manufacturers to task and report here ... [UPDATE = 03.11.2012] Once potential sources of error could be excluded, advises me of the manufacturer Epson, to have the device at the customer service. I do not think I'll do that, because of the expense of this is just too high to hear later that the unit is operating "within the manufacturer's specifications." Can someone please test whether his copy also produces such scanning errors? [/ UPDATE]
The scanning software provides three preset scenarios: Standard, Office and Professional Mode. In the first two modes, some parameters are hidden for clarity or preset, the professional mode you can let off steam nice if you know your way. The maximum optical scan resolution of 1200 x 2400 dpi is sufficient for most applications, for the office anyway. A transparency unit for negatives and slides lacking anyway, which would require an even higher resolution. Adjust values above 1200 dpi really does not make sense, because everything is only interpolated (comparable with digital zoom in a digital camera). Automatic "skew correction of the template" should be disabled for high-quality scans, as they adversely affect the image quality, but with text / graphics is unbendenklich and quite useful.
The scanner lid, which houses the ADF unit is quite heavy and not steamed - then this is annoying when is often scanned on the document glass and for the chunky lid must be raised every time. This can only be released when it is opened completely by 90 °, otherwise it fast unrestrained back on the scanner glass. For scanning orgies there is an automatic, duplex-capable document feeder (ADF), which copes well with crumpled and perforated sheets - works amazingly, so far without problems (up to 30 sheets summarizes the shaft). Scan to PDF, Scan to Email, Scan to Card are all treats that also work wonderfully and do not necessarily require a computer.
- Copy: very good.
1: 1 copies in black and white or color can be easily and quickly done with two keystrokes. But the usual settings such as the number, density, zoom, Duplex, sorting available - because I miss guarantees nothing.
- Fax: very good.
I have two pages faxed, which are also reached. In the internal memory, the last faxes are stored and logged. Contacts can be saved and provided with speed-dial numbers. From the computer, you can fax paperless Although what I have not done, because to the enclosed fax software must be installed - I do not need. Fax reception I have also not been tested.
- WiFi: very good.
A WLAN connection via WPS push button setup works after a few minutes. A manual connection can also be set up. The wireless range is very good because two reinforced concrete slabs are easy to overcome. WiFi Direct I could not test, because I do not own a smartphone or tablet.
- Operation: very good.
The sufficiently large 8.9 cm touch screen can be operated pleasant, dominating even the "wipe". In addition to the illuminated main switch, there are no physical buttons - the control panel looks tidy and clear. Certain "key" outside of the touch screen will light up only when the corresponding function is available. It has even implemented a rudimentary direct help on the touch screen. The drawers can be easily filled with paper. The ink cartridges are easy to change. The residual ink tank can be replaced (read level).
- Printing of images directly from a memory card or USB flash drive (without computer): good.
Do I need hardly ever, but I was curious to see what can be done (is my first printer who can). Yes, works amazingly well - even cropping, red-eye correction, brightness & Co. can be set - if it has to be fast, perfect. For quality prints I throw still to Photoshop. It accepts SD and MS Duo cards, the CF-slot have rationalized away. However one Closes the front USB a commercially available card reader, and CF card can be read / written. Incidentally, in the Epson inserted cards and USB sticks are visible on the computer as drives.
- Design / optics: good.
I'm glad that little pseudo piano lacquer is available. Only the control panel and a thin strip around it must be freed from time to time by fingerprints (the touchscreen anyway). It's no wonder Apple design, otherwise the part makes a pretty high-quality impression.
Note: The following section is out of date!
[- Power consumption: very good.]
[With the (mediocre) Energy Check 3000 I have the power consumption during inactivity measured (WiFi off):]
[OFF -> 0.0 W]
[Standby (touch screen lights up) -> 3.0 to 4.4 W]
[Standby (touch screen) -> 0.6 W (?)]
[The light duration of the touch screen can be adjusted to 3-5-10 minutes. If this is off, the power consumption is hardly measurable (hence the question mark). That's good news because the part must therefore never be completely switched off and remains on the network always available. With an active WiFi approximately half a Watt must be added throughout.]
[UPDATE = 30.12.2012]
- Power consumption: good.
Mir is now the "official" energy monitoring devices Energy Master Professional 2 is available, which displays the actual costs of power, namely, the real power. Here we go (WiFi off):
OFF -> 0.3 W
Standby (touch screen lights up) -> 5.4 W
Standby (touch screen) -> 1.6 W
The decisive standby consumption is almost three times as high at 1.6 W, like that of my original (incorrect) measured value. Everyone has to decide for himself whether he is the constant availability on the network about 3 euros in value. In my case (two floors), it will be worth it. Wake on LAN would have been desirable here in order to wake the printer remotely when needed.
[/ UPDATE]
Tip: make a firmware update!
Tip: If you do not want the Epson phoned home or who scan-to-cloud, Epson Connect, etc. not uneasy, which can in off DHCP field for the gateway address blank and thus disconnect the device from the Internet.
Overall rating: Good or 4 stars.
Who needs the best printing results, fetches a laser colleagues and / or a photo-specialists. Who needs a perfect, high-resolution scans of getting a standalone scanner upmarket outdated. Otherwise, this Epson is enough perfectly! Thank you for reading!
