First, the purchase decision:
After about 10 years old my Canon MP600 multifunction printer now shows now but a whole series of signs of senility. Even though he has a long, faithful service done to me, but always bothered me the Canon typical print head cleaning orgies. Since the new well should master CD / DVD printing again, the choice this time fell on an Epson.
Differences to the XP-710, as far as they are noticed:
- User-accessible SD slot (the predecessor was hidden well behind any door).
- The new model is a bit more economical with respect to power consumption in sleep mode.
- Display nominally bigger but effectively rather small, since the 6 control buttons that were present in the predecessor still next to the display, now need to be represented in the touch display. I have found no way to bring a photo preview on the entire display, so as shown in the first product photo. And just for that but the large display would have brought an advantage!
Positives:
+ Quality photo printing on glossy Premium Photo Paper (Aldi) properly. Natural colors, no stripes or any irregularities in the printed image. I tested the photo print directly from SD card, a copy and from the smartphone.
+ Quality when printing text and graphics on plain paper (bright white recycled paper from Staples): Amazingly well, without a magnifying glass I can see no fraying of the letters or the like.
+ The scan quality is also absolutely satisfactory.
+ I was pleasantly surprised by the scanning speed: The preview is displayed within 10 seconds, the A4 page in 300dpi (24bit color) ends up after just 18 seconds as a JPG file on my desktop.
+ The included software make a good first impression. For example, there are at Epson Scan four different modes: Full Auto Mode, Home Mode, Office Mode, and Professional Mode. Since the appropriate representation should be something for everyone.
+ CD printing can be combined with the included software CD Print quickest and simplest way: photo inserted, set Scripture above, set and losgedruckt inner and outer radius, with perfect results.
+ Simple and easy driver installation (to the dark side see below)
+ Installing the app on Android 4.2.2 went without any problems. The XP-720 was detected quickly and I could losdrucken equal and scan.
Neutral:
o The scope of supply is reduced to a minimum. A USB cable is not in what I find absolutely correct with respect to waste reduction, as most will have either a USB cable of the previous printer are already or equal to as I work over Wi-Fi. A sample package of photo paper are nowhere.
o The cabinet surface is partially (sides and chamfered portions) high-gloss and thus quite fingerprint-prone. The upper, large area, however, is structured and thereby less sensitive
o printing on inkjet film (for overhead projectors) works. However, it takes considerably longer than with my old Canon, until the ink is dry and the expression then has a visible droplet structure. So is not perfect, but sufficient for my needs. With the amount of ink I have experimented a little (to no avail). I'll certainly try with a compatible ink again in the future.
Negatives:
- When selecting software packages you should pay close attention to what you want to install. The pre-selection did not like me because I do not need a program, for example, that my conduct pressure monitors in the background and sends the results for purposes of product improvement to the manufacturer.
- When inserting the large black cartridge I have really nice by the way times eingesaut my fingers. Maybe I was in the excitement a bit careless, but who wants to play it safe, maybe you should take up a pair of disposable gloves.
- The very simple network installation (under Win8 and Android) gives me think: I had no wireless password on the printer and confirm your not even connect to the computers to the printer. A point-to-point link so it is clearly established, rather than the printer is integrated into the existing WLAN. In this way, it is also for the neighbors no problem to send something to my printer or simply to see what is because just as in the scanner. Probably it is possible to configure all the settings, but the default setting I find it questionable arg!
- The device has an overall less stable impression than my old Canon. In particular, the control panel that automatically sets up when the printer, are each time you press the display significantly. The output tray, the output automatically and in drives by pressing again leaves me come up slight doubts whether such operations in a few years is still working.
The overall result is a 4-star rating, as the XP-720 good to excellent compliance with the essential functions of a multifunction printer.
