Aug 31 2020
Hardware

Review: How Epson's Expression Premium XP-7100 Helps with Archiving

This compact printer drives agency productivity with sharp photo quality and versatility.

Federal agencies that act as official record-keeping providers often need a digital source for producing, preserving and distributing official federal government publications as well as information and products for other government departments.

Over the past several years, inkjet printers have boosted their efficiency and print quality to match this need. Within this spectrum of printers, few if any, match the print, copy and scanning quality of the Epson Expression Premium XP-7100 Small-in-One.

The multifunction capabilities of this all-in-one, color inkjet device offers print-heavy federal agencies such as the Government Publishing Office or the National Archives a gem of a high-resolution image copier, scanner and printer.

The 5760x1440 dot-per-inch print resolution and 1200x2400 dpi optical scanning resolution provide a clarity and quality seldom seen in inkjet printers.

Color Reproduction Dazzles and Pops off the Page

The amazing color reproduction of the XP-7100 comes from five Claria Premium ink cartridges: one black; three cyan/magenta/yellow; and one photo black, which enhances the darker elements of printed images and text. The inks are smudge, fade and water resistant, so pictures appear to pop from the page, especially when printed on premium photo paper.

The XP-7100’s wireless and wired connectivity is ideal for distribution purposes, and the device can access multiple platforms, including Apple iOS and Android, for on-the-go capabilities.

Regardless of the connection or platform used, the XP-7100 was simple to set up and quick to start print and scan jobs. It took only minutes to print via a mobile device, and the Epson iPrint App was incredibly intuitive to navigate. The XP-7100 can also print or scan from a USB thumb drive or SD card via slots located on the lower-left front of the device.

Quick-use features for common tasks — such as making copies and printing or scanning from the cloud — are navigable from an intuitive, 4.3-inch touchscreen that acts as a central control panel.

Weighing just 21.6 pounds, the XP-7100 is packed with an impressive number of extra features and functions for its size. For example, a 30-page, single-pass auto document feeder offers users simple and effective ways to make two-sided copies and scans without having to manually flip the original documents. That’s a real timesaver that much larger printers should offer.

Epson Expression Premium XP-7100 Small-in-One.

Printer Speed Enables Large, Quick Jobs for Agencies

The printer’s paper-handling specs of up to 120 sheets includes a 100-sheet main cassette and a 20-sheet photo paper insert, as well as a small caddy located above the output tray for printing labels on presurfaced CDs and DVDs. Epson includes software for designing labels in the software bundle that comes with the printer, which makes it easy for users to leverage this feature right out of the box.

Epson also provides multiple options for connecting to the XP-7100. The basic Wi-Fi setting is standard and simple to use, but agencies that want more security can use the wired Ethernet port. For those who need an even higher level of security, the XP-7100 can also connect to a PC directly via a USB 2 cable.

Among all these attributes, users will probably most appreciate the XP-7100’s best feature: its impressive print/scan/copy quality. This little ink jet punches well above its weight for federal agencies.

Printer's Small Size Makes It an Easy Fit in the Office

Several agencies have adopted open-office settings to improve collaboration and build a better work environment. These newer settings, however, present users with a challenge: how to fit all of their needed technology.

The Epson Expression Premium XP-7100’s compact footprint measures just 15.4x13.3x7.5 inches, making it ideal for any desk, no matter how open or traditional the office may be.

This compact yet versatile “small in one” offers a surprising level of functionality for such a tiny device. It’s packed with bells and whistles, including a fast-print capability for borderless 4x6-inch photos in as little as 12 seconds.

Setup instructions are clear and easy to follow, and can be completed out of the box in minutes. I connected and disconnected the printer three times for various tests, and each time it was just as simple and quick to set up as the last. Using either a Wi-Fi, USB or Ethernet cable, the printer was operational in less than five minutes.

A unique technology called Wi-Fi Direct is embedded in the XP-7100 for network-free printing. As a result, users can start printing almost as soon as they receive the unit.

Epson Expression Premium XP-7100

PRINTING RESOLUTION: 5760x1440 dpi
OPTICAL SCANNING RESOLUTION: 1200x2400 dpi
COPY SPEED: up to 11 PPM
PRINTING SPEED: up to 15.8 PPM
CAPACITY: 100 sheets
CONNECTIVITY: USB 2, Gigabit LAN, Wi-Fi 4
DIMENSIONS: 15.4x13.3x7.5 inches
WEIGHT: 21.6 pounds

Epson
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