While it is very good to have a crazy-big, wicked-fast color laser printer such as the HP Color LaserJet CP6015 or the award winning CM6040f, most smaller businesses would only have the resources for a desktop multifunction device (MFC), also known as all-in-ones (AIO).

For those smaller companies or needs, Epson has the WorkForce line of MFCs. At AbsolutelyWindows, we have three of these devices in our review inventory: the WorkForce 310, WorkForce 600, and WorkForce 610 all-in-ones.

We are reviewing the WorkForce 310 here.

The Epson WorkForce 310 is a small MFC created for businesses. Part of the WorkForce line, the 310 is, in Epson terminology, a 4-in-1 printer, giving the user print, copy, scan, and fax functionality.

For the WorkForce 310 review, we replaced three devices at a ranch in Northern Colorado with the 310: an inkjet printer, a scanner, and a fax machine. The ranch is an operational ranch growing sugar beets.

The first issues we ran into was the rancher looking at the device as it was being unboxed, and expressing misgivings that such a ‘pretty’ device could do the job.

After assuring him that it was, we proceeded to install the device.

After plugging in the power and telephone cables, and inserting the color-coded ink cartridges into the printer, we proceeded to turn it on and install device drivers and the included software onto the computer.

The 310 is a wired networked printer with advertised ‘wireless’ capabilities. That wireless capability is a misnomer, for it requires you to connect the printer via an Ethernet cable to a wireless router, using the wireless functionality of that router.

The Epson software installed perfectly. I am especially pleased that the software allows the user to select a custom install, thereby allowing the user to fit the software to their needs*.

I am going to have a major league rant in another post about companies that do not allow such customizations

For Rancher Scott, the Workforce 310 was a big help, eliminating three devices. It also added copying to the mix, something Scott didn’t do often at the ranch due to the cost of consumables for his fax machine.

After a month, we relocated the WF310 to MedikLabs, where I inserted it into the Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 domain.

Again, the WF310 was the little engine that could. Used as a desktop AIO for a mid-level practitioner, the MFC helped in the printing of scripts, and for secure fax sending and reception.

Finally, the device was taken to The Orbiting O’Odua where I wanted to see how it would fit in with Windows 7, then in beta.

Conclusions
In a word, impressed.

This inexpensive MFC - $99.99 at Amazon.com, is a good little device. It is fast enough for personal or SOHO use, and performs very close to its advertised specifications. Furthermore, it was plug-n-play with Windows 7. I attached it to a Windows 7 computer, and was immediately discovered, and print and scan functionality was enabled. That is very welcome, and very needed in small businesses, where you may not have the time to go chasing a driver or might have misplaced a driver disk.

The Epson WorkForce 310 is the recipient of the SmallBizWindows Business Ready Award.

Resources used in this review:

• Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate Edition, x64
• Microsoft Windows Server 2008, Small Business
• Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2
• Microsoft Office 2010 Technical Preview
• HP Compaq C700 Notebook Computer
• HP tx2 TouchSmart Tablet PC
• Toshiba Tecra M7, MedikLabs
• HP ProLiant ML110 G5
• HP ProLiant ML350 G5

Follow me on Twitter