Epson
We have the following products up for review at SmallBizWindows & AbsoluteWindows:
Quite a full plate, eh?
This SMB multifunction/all-in-one (AIO) device is now at the Orbiting O’Odua and ensconced safely in my home office there.
For the past several weeks, I have been reviewing the Epson WorkForce Pro GT-S80 sheet feed scanner.
While we all strive for the paperless office, the reality of it is that the current inventory of documents has to be digitized, or at least scanned, into the respective e-document repositories of their owners.
Into this scenario comes the high-speed scanner.
Epson WorkForce GT-S80
Announced in November of 2008, the WorkForce Pro GT-S80, hereinafter called the scanner, is a sheet-fed, single-pass duplex scanner designed for small and medium business environments, with a bias towards smaller environments.
It is spec’d at 80 pages per minute in mono mode, and has a 75-sheet sheet feeder.
While we do not use dedicated scanners of any sort at Logikworx or Logiklabs, I have clients and prospects that need them, especially in the healthcare industry, more evident now that everyone is moving towards implementing electronic medical records and/or electronic practice management suites.
Accordingly, I was able to obtain a copy for review at Mediklabs.
Unboxing
The GT-S80 came in a smallish box.
While signing for it, I asked the FedEx courier if there wasn’t Part II to the package. No, said he, and went on his merry way.
I opened the package to see a small device, the size of a large toaster, and a power supply.
A USB connector, user manuals, and a software CD completed the package.
I connected the parts, inserted the disc in the test system, installed the software, got an ‘install success’ dialog, and got to testing.
The Review
The included software suite for the WorkForce Pro GT-S80 is pretty extensive. You get the primary Epson Scan software, Abbyy FineReader Sprint Plus OCR software, ScanSoft’s PaperPort, and NewSoft’s Presto! BizCard software.
I changed the default output to PDF files for this review.
I inserted ten (10) double-sided sheets into the scanner’s sheet feeder, clicked on double-sided scan, and proceeded to doubt what transpired next.
The scanner fed the papers so fast through the machine that I took the output and waited for the software to prompt me for the second side.
After none was forthcoming, I decided to look at the saved output to see what exactly was going on.
To say that I am impressed is a gross understatement!
The scanner performs high-speed, duplex, color scanning.
Repeat, the WorkForce GT-S80 performs high-speed, duplex, color scanning.
It is truly a high-speed scanner.
I then ran it through several paces, using different materials up to large photographs and at very high resolutions.
The GT-S80 breezed through it all. In fact, the holdup was with the post-scan processing on the default installed (computer) system for the high resolution scans. (A change of host systems to a high-powered desktop system solved the post processing, cutting the time involved to mere seconds.)
In the subsequent weeks, users of the scanner came away impressed with the performance, and numerous output formats this device was capable of.
Conclusions 
The Epson Workforce Pro GT-S80 is one serious Business Ready device.
In fact, I believe that it probably wins any price/performance test hands down with any other scanner, especially in its price class.
How much do we like it? Since sending the review unit back to Epson, staffers here at Mediklabs have gone into scanner withdrawals, and I am looking to purchase a copy for use here.
Accordingly, we have decided to give it the SmallBizWindows Business Ready Award of Excellence.
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I have steered away from inkjet printers quite a while, indeed, the last several years, due to their lack of speed, and high cost of supplies, substituting dye-sub printers for personal photo printing.
It was a surprise when I was informed by Courtney Shipman – on behalf of Epson – that not only did she have a printer that could satisfy most personal printing needs, but it was also fast enough resolve the speed issue.
Out came Doubting Thomas John, and I said “prove it”.
I asked for a low-end unit, and I was sent the Epson WorkForce 600 multifunction device to review.
For the past two months, we have had the WorkForce 600 in our possession, and I have used it for what I believe I do best: see if it is a ‘good enough’ device for the deskside of some of my most prodigious of printer users, the Realtor.
If a real estate agent can use and like a device, in these tough economic times, believe me, it works well.
The Epson WorkForce 600 MFC
Unboxing & Installation
The WorkForce 600 came in a box with paper samples, multi color ink pods, power cords, cables, and NO USB cable! I later found out that it had built-in Wi-Fi, which is nice; however, a USB cable included in the package would be nicer.
Giving it a black mark for that, I proceeded with the unboxing, and found a device sheathed in a piano-quality black material that was at once welcoming and modern.
Setting up the MFC via USB was a snap: I connected a USB cable to the printer, got prompted for the driver disk by Windows Vista™, duly inserted that disk, Vista did it’s thing, and voilà, MFC was working. Connecting via Wi-Fi was just as painless.
One new thing – at least for me – was the flip-up full-color control panel! It allows uses control of all functions of this device, almost negating a read of the user guide. I like this.
Scenario 1: Personal use
Printing: My first test scenario was plunking the WF600 into the consumer subnet at The Orbiting O’Odua in order to test the speed assertions I had heard about it.
I was able to consistently get about a 20-22 ppm speed printing near-laser quality black prints, and about 15-16 ppm in color.
My mouth is still agape at these results coming from an inkjet printer MSRP’d at under $200!
While inkjet printers, apart from dye-subs, are without peer when it comes to color and photo prints, I specifically wanted to see how the WF600 handled text documents. It did so with aplomb, and dispatch.
Photo printing has also become one of my little guilty pleasures in these past couple of months, since I can perform that task easily, and with professional-looking results with all the time.
Selecting and printing a photo from a memory card using the memory card slot was also easy, adding to the value of this device.
Copying & Scanning: This is a task that most of these home-targeted MFC (or all-in-ones) do relatively well. Scan speed is fast enough, and the copies start getting shot out at the speeds I listed above. Scan quality was very good, without the device or attendant software introducing artifacts into the scanned/copied images.
Faxing: Pretty much as expected.
Scenario 2: Business Use - A Realtor
My next usage scenario for this device was as a personal workhorse in a business environment: as a Realtor’s personal deskside printer.
As we all know, realtors like to print out photocopies of the properties they are trying to sell. After persuading her to abandon the office color laser printer (HP Color LaserJet 3600dn) for the duration of her test, I installed the WF600.
After just a few hours, I got a call giving the printer props.
For her, color fidelity in the prints, and the speed of printing were the objects of her desire.
She was also enamored of the looks, size, and connectivity options presented.
Furthermore, being able to send faxes, including confidential material right from her desk as inexpensively as the WF600 allowed, just made the purchase of the device an acceptable expense.
Conclusion
The Epson WorkForce 600 MFC has been a very capable performer. It is lightweight, fast, pretty to look at, and just works.
It proved itself capable in three most important of scenarios: as consumer device, as a home office MFC, and as a business AIO.
Also remember that this printer is capable of speeds of up to 38 ppm in black/color draft mode.
Props have to be given to Epson here for developing drivers that understand that the product, after all, is a printer. You know, a utility. Something to work ploddingly in the background, and not distract users by throwing up dialogs and/or notifications reminding us that it was there.
Resultantly, we are pleased to give The Epson WorkForce 600 the AbsoluteVista Business Ready Award.
For more information, or to purchase this device, please click here.