Epson WorkForce 845 Wireless All-in-One Color Inkjet Printer, Copier, Scanner, Fax, iOS/Tablet/Smartphone/AirPrint Compatible (C11CB92201)
I have been using HP printers almost exclusively for over 20 years but
my last three HP Printers have been getting progressively worse - my
last one the HP 6500A was an absolute piece of junk and I am pretty sure
it will be my LAST HP product. After a few weeks of research on what
printer to move to and considering several Canon, Brother and Epson
products I decided that the Epson 845 was probably the printer for me -
and boy was I RIGHT! I've had this printer for a little over 6 weeks
and this printer is AMAZING. I paid $199 and see it for $159
now...after using it I'd gladly pay $299.
Highpoints:
Speedy - this printer is much faster than the HP 6500 and the L7500 that I had before.
Print Quality - I never print photos so I can't comment on that but for business (I work from home) it is great for Powerpoint presentations and contracts. The 2 sided printing is remarkably easy to use and actually works, something that never happened on the HP 6500.
Wireless - I have a home office. I and my family all use this printer. I use it for work, my kids for school and college work. This printer joined my wifi nework effortlessly and has given me 0 trouble. Amazingly simpler than my previous HPs and it "warms up" in a fraction of the time my previous HP printers needed.
Mac Compatible - I have 5 Macs that use this printer. Using HP products I had just accepted that getting printer drivers working on a Mac required carrying the printer around the house and plugging the printer into the Mac that needed to access it was just part of the "setup process". The Epson 845 was UNBELIEVABLY SIMPLE. All of my Macs (2 iMacs, Macbook Pro, 2 Macbook Airs) all saw the printer on my Wifi network and immediately started working with the printer. I have NEVER had a printer work so well with my Apple Products. It is both Snow Leopard AND Lion compatible.
Screen - The instrument panel is amazing. It's HUGE, easy to see, very intuitive and actually folds away when not in use.
Copier - Awesome! My HPs always made "dark" copies - this one is almost perfect reproduction. Huge upgrade.
Low Points:
I only have a few items I'd improve on - not really complaints but nothing is "perfect"
It's Big - This is not a petite printer. I'm not sure how much they could shrink it and keep all the features but it is full figured.
The paper trays and paper guides feel flimsy. The printer is very light despite it's size but I am worried that I might break one of these trays or the paper guide that catches the paper as it comes out of the printer if I'm not careful. Hasn't happened but it does worry me. Not sure what you do if this happens.
Bottom line - for a home / office printer, especially one shared wirelessly between multiple users this printer is an absolute DREAM! HP - I'm never coming back.
UPDATE - 18 June 2012
Still using and still LOVE this printer. It's been over 8 months and the Epson is still the best printer I've used in years. Reading other reviews and comments people have sent me there do seem to be two other "weak points" on this printer that I did not note above. I have NOT seen these issues but others are commenting on them. The weak points are 1) I guess you can't scan without hooking it to your computer with a cable. I don't do this - I use a small Fuji Scansnap for receipts and such and an Epson V500 for photos. But if scanning is big for you this may be an issue. 2) Printing Pictures. Again I have NEVER done this. I send my pictures out to a service for printing (I use Apple) so I have no idea if it is a good photo printer or not.
PROs - I just can't get over how well this printer works wirelessly. I would have thrown my HPs out years ago if I knew life could be this simple! I have NEVER had to reenter my wifi passwords or network settings. I did it once and that was it. Also my niece and some of my daughter's friends have needed to print here. It was incredibly simple for them to find, install the driver, and print from my printer once I gave them my wifi password.
Bottom Line - I would buy this pinter again in a heartbeat!
Highpoints:
Speedy - this printer is much faster than the HP 6500 and the L7500 that I had before.
Print Quality - I never print photos so I can't comment on that but for business (I work from home) it is great for Powerpoint presentations and contracts. The 2 sided printing is remarkably easy to use and actually works, something that never happened on the HP 6500.
Wireless - I have a home office. I and my family all use this printer. I use it for work, my kids for school and college work. This printer joined my wifi nework effortlessly and has given me 0 trouble. Amazingly simpler than my previous HPs and it "warms up" in a fraction of the time my previous HP printers needed.
Mac Compatible - I have 5 Macs that use this printer. Using HP products I had just accepted that getting printer drivers working on a Mac required carrying the printer around the house and plugging the printer into the Mac that needed to access it was just part of the "setup process". The Epson 845 was UNBELIEVABLY SIMPLE. All of my Macs (2 iMacs, Macbook Pro, 2 Macbook Airs) all saw the printer on my Wifi network and immediately started working with the printer. I have NEVER had a printer work so well with my Apple Products. It is both Snow Leopard AND Lion compatible.
Screen - The instrument panel is amazing. It's HUGE, easy to see, very intuitive and actually folds away when not in use.
Copier - Awesome! My HPs always made "dark" copies - this one is almost perfect reproduction. Huge upgrade.
Low Points:
I only have a few items I'd improve on - not really complaints but nothing is "perfect"
It's Big - This is not a petite printer. I'm not sure how much they could shrink it and keep all the features but it is full figured.
The paper trays and paper guides feel flimsy. The printer is very light despite it's size but I am worried that I might break one of these trays or the paper guide that catches the paper as it comes out of the printer if I'm not careful. Hasn't happened but it does worry me. Not sure what you do if this happens.
Bottom line - for a home / office printer, especially one shared wirelessly between multiple users this printer is an absolute DREAM! HP - I'm never coming back.
UPDATE - 18 June 2012
Still using and still LOVE this printer. It's been over 8 months and the Epson is still the best printer I've used in years. Reading other reviews and comments people have sent me there do seem to be two other "weak points" on this printer that I did not note above. I have NOT seen these issues but others are commenting on them. The weak points are 1) I guess you can't scan without hooking it to your computer with a cable. I don't do this - I use a small Fuji Scansnap for receipts and such and an Epson V500 for photos. But if scanning is big for you this may be an issue. 2) Printing Pictures. Again I have NEVER done this. I send my pictures out to a service for printing (I use Apple) so I have no idea if it is a good photo printer or not.
PROs - I just can't get over how well this printer works wirelessly. I would have thrown my HPs out years ago if I knew life could be this simple! I have NEVER had to reenter my wifi passwords or network settings. I did it once and that was it. Also my niece and some of my daughter's friends have needed to print here. It was incredibly simple for them to find, install the driver, and print from my printer once I gave them my wifi password.
Bottom Line - I would buy this pinter again in a heartbeat!