VIA THE WEB: Epson Artisan 700 All-in-One Inkjet Printer Reviews

When it comes to awards from web publications, few printers are as decorated as the Epson Artisan 800, which earned an Editors’ Choice designation from ComputerShopper.com and solid all-around accolades from other sources. But do you lose too much when you go one step down and purchase the Artisan 700? Despite a smaller LCD preview screen and lack of a fax function, this all-in-one can still print, scan and copy, and it features Wi-Fi and Ethernet connectivity for sharing at home or at work. You can also print on CDs and DVDs, and print photos PC-free via PictBridge and Memory Card. The critics have had their say on the Artisan 700 and they like what they see for a number of reasons.

Scott Carmichael of Gadling.com likes the Artisan 700’s attractive design and the dedicated photo paper tray that saves you the trouble of manually switching between plain paper & photo paper. CD/DVD printing is a bonus, and the Artisan 700 prints top-notch output quickly and quietly. That said, the cost of ink can add up, and Ethernet and Wi-Fi aren’t as reliable as they could be. But despite some minor quibbles, Carmichael considers the Artisan 700 an excellent overall value.

ExtremeMhz.com gives the Artisan 700 an Extreme Excellence Award for its extensive feature set and the fact that “Printing was a pleasure. Simple as that.” Photo quality is very good, although text quality isn’t as “laser-like” as advertised. Like Gadling.com, ExtremeMhz.com concludes that the Artisan 700 delivers almost everything you could ask for in a $200 MFP.

Last but not least, Justechn.com gives the Artisan 700 a Gold Award for its wide range of network and printing connection options, excellent photo quality, fast print speed, and quiet operation. In addition, the CD/DVD tray prints clear and attractive labels. Text quality isn’t as sharp as a laser printer like the HP Laserjet 5L, but that’s to be expected. Overall, Justechn.com echoes the sentiments of the other two reviews and concludes that the Artisan 700 packs plenty of punch in an affordable package.