Epson WorkForce 500 Ink Cartridges

Epson 500 Printer Review

Small office or home office users will appreciate the versatility and affordability of the Epson WorkForce 500 all-in-one inkjet printer. This unit does not have a big footprint but has a large feature set, with its ability to perform the job of a scanner, printer, fax machine, and copier. The upfront price is very reasonable considering the money that would be spent on four separate devices, and the cost of replacement Epson 500 ink is minimal.

Though Epson boasts that the 500 can operate at speeds of nearly 30 pages per minute, the ISO rate is actually closer to 5 pages per minute in black-and-white or color. When it comes time to print images, a borderless 4x6-inch photo can be completed in less than 30 seconds. These numbers are not exact, however, as production speed varies based on the print mode that is set and the complexity of the job. The input paper capacity is limited to only 100 sheets, however, so busy users may want to seek a larger model.

The copying function is able to make up to 99 duplicates per original, even when not connected to a computer. Size adjustments are also available, and the copied image can automatically be fit to the size of the page it is being printed on. The flatbed scanner offers a 48-bit color depth, with a 9600x9600 dpi interpolated resolution. An automatic document feeder sits on the top of the machine, holds up to 30 sheets, and supplies a continuous feed of documents to be copied or scanned. A 33.6 Kbps transmission speed allows faxes to be received in as little as 3 seconds. There is a 180-page fax memory built in and up to 60 speed dial locations.

A 2.5" LCD sits in the center of the control panel, and tilts up for easier viewing, providing users with easy access to menu options and settings. Additionally, images and documents that are loaded through the memory cards slots or the front-loading PictBridge port can be previewed, enhanced, and edited via the LCD screen. Error messages will also appear here and the status of remaining WorkForce 500 printer ink can be found in the Setup category.

The replacement Epson 500 ink cartridges come in two sizes – standard and high-capacity. The standard printer ink costs less upfront, but yields nearly 200 pages less than the high-capacity version. Users can find WorkForce 500 ink cartridges online and have the option of purchasing remanufactured versions to reduce the cost of operation.

This is a versatile inkjet printer, well equipped to perform in a small office or home environment. It will be a better personal unit, though, as it has a limited paper capacity. The affordable Epson 500 ink will make the lifetime cost of the device very reasonable.