Epson WorkForce 545 Ink Cartridges

Epson 545 Printer Review

The Epson WorkForce 545 has a sharp, black frame that is compact enough to fit comfortably on a small desk or table, yet has the capabilities of a printer, scanner, copier and fax machine. This inkjet device measures only about 18x22x9 inches and weighs a reasonable 17 pounds. It offers the functions that make it suitable for an office and the affordability that would appeal to a college student or home user.

Printing black-and-white documents can be done at a rate of 15 pages per minute (ISO-rated) while full-color prints are rated at 7.2 pages per minute. When making copies, the output speed drops to 5 pages per minute for color and 12 pages per minute in black-and-white. The fax machine has a 33.6 Kbps modem that allows faxes to be processed in about 3 seconds.

No wires are required to connect to the 545 as it has built-in wireless capabilities. However, USB and ethernet ports are both available on the back of the unit, though the necessary cords will need to be purchased separately. Memory card slots and PictBridge connections are provided for quick photo printing that does not require a computer; rather images can be previewed on the 2.5" LCD. This unit also supports printing from handheld devices such as tablets and smartphones.

There are two options when it comes to replacing Epson 545 ink cartridges – high-capacity and extra high-capacity. High-capacity printer ink can generate up to 740 pages for black and 480 pages of color. The extra high-capacity color WorkForce 545 ink cartridges yield up to 755 pages and the black supply can produce as many as 940 prints before running out. These options will keep the cost per page low, and if compatible Epson 545 ink is used, it can reduce the costs by more than half.

The system uses DURABrite WorkForce 545 ink, which promises to be resistant to fading, water and smudging over the years. The drop-on-demand printing method and MicroPiezo technology produces droplets of printer ink that measure 2-3 picoliters in size and are layered over the appropriate parts of the paper. Ultimately, the Epson 545 ink can create a print quality of 5760x1440 dpi optimized.

The standard paper capacity is 250 sheets and most types of photo paper and envelopes are supported. There is a 30-sheet document feeder on the top of the unit that will continuously feed pages to be scanned or copied. Borderless photos can be printed as 4x6", 5x7", 8x10", 8x11" and A4.

Though it is referred to as a WorkForce inkjet printer, this Epson also makes sense for homes and dorm rooms. It offers the functionality of four machines, countless beneficial features and a sleek, compact frame to contain it all, and at a very affordable price.