Kodak ESP 3 Ink Cartridges

Kodak 3 Printer Review

Though it sits at the low end of the totem pole in terms of personal all-in-one units, the Kodak ESP 3 is an affordable, versatile inkjet machine. Costing less than $150, this scanner, copier, and printer are all compacted into one 13-pound device that has a small footprint of approximately 17x7x12 inches. In general, it is faster than many similar machines on the market, but the Kodak 3 does leave a little to be desired when it comes to output quality.

The ESP 3 is actually quite fast compared to many other inkjet multipurpose machines on the market, with a maximum speed of 30 pages per minute in monochrome and 29 pages per minute in color. Users can select one of three print modes to alter the speed and quality as it pertains to the task at hand. Draft mode will generate the maximum output rate, but lowest output quality. Best mode calls for more dots of Kodak 3 ink per inch, increasing the resolution but reducing the speed. Normal mode is in the middle for both speed and quality. To give an example, Draft mode is ideal for simple tasks like printing multiple invoices, whereas Best mode is more appropriate for photo printing.

The paper capacity is a bit limited, boasting a single input tray that can hold only 100 sheets of paper. But, the types of media that are supported by this unit allow for many versatile projects. Envelopes, greeting cards, postcards, labels, iron-on t-shirt transfers, transparencies, and photo paper can all be used. The tray even has an auto-detect feature so users will not have to manually change the media type settings.

Kodak Perfect Touch Technology is photo-enhancing software that, in conjunction with the high-quality ESP 3 printer ink, will create improved images. Though users can connect via USB port, Bluetooth, memory card slots, and PictBridge port, an LCD display is not available to print directly from external devices. However, images can be loaded to the computer through any of these connection options.

The tricolor Kodak 3 ink cartridge that holds the cyan, magenta, and yellow printer ink can yield about 420 pages before a replacement will be needed. The black ESP 3 ink cartridge can render a few more pages than that at 425 pages. For users that print frequently, the cost of replacements may not fit into a tight budget. Fortunately, third-party vendors offer compatible Kodak 3 ink that will cost significantly less than the OEM versions.

For photo enthusiasts, the Kodak 3 may not be the most ideal machine because it does lack a bit in the photo quality department. However, it offers decent speed that will be appealing to a work environment. It may be a low-end all-in-one device, but it can hold its own in a competitive market.