Epson states that its new EcoTank printer range comes with up to two years of ink included, with the range comprising the Expression ET-2500, Expression ET-2550 and WorkForce ET-4500 aimed at the home user, and the WorkForce ET-4550 for the home office user.Epson has done away with cartridges for the EcoTank range, which instead employ “integrated high-capacity ink tanks”, with ink supplied to the printer via ink bottles. As Epson states “no cartridges to change, ever”.
When the tanks run low, the user tops up the tanks, with the bottles priced at $16.99 each, except the large black ink bottle for the ET-4550, which costs $24.99.
Epson states the replacement bottles, which have a drip-free nozzle and resealable cap for easy storage, hold enough ink to print 4,000 pages in black and 6,500 pages in colour (ET-2500, ET-2550, ET-4500) and 6,000 pages in black and 6,500 pages in colour (ET-4550).
The entry-level ET-2500 allows users to print wirelessly via Android or iOS smartphones and tablets via
 |
Epson’s free iPrint app, and comes with multifunctional print, scan, copy and Wi-Fi options.
The ET-2550 offers the same functionality, and also comes with a 1.44″ colour LCD screen, Wi-Fi Direct for router-free printing, and Epson Connect, enabling printing from iPad, iPhone, tablets and smartphones using Google Cloud Print via Gmail or a Google Drive account. Users can also print from a Chromebook and Google Chrome without installing drivers.
The ET-2550 also uses Apple AirPrint for printing straight from any iPad or iPhone, and its wireless connectivity allows users to share the printer with multiple computers and mobile devices (up to four devices at once).
The ET-4500, which is equipped with a 2.2″ mono LCD screen, provides the same functionality as the ET 2500 and ET-2550, while its 30-page automatic document feeder is designed to easily copy, scan and fax, with Epson Connect supporting Android, iPad and iPhone, Chromebook, Kindle Fire, Mac and Windows devices.
The top level WorkForce ET-4550, comes with all the key features of the ET-2500, ET-2550 and ET-4500, and is powered by Epson’s PrecisionCore inkjet technology.
Epson states that the ET-4550 come with up to two years of included ink, which in this model constitutes up to 11,000 pages in black and 8,500 pages in colour. As well as Epson Connect and Wi-Fi Direct, the ET-4550 features auto two-sided printing, a 30-page auto document feeder, a 2.2″ mono LCD screen, and 150-sheet paper capacity.
“EcoTank printers and printing are all about convenience and practicality,” Bruce Bealby, Epson Australia
 |
general manager sales & marketing – consumer division, commented. “The ET-2500, ET-2550 and ET-4500 are ideal for those households with basic printing requirements that don’t want to continually order ink on a regular basis.
“The technology is proven and has been highly successful in other markets and now its Australia’s turn. These EcoTank models are ideal for all your day-to-day printing needs, such as recipes, homework, emails and photos, and with two years’ worth of ink included, users know exactly where they stand from a cost point of view.”
The ET-2550 ($499 RRP) and ET-4550 ($699 RRP) are available now at Harvey Norman, with the ET-2500 ($449 RRP) and ET-4500 ($599 RRP) available now at JB Hi-Fi, The Good Guys and Bing Lee.
