| Print, scan and fax with a single inkjet-based | | | | setting produced faint, striped characters, so we |
| machine. The DX7000F scans well but makes | | | | ran our 50-page draft test using Text mode, |
| slow prints, scans and copies, and has no ADF for | | | | which was slow. The colours in graphics on plain |
| fax and is commonly available for a little over | | | | paper were solid and streak-free using the Text |
| £100. | | | | & Image setting, but also dull and |
| Although it's fairly common for mono laser | | | | under-saturated. Colours in photos seemed a little |
| multifunction devices, or MFDs, such as OKI's | | | | warmer, but skin tones were a little too cool for |
| B2540 MFP to send and receive faxes, this | | | | a flattering portrait shot. |
| feature is rarely found on an inkjet model. Epson's | | | | Fortunately, the DX7000F's scanner was more |
| Stylus DX7000F has a built-in fax modem, but is | | | | impressive. It captured sharply focused images, |
| otherwise a fairly typical inkjet MFD. | | | | recording plenty of detail from both very light and |
| The DX7000F uses four separate ink cartridges | | | | very dark areas. Colours were accurate, too, but |
| with the black T0711 containing 7.4ml of ink and | | | | it was slow at high resolutions. Our 1,200dpi (dots |
| the three colour cartridges T0712, 713 & 714 | | | | per inch) test scan of a 6x4-inch photograph took |
| containing 5.5ml each. These cartridges have been | | | | over three minutes, two or three times longer |
| used in previous Epson models and are readily | | | | than we'd expect. |
| available from Epson direct, your local retailer or | | | | The DX7000F doesn't have an automatic |
| from an online discounter like Cartcon. | | | | document feeder (ADF), so you have to load |
| Further savings can be made by purchasing the | | | | each page of a long fax and make copies one |
| Epson Multipack, T0715 or by using compatible | | | | page at a time. This is a pain, and makes the |
| cartridges from a reliable third party | | | | DX7000F an unconvincing fax device, particularly |
| manufacturer. | | | | when you could buy other MFD's which include this |
| Epson's setup program adds drivers for the print | | | | function. |
| and scan functions, and offers a range of optional | | | | Overall this machine does some things well but |
| software such as Creativity Suite, which allows | | | | other functions perform well below the level one |
| very basic photo editing. We found it simple to | | | | would expect from a major manufacturer and |
| get the MFD up and running. | | | | with many other devices from other well known |
| Epson's print driver offers a choice of five quality | | | | brands available at below this price level, the |
| settings, but none of them produced particularly | | | | Dx7000F is probably best avoided. |
| clean black text on plain paper. The printer's Draft | | | | |