Epson Expression Photo XP-970 A3 Multifunction Wireless Inkjet Printer

After years of loyal (some might say masochistic) service to the Canon printer empire, I finally broke free!Last week, I, a creature of habit, even bought another Canon. Oh, the foolish optimism! The WiFi setup, a task that I believe Canon engineers designed specifically for masochists and telekinetic wizards, proved utterly impossible. My router and the printer engaged in a silent, passive-aggressive standoff, refusing to acknowledge each other's existence despite my increasingly desperate pleas (and a few muttered expletives). Back to the seller it went, a monument to my fleeting hope for a wirelessly connected life.And then, like a beacon in the inky blackness of my printer-related despair, came the Epson XP-8700. What a revelation! I swear, the setup process was so easy, I thought I'd accidentally downloaded a self-installing spiritual guide. It practically set itself up while I was still trying to locate the power button. No wrestling with cryptic error messages, no consulting ancient online forums for a solution to a problem only five other people on Earth have ever encountered. Just… it worked. It connected to my WiFi faster than I can say "ink cartridge replacement."But wait, there's more! Not only did this printer spare me from a nervous breakdown, it also looks like it belongs in a sleek, minimalist art gallery, not my cluttered home office. Its compact design is a breath of fresh air compared to the blocky, utilitarian appearance of its predecessor. And the functionality? Oh, the functionality! The intuitive touchscreen is so user-friendly, even my technophobe dog could probably navigate it (if she had opposable thumbs, which, thankfully, she doesn't).This bad boy isn't just a pretty face. It prints photos that actually look like photos, not blurry approximations of them. The separate ink cartridges are a godsend – no more replacing an entire multi-color cartridge because I ran out of just one shade of blue! It has automatic duplex printing, saving trees and my sanity. And the front-loading paper tray? Pure genius! No more contorting myself to load paper from the back, feeling like I'm performing some kind of printer-based yoga pose. Plus, it's got a dedicated photo tray, so you don't have to swap out paper every time you want to print a masterpiece. And yes, it scans and copies with admirable speed and clarity – a true all-in-one champion.In conclusion, if you're teetering on the edge of printer-induced madness, do yourself a favor and buy the Epson XP-8700. It's not just a printer; it's a therapeutic experience. My blood pressure has plummeted, my WiFi is no longer an enigma, and I can finally print without wanting to throw something out the window. Bravo, Epson. Bravo!

Well the setup was a pain in ze buttski mainly because the printer is too far from the router downstairs. Nevermind the USB direct method worked perfectly and I prefer that anyway to fannying around with dropped connections and gawd knows what else.Tried a couple of test prints on 4x6 glossy, excellent quality. Next up I went for a 10 x 8, again perfect and then tried an A3 Landscape...Couldn't be faulted.The machine is light years ahead of my old(22years!) Epson Photo Stylus, I never realised by just how much printers have moved on.Good points...It has two paper trays, no more stacking paper in a chute. One stores A4 ,or 10x8 whatever you like really and the second tray stores 4x6.The A3 has to be slotted in the back the old fashioned way but it handles it very adroitly.Printing times are lightspeed compared to the old Photo Stylus and quality is as good as it gets.The machine is reassuringly heavy and its obviously a lot bigger than the old one but not by a large margin, certainly fits easily on the average desk.Not tried the scanner yet but I've got a separate one anyhow that also does negatives and slides so I will probably stick with that a while.I usually print from the PC but its perfectly easy enough to do so directly from the XP970, just slot in a memory card or link up wirelessly with your phone and you're away.All in all a great printer and a steal at the price.Check cartridge price availability before buying any printer, the genuine Epson ones are of course expensive but then so are the same ones from the other manufacturers. third party inks look very tempting but I am a little cautious as that is what probably had me gnashing my teeth with blocked jets in my old Stylus Photo. You get what you pay for I suppose.

Very versatile printer, good quality for a small inkjet, compact for home office and easy to install. Not the cheapest cartridges but 6 colours give extra oomph to prints.