Having a top-notch printer is absolutely crucial if you (a) have kids, (b) run a home business, (c) enjoy taking pictures, and/or (d) homeschool. Since our family falls in all four of those categories, our printer gets quite the workout.
I’d like to introduce you to our printer – the Epson Expression Photo XP-850 Small-in-One Printer.
Designed with photo enthusiasts and families in mind, the sleek and compact printer delivers brilliant 4″ x 6″ photos as fast as 10 seconds (no need to use Walgreens, Shutterfly, or other photo printing services). The printer also features automatic 2-sided printing, CD/DVD printing, a rear paper feed for card stock & envelopes, plus convenient wireless networking. You can even print from your smartphone!
It has color fax capabilities too, which I am less enthused about since faxing is all but dead in 2013. RIP.
Here are a few projects our family has used the machine for.
Coloring Sheets! Our girls are forever asking for “just one more coloring sheet.” We typically google “free coloring sheets” and plenty of options pop up. Their favorite subject matter is princesses, Disney-anything, nature scenes, and/or children’s book characters.
Another appealing option is that you can take any real photo and turn it into a coloring sheet. Cool, right?
TucsonTopia Flyers! If you live in the Tucson metro area and haven’t stopped in at TucsonTopia.com, please do. Tim & I launched the site to help you find out “what IS happening, what WILL happen, and what you can help MAKE happen in Southern Arizona.” You’ll find restaurant reviews, park profiles, event listings, and weekly giveaways.
Pictures for grandparents! I snapped a cute shot of my mom holding Audrey at the park several weeks ago. Instead of letting the photo sit on my phone, I decided to print it out and send it via mail for a happy postal surprise. (I really ought to do that more often – now that I know how to do it). It was so simple. I just went to my photo of choice, hit print, and the XP-850 “knew” to print it on 4×6 photo paper. So smart.
Giveaway:
One Metropolitan Mama will receive an Epson Expression XP-850 Small-in-One Printer. ARV $299.99.
Enter:
Use the Rafflecopter form below to enter. Complete as many (or as few) tasks as you like.
* Thanks to Epson for providing two product samples – one for review and one for this giveaway.
print quality and price of ink
I care about print quality/resolution and how expensive the ink is.
Speed, cost of ink, quality. I like having a Quick Print feature for regular paper pages.
The number of pages per printing and size
I look for something that offers good quality prints and is easy to use.
How long the ink last, if it’s an e-printer, if it includes a scanner.
I look for a printer that offers quality picture prints! I’m wanting to upgrade since my last purchase was out of desperation and was a garage sale buy… LOL. It’s nice enough but this one would blow it out of the water!
I’m partial to laser printers since the ink doesn’t dry out and you can get a lot of prints before you have to refill the “ink”. Now that I’ve officially started homeschooling (at my 5 yr old’s insistence) I would really like to have a color printer.
I look for a printer that prints good quality pictures.
Honestly it has been years since we have owned a printer at home – if we need to print something we head to work! That being said this printer sounds awesome. I love the idea of being able to print out quality pictures at home and mailing them off to the grandparents.
I have never bought a printer before and boy, do I need one! We are in the midst of homebuying and I’ve spent a small fortune at the office supply store printing paperwork!
How clearly it prints and how expensive the ink is
speed, cost of ink
How the ink adheres to the paper – Epson is the best with this feature
I would definitely say the cost of ink is the most important thing to me.
cost per print, plus I prefer it to be able to print in grayscale to save money since black ink is almost always a lot cheaper!
cost of ink, how many pages it prints with each refill, size of printer, speed of printer, inkjet or laser, color or black/white
The cost of the ink is most important to me.
I want a printer with re fillable ink cartridges.
I look for how much the ink costs for it! Some are so expensive
The cost of ink.
Print quality and reliability are the most important things. My current printer is a total dud on both counts!
I care about the cost of ink, ease of use, and wi-fi printing capabilities! I have WAY too many pictures that would make great mail surprises, and I’d love to be able to do more of that!
I care about the quality and the cost of the ink!
I think reliability is so important and I’m a little impatient so fast printing is also a major plus.
My kiddos are the same, they are always asking me to print more coloring pages. I am a homeschool mama so I use a printer a lot as well.
Also, I love that this printer can print photos from your iphone. How great would that be?
I have an older Epson…they make quality printers…I would love a newer model!!
The photo to coloring sheet is amazing! My girls would absolutely wear that feature out.
reliability!
I just started looking into new printers..ours is dying…so I’m kinda looking at all the details!
I care most about print quality, and the cost of replacement ink cartridges. Those things are pricey!
whether or not it is laser or inkjet
Print quality and affordable printer refills
That it is easy to refill the ink, not to expensive to refill and easy to use. I also like mine to be wireless.
I am looking for ease of use and print quality. Also, that the ink doesn’t cause an arm and a leg!
I actually care most that the ink is affordable and doesn’t run out in a month… :) I would like to get one with a scanner too, but beggars can’t be choosers…
I care about quality of printing (for pictures, etc) and price of ink! I had a great printer once, but the ink was sooooo expensive.