For years, I found myself trapped in the frustrating cycle of endlessly buying expensive ink cartridges. It was a constant drain on my budget, and just when I needed to print something important, I’d invariably run out of a crucial color. This problem needed a serious solution, as the complications of not having a reliable, cost-effective printer for my home office meant delayed projects, missed deadlines, and a general sense of inefficiency. If only I had known about the Epson EcoTank ET-4700 earlier; it would have saved me countless headaches and a significant amount of money.
- This refurbished product is tested and certified to look and work like new. The refurbishing process includes functionality testing, basic cleaning, inspection, and repackaging. The product ships with...
Key Considerations Before Investing in a New Printer
Before diving into any printer purchase, it’s essential to reflect on your specific needs and how a device will integrate into your daily life or workspace. Printers solve a multitude of problems, from churning out important documents and reports to preserving cherished memories through photo prints, or even digitizing old paperwork with scanning capabilities. Someone would typically seek out a new printer because their old one is too slow, too expensive to run, lacks modern connectivity, or simply has ceased to function reliably.
The ideal customer for a printer in the EcoTank category, like the Epson EcoTank ET-4700, is someone who prints frequently and is acutely aware of the ongoing cost of ink. This includes small business owners, students, work-from-home professionals, or even large families who generate a lot of printouts. They prioritize long-term savings on consumables over a lower initial purchase price. If you print hundreds of pages a month, an EcoTank model will likely pay for itself in ink savings alone.
Conversely, this specific printer might not be for everyone. If you print very rarely—perhaps only a few pages a month—the higher upfront cost of an EcoTank might not be justified, and a cheaper, traditional cartridge-based inkjet could suffice, provided you don’t mind replacing cartridges infrequently. Furthermore, while the ET-4700 is a versatile inkjet printer, it’s not designed for professional-grade photo printing, so avid photographers needing gallery-quality prints might be better served by a dedicated photo printer with more advanced color profiles and specialized inks.
When considering a purchase, think about connectivity (do you need Wi-Fi, Ethernet, or just USB?), the type of print quality you require (crisp text for documents versus vibrant, accurate colors for photos), whether you need scanning and copying functionalities, the physical size of the printer to fit your space, and of course, the total cost of ownership, not just the initial price tag.
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Introducing the Epson EcoTank ET-4700
The Epson EcoTank ET-4700 Inkjet Printer is a remarkable all-in-one device designed to liberate users from the endless cycle of ink cartridge purchases. Its core promise is ultra-low-cost printing, achieved through its innovative refillable ink tank system, which comes with enough ink to print thousands of pages right out of the box. This particular unit, being a refurbished product, is tested and certified to function like new, and typically ships with all relevant accessories, though it may arrive in a generic box, a small trade-off for the potential savings.
Compared to traditional cartridge printers, the ET-4700 stands in a league of its own, offering significantly lower running costs that make its initial investment worthwhile for many. It’s a successor in the EcoTank line, building on Epson’s commitment to economical printing. This specific EcoTank printer is ideally suited for home offices, students, or small businesses that require reliable document printing, occasional color prints, and convenient scanning and copying without the constant worry of ink depletion. It’s less suited for professional photographers seeking exhibition-quality photo prints, as its strength lies in efficiency and cost-effectiveness for everyday tasks.
Here’s a quick rundown of its advantages and a few drawbacks:
Pros:
* Ultra-Low-Cost Printing: The refillable ink tanks drastically reduce per-page costs.
* All-in-One Functionality: Print, scan, copy, and fax capabilities for versatile use.
* Wireless & Ethernet Connectivity: Easy integration into home or office networks.
* Excellent Document Print Quality: Crisp, clear text and vibrant graphics for everyday needs.
* Compact Design: Fits comfortably in most workspaces.
Cons:
* Higher Upfront Cost: Initial purchase price is more than traditional cartridge printers.
* Photo Print Quality: Not on par with dedicated photo printers; colors can appear muted.
* Refurbished Status: While certified, some users might prefer a brand-new unit.
* Potential for Paper Handling Issues: A few users have reported paper jams or feeding problems.
Deep Dive into the ET-4700’s Capabilities
Having used the Epson EcoTank ET-4700 for an extended period, I can confidently share my insights into its core features and the tangible benefits they provide. This printer isn’t just a machine; it’s a solution to many common printing frustrations.
The Revolutionary Refillable Ink Tank System
This is, without a doubt, the flagship feature of the ET-4700 and the primary reason to consider it. Gone are the days of fiddling with tiny, expensive ink cartridges that seem to run dry at the most inconvenient times. The Epson EcoTank ET-4700 utilizes large, integrated ink tanks that you simply fill from bottles. Each bottle contains a substantial amount of ink, equivalent to many sets of traditional cartridges.
How it performs/feels: The refilling process is surprisingly clean and straightforward. Epson has designed the bottles with unique keys that fit only the corresponding color tank, preventing accidental spills or wrong fills. Once filled, the tanks are transparent, allowing you to easily monitor ink levels at a glance. It truly feels like a “set it and forget it” system for months, if not years, depending on your printing volume. The initial setup involves filling the tanks and letting the printer prime, which takes a few minutes, but after that, it’s smooth sailing.
Why this feature is important: The benefits here are colossal. Firstly, the most obvious advantage is the immense cost savings. The price per page plummets dramatically compared to cartridge-based printers. For someone like me, who prints extensively for work and personal projects, this translates into hundreds of dollars saved annually. Secondly, it offers incredible convenience. No more last-minute dashes to the store for ink or worrying if you have spares on hand. You’re always prepared. Thirdly, it’s significantly more environmentally friendly. Fewer plastic cartridges end up in landfills, aligning with a more sustainable lifestyle. This feature directly tackles the core problem of high ongoing printing costs and the hassle of ink management.
Print Quality: Documents and Everyday Color
The ET-4700 is an Inkjet printer with a maximum print resolution of 1200 x 1200 dpi, which is more than adequate for most home and small office tasks.
How it performs/feels: For black and white documents, the text is consistently crisp, sharp, and easy to read. Even small fonts retain their clarity. Color documents and graphics are vibrant and well-defined, making presentations, reports, and school projects look professional. I’ve printed numerous lengthy documents and even entire e-books, and the quality has been consistently impressive for text-heavy content. The print speed is also quite decent for an inkjet, ensuring you’re not waiting forever for larger jobs.
However, it’s crucial to manage expectations for photo printing. While it can certainly print photos, and for casual sharing or personal albums, they look fine, the color accuracy and depth aren’t on par with what a dedicated photo printer would offer. Colors, especially on glossy photo paper, can sometimes appear a bit muted or less vibrant than desired, lacking the rich saturation that professional photographers seek. This is a common trade-off for a multi-purpose, cost-effective inkjet system.
Why this feature is important: For the vast majority of users, strong document and graphic print quality is paramount. This ensures that business reports, school assignments, and daily printouts are legible and presentable. While its photo capabilities aren’t its strongest suit, for family snapshots or craft projects where exact color fidelity isn’t critical, it still delivers acceptable results. It successfully solves the need for reliable, high-quality output for everyday printing tasks.
Robust Connectivity Options
Modern printers need to integrate seamlessly into a connected world, and the Epson EcoTank ET-4700 offers solid options. It includes both Ethernet and Wi-Fi connectivity.
How it performs/feels: Setting up the printer on my home network via Wi-Fi was straightforward, allowing me to print from any device—laptop, tablet, or smartphone—within range. The Wi-Fi Direct feature is also handy for printing from devices without needing a router. For a more stable and potentially faster connection, especially in a small office environment with multiple users, the Ethernet port is a fantastic inclusion. I’ve found both connections to be reliable, with print jobs spooling quickly and outputting without lag. It also has a total of 1 USB port for direct connection to a PC, which is useful for initial setup or troubleshooting.
Why this feature is important: Versatile connectivity is vital for a modern workflow. Wi-Fi offers unparalleled convenience, allowing flexible printer placement and printing from mobile devices. Ethernet provides a more secure and stable connection, ideal for shared office networks where reliability is key. These options ensure that the printer can adapt to various network setups, making it accessible to multiple users and devices, thus enhancing overall productivity.
All-in-One Multifunctionality
The ET-4700 isn’t just a printer; it’s a complete office solution, combining printing, scanning, copying, and even faxing capabilities.
How it performs/feels: The flatbed scanner is excellent for digitizing documents, photos, and even thicker items like book pages. The resolution is good for archiving and creating digital copies. Copying is simple and intuitive, whether in color or black and white, and the results closely match the originals. The control method, via the LCD display and touch buttons, makes navigating these functions easy. The Automatic Document Feeder (ADF) for scanning and copying multiple pages is a huge time-saver for batch tasks.
Why this feature is important: Having all these functions in one compact device saves space, reduces clutter, and simplifies office tasks. Instead of needing separate machines for each function, the ET-4700 provides a centralized hub for document management. This is particularly beneficial for home users and small businesses with limited space, offering significant utility without a complex setup. It streamlines workflows, making tasks like digitizing receipts, copying forms, or sending faxes far more efficient.
Automatic Duplex Printing
This feature, often overlooked, is a significant convenience and cost-saver. The Epson EcoTank ET-4700 supports dual-sided, automatic duplex printing.
How it performs/feels: When you select duplex printing, the printer automatically flips the page to print on both sides, without any manual intervention required from you. It’s smooth and efficient, albeit slightly slower than single-sided printing due to the paper-flipping mechanism. The output is perfectly aligned on both sides, which is crucial for professional-looking documents.
Why this feature is important: Automatic duplex printing saves paper, which in turn saves money and is better for the environment. It also makes documents more compact and easier to handle, especially for multi-page reports or handouts. For students, educators, and anyone who prints extensive materials, this feature is invaluable for reducing paper consumption and promoting a more organized presentation of information.
Media Handling and Capacity
The ET-4700 handles a maximum media size of 8.5 x 47 inches, which is quite versatile, though its standard input tray holds 30 sheets, and the output tray 150.
How it performs/feels: For most standard printing needs (letter, legal, A4), the paper tray works flawlessly. The ability to handle long banners (8.5 x 47 inches) is a niche but welcome feature for specific creative projects. The 30-sheet Automatic Document Feeder (ADF) on top is a huge plus for scanning or copying multi-page documents, saving me from manually placing each sheet. I’ve found it generally reliable in feeding various paper types, though like any printer, it can occasionally struggle with very thick or glossy media if not loaded precisely.
Why this feature is important: Good media handling ensures the printer can adapt to various tasks. The ADF significantly boosts productivity for scanning and copying, transforming what could be a tedious chore into a quick process. While the main tray capacity of 30 sheets is adequate for daily use, it means you might need to refill more often for very large print jobs compared to printers with higher capacity trays.
Design, Usability, and Reliability
The Epson EcoTank ET-4700 has a compact footprint, measuring 16.5″D x 17.6″W x 12″H, and weighs 11 pounds. It features an LCD display for control.
How it performs/feels: The white finish gives it a clean, modern look that blends well in a home or office setting. The physical setup is straightforward, and the LCD display, controlled by touch buttons, is intuitive enough to navigate through the printer’s various functions. I appreciate its relatively quiet operation; it’s not silent, but the noise level during printing or scanning is certainly not disruptive. While generally reliable, I’ve noted a few instances, as some users have mentioned, of it occasionally having trouble with paper feeding, requiring a quick re-alignment of the stack. This isn’t a constant issue but something to be aware of, especially with a refurbished unit.
Why this feature is important: A compact design means it doesn’t monopolize valuable desk space. User-friendly controls simplify operation, reducing the learning curve. A quiet printer is a boon in shared workspaces or quiet home environments. While the occasional paper-feeding hiccup is a minor annoyance, the overall design and ease of use contribute to a positive long-term experience, making the printer a practical and manageable addition to any setup.
What Users Are Saying: Real-World Experiences
After scouring the internet for feedback, it’s clear that the Epson EcoTank ET-4700 garners strong opinions, both positive and negative, reflecting its unique position in the market. Many users absolutely rave about the significant cost savings on ink, often stating they would never go back to traditional cartridge printers. Sublimation enthusiasts, in particular, frequently praise its performance, noting its smooth operation and beautiful results for their creative projects, with some highlighting its ability to print up to 8.5 x 13 inches. However, a recurring point of contention is its photo printing capability. Several users have expressed disappointment with muted colors and a general lack of vibrancy when printing photographs, even on the highest quality settings, feeling that even cheaper printers performed better in this regard. A few individuals also reported encountering early hardware issues, such as paper feeding problems, which, while not widespread, indicate the importance of thorough testing, especially for a refurbished unit.
Final Thoughts on the EcoTank ET-4700
The age-old problem of exorbitant ink cartridge costs and the constant inconvenience of running dry needs a definitive solution for anyone who prints regularly. If you’re tired of throwing money away on ink and constantly battling an unreliable printer, the Epson EcoTank ET-4700 Inkjet Printer is a fantastic contender to solve that problem. With its revolutionary refillable ink tanks, you’ll experience unparalleled savings and freedom from ink anxiety. Its robust all-in-one functionality makes it a versatile workhorse for documents, scanning, and copying, perfect for a busy home or small office. For anyone seeking a dependable, cost-effective printer that genuinely delivers long-term value, this EcoTank model is a great fit. Stop the ink-cartridge cycle and start saving today. Click here to check it out and experience printing freedom.
Last update on 2025-09-11 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API