These pages will bring you a step by step review of the P2100 printer, I will be updating the pages frequently. If you have any questions or would like me to try out a function for you, then use the Forum under the heading interactive review. A full compilation review will be published at the end of the review period. I will endeavour to keep up with the questions. For our international friends, photo-i is based in the UK (GM Time). Enjoy!

18 June 2002.
Please keep your question in the Forum - I have received many e-mails (always nice to get them), but others can't share the information. Thanks.

The first thing that strikes me, is what a massive box the 2100 comes in. I suppose it could come in handy for a dog basket afterwards - must get a dog.

Exterior	Interior

The Box Contents.

Working my way down from the top layer:

7 cartridges (Cyan, Light Cyan, Magenta, Light Magenta, Yellow, Light Black and Photo Black - No Matte Black, must get on to Epson); Power Cable but no interface cable (USB or Firewire); 2 blank Sony CDs (for CD printing, only available on the 2100 and not the 2200); a TDK blank CD; Printer software CD and online guide (Mac & Windows); Installation booklets (French, Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, German, Netherlands and English); plus a set of sample prints on Matte, Watercolour, Glossy and Premium Semigloss surfaces (I will scan these in later for you, at first glance the Archival Matte paper looks great).

A cleaning sheet for cleaning the printer rollers; the Gray Balancer reference chart (this is in a very flimsy foil wrapper and seems to have suffered quite badly from rough handling). There is also a selection of papers enclosed, although I don't think these will be supplied with the consumer package - we get all the perks! The papers enclosed are; 5 sheets of Premium Semigloss, 5 sheets Archival Matte (both A4), this may be what you get. There is also a selection of A3 papers Glossy Photo Weight, Archival Matte, Premium Semigloss and a further selection of similar A4 papers. Finally, there is a roll of Premium Semigloss paper 100mm x 8mm.

Finally, the hardware consisting of: the P2100 printer; paper support; roll paper holder; automatic paper cutter unit; photo catcher; a small white tongue which has the title cleaning kit; CD-R tray with print position software CD and an 8mm CD-R support.

Setting up.

As with most printers I have reviewed there is an abundance of packaging, cling film and tapes etc. my office looks like a bomb has hit it. All the protective packaging must be removed before going any further. On the desk with the paper tray extended, this printer is big - you are going to need a lot of space to work this one. The dimensions are - Storage (L x W x H): 13" x 24.3" x 8.2", Printing (L x W x H): 34.1" x 24.3" x 15.4"; weight 25.7lb.

with paper tray extended	next to an Epson 875 DC (A4)

Following the Epson instruction sheet in order, I have chosen to use the USB port for the initial setting up of the printer and software drivers. Later on in the test period I will compare both USB and Firewire for speed difference etc.

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