Review: Fuji Xerox DocuPrint CM205 fw

I print from my iPhone

 

Send images from iOS device direct to printer, thanks to the Fuji Xerox DocuPrint CM205 fw - if you can get it installed ...

by Edric Sng

04:45 AM Jan 25, 2012

 

The Fuji Xerox DocuPrint CM205 fw.

 

 

HAVE you ever wished you could print a website you were browsing on your iPhone or iPad? With the Fuji Xerox DocuPrint CM205 fw, now you can.

This is a 4-in-1 multifunction device that includes colour printing, scanning, photocopying and fax functions, all in a 410x389x337.5mm body. No, the printer is not the smallest around, but it's compact enough given its features and quality.

Hooking up the printer to a computer via USB is straightforward - no different from installing any other printer - but I found installing the printer for wireless use a hassle. You need to first connect the printer to a PC or laptop via USB to set up wireless printing. For users who bought a wireless printer just so their computers aren't tethered to the printer, this just doesn't make sense.

That's not all. Setting up your wireless network on the printer requires you to manually key in your wireless network's information during installation as the machine is unable to automatically detect available networks. Users also have to recall the type of encryption their network uses, which can overwhelm the less informed user.

Post-installation, I ended up with four new printers to select from, all with similar names, and only two of the four options allowed me to print wirelessly.

Installation aside, I found using the DocuPrint CM205 fw simple enough. Text was rendered crisp and clear, and colour prints came out impressively vibrant and detailed thanks to the printers' 1200x2400 dpi print resolution and Fuji Xerox's S-LED Printing technology. Scans and photocopies are also quick and detailed. For your office purposes you can't go wrong with the DocuPrint CM205 fw, but for its size the lack of auto-duplexing seems peculiar.

The Fuji Xerox DocuPrint CM205 fw also has an app for iOS, the Fuji Xerox Print & Scan Utility (Small Office). Available for free on iTunes, this app allows you to use your iOS devices to print from the DocuPrint CM295 fw as long as they are both on the same wireless network.

Sending photos from my iPhone 4s to the printer took slightly more than 80 seconds, and print quality was the same as normal printing, but you only have a few output sizes to choose from. You can also print contacts from your contact list, which comes out in a pre-formatted table. Webpages can be printed too, but you need to manually enter the URL of the website into the app.

Strangely, there is no way to print email attachments like word documents or PDF files.

With the app, you can also scan images to be sent directly to your phone. No more scanning an image to your computer to email to yourself! The data transfer here is almost instantaneous and the scans are detailed, going up to 300dpi.

On paper, the DocuPrint CM295 fw sounds like a great idea, especially with the great print and scan quality. However, the quirks during installation and the inability to print anything other than photos, contacts and webpages limit the uses for the printer.

The Fuji Xerox DocuPrint CM295 fw is available at major retailers for S$649. Edric Sng

Source: www.todayonline.com/TechandDigital/EDC120125-0000009/I-print-from-my-iPhone