Epson Unveils Printers For SMB, Education

Epson America launched two inkjet color printers for the small-business and education markets this week, the Epson B-300 and the B-500DN.

The printers will be sold through small-business and education resellers starting in September.

"Budget cuts are affecting various industries across the country, but public schools and small businesses have been hit especially hard recently," said Anna Jen, director of business development, Epson America Inc., Long Beach, Calif., in a statement. "Epson is pleased to offer the Epson B-300 and B-500DN printers to deliver extraordinary cost efficiency and nearly effortless maintenance."

The Epson B-300 can print up to 37 draft pages per minute and uses high-yield ink cartridges. Cost per page averages less than a cent and a half for black and white and 5 cents per color page, according to the company. Additional features include a rear sheet feeder, optional duplexer for double-sided printing and an auto-nozzle check system to prevent clogging. The B-300 should retail for about $329 when it hits the streets this fall.

The B-500DN is being marketed for both cost-sensitive education and small-business users with a price-per-page cost of 1 cent for black-only and 3 cents for color pages, according to Epson. Ethernet connectivity allows it to network in classroom or office environments. Like the B-300 it can print up to 37 draft pages per minute and has duplex printing capabilities. Designed for high-volume environments, it can print up to 20,000 pages per month. The B-500DN will retail for about $549.

Epson's business inkjet printers have a one-year limited warranty and are available through Epson's retail site and other retailers in addition to through channel partners.