The Epson Stylus C88 is a mixed bag. Although it's not classified as a photo printer, it's actually better at printing photos than standard documents. If you need to create banners, then this is your printer. The C88 can print banners up to 44 inches long, a feat that is unmatched by just about any other inkjet printer.

The C88's price is quite reasonable, although when weighed against its output quality, it doesn't seem like such a bargain. The package also doesn't include a cable, although that's not unusual, especially for a low-cost printer. The C88 does offer four separate ink tanks, which is attractive to individuals on a tight budget. You can replace individual colors as needed, rather than throw out the whole batch just because you've used up all the magenta.

Output quality isn't terrible, but it is a little disappointing. Black text and line art tends to lean slightly toward gray, rather than being the rich black you would expect from a printer that uses a separate black ink cartridge. Photos printed on specialty photo papers are good to above average, but photos and other color graphics printed on standard paper are subject to some banding and graininess. On the bright side, the C88 uses Epson's DURABrite Ultra Inks that, while a little pricier than standard inks, are also fade-resistant, as well as water- and smudge-resistant.

The C88 has a 120-sheet paper feeder and a 30-sheet output tray. The trays are flimsy, although not notably more so than many printers in this price range. Print speeds for both color and monochrome output are about average to slightly below average.

Overall, the C88 isn't a bad choice if you want to squeeze a general-purpose printer into a meager budget, particularly if print longevity is more important than print quality, and the long-term cost of consumables is an important factor.

Pro: Reasonable price. Lightweight and compact design. Four ink cartridges save money by allowing you to replace individual colors as needed. Can print banners up to 44 inches long. Inks are light-, water-, and smudge-resistant.
Con: Print quality on standard paper is only average. No memory card slots. No support for connecting to PictBridge-compatible cameras.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

EPSON America, Inc.
3840 Kilroy Airport Way
Long Beach, CA 90806
562-981-3840
http://www.epson.com

Warranty
1 year, limited