Epson Stylus Photo R2880

Most reviews describe the Epson Stylus Photo R2880 as an upgrade of the discontinued Epson Stylus Photo R2400 because it is faster and does a better job on color photo prints. But its hallmark is still what reviews describe as phenomenal black-and-white photo prints, partly because there are three black ink cartridges. A major annoyance, however, is the need to manually switch cartridges for matte and glossy prints, reviews say. And some experts say that messy process also results in ink waste. More pluses include the ability to print from rolls of paper and print directly on CDs or DVDs designed for that purpose. If you don't want to spend so much, we found good reviews for the mid-range Epson Stylus Photo 1400 (*Est. $275), though monochrome output isn't as notable.

The Epson Stylus Photo R2880 receives fewer reviews from mainstream sources. Printerville.net is relatively new, but reviewer Rick LePage has covered printers extensively for Macworld and his expertise ranks first on the Epson Stylus Photo R2880 coverage. We also found helpful reviews at PDNGearGuide.com. Some of the owner reviews at Amazon.com say the Epson Stylus Photo R2880 guzzles ink, but professionals say it's about average after testing ink use.