Product Reviews

Printers

Epson EPL5700L [Computer Buyer]
COMPANY: Epson	PRICE: 169.00 (�198)
RATING:	ISSUE: 108 DATE: May 00

Verdict: Decent print quality that belies its low price, though output is very slow for a laser printer.

Epson's EPL5700L is the latest in a long line of capable printers. The 5700L adds USB, and comes in quite a lot cheaper than its predecessor at �169 - one of the cheapest around. Its front-mounted paper tray and minimal control panel make a stylish statement on your desk.

Ease of use

Installation using USB is simple, as long as you remember to reboot. Thereafter, you just set everything to the best settings and let the driver get on with it. Paper jams

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(of which there are very few) are easily cleared.

Print Quality

Text at an enhanced 1200dpi resolution is crisp, with good blacks. Greyscale shows some tartanning and a few streaks, but handles the tricky bits of our tests very well.

Performance

At 203 seconds for the complex single-page tests, the Epson props up the rest of the group - even slower than the Tally. Bizarrely, it fares particularly badly with our plain text test, taking 20 seconds longer than the next slowest to complete the five-page test.

Overall

Angular styling and decent paper-handling, coupled with a solid construction, make the 5700L feel like a sound printer. It's just a shame its performance is comparatively slow. Still, at the price - �25 to �30 less than the next cheapest, depending on where you shop - you can forgive this weakness. Running costs aren't bad, either, and our experience of its predecessor suggests it will enjoy a long and reliable life. A good choice if you can't afford the superior HP 1100.

By - David Dorn

SPECIFICATIONS:
USB and Parallel interface, 1200dpi with resolution enhancement (600dpi without), 150 sheet tray. Paper weights allowed: 60-157gsm. Dimensions: 397x463x251mm (wdh). Toner: Costs �55 and lasts for 6,000 pages (0.91p per page). Drum: Costs �42 and lasts for 20,000 pages (0.21p per page).