Epson AcuLaser C2000

Epson's printer driver is a pleasure to use as not only does it offer plenty of useful features for controlling output quality, it even has an option for deciding whether the host PC or the printer itself carries out print-job processing. Epson's Status Monitor 3 can be accessed directly from the driver panel and it provides local users with plenty of information about consumables, which includes paper tray capacity, toner levels and helpfully even the remaining life of the photoconductor unit and fuser oil roll.

At such a low price point, the C2000 really has little competition. The Minolta-QMS magicolor 2 DeskLaser Plus (see Labs, issue 70, p141) does come in at under £1,000 but it fails to deliver in the speed and manageability stakes. Epson won't be beating HP for colour output quality but, as a general office workhorse, the AcuLaser C2000 certainly looks like a good candidate.

Author: Dave Mitchell