HP DeskJet 880C

One of the 880C's few really novel features is its dual-interface support. In addition to the standard parallel connector, you'll find one of those increasingly familiar square USB ports round the back. However, connecting the unit via USB wasn't the euphoric experience it's supposed to be. When using the USB interface, HP's setup program insisted on installing a foreign language version of the drivers (I think it was Czech), but then after the usual reboot the unit refused to work. I eventually had to install the 880C as a parallel device and rerun the USB setup several times before I was able to get the thing running - and it still had the foreign language drivers. This teething problem aside, however, the 880C performed identically under USB and parallel port control. It's the printer itself, and not the interface, that is the limiting factor as far as speed is concerned.

There's no doubt that the 880C is capable, fairly fast and well-priced. But for the moment at least, HP won't be wresting the crown from Epson's hands.

Author: David Fearon