Print, scan, copy, fax -- an all-in-one machine that can handle these tasks efficiently is always going to be on the wish list of the budget-conscious shopper. Epson's Stylus CX5800F is a recent entry in the crowded field of multifunction, low-cost, color inkjet printers. At under $200, the 5800F brings four-function capability to your home office, and generally does a fine job of it.
Look and Feel
The 5800F is a plain-looking printer that won't turn many heads. Its silver-and-black color scheme is dignified yet generic, and all the printer's buttons are located to the left of the clamshell top. This model has a single line LCD display, uses four individual ink cartridges, and leaves a fairly small footprint at 18.2 x 13.5 x 7.0 inches.
Features
The Stylus CX5800F combines the functions of a printer, scanner, copier and fax machine. It has a maximum printable area of 8.5 x 44 inches and offers borderless printing for photos in three sizes (4 x 6, 5 x 7, 8 x 10) as well as for letter-size prints.
A card reader supports several formats including Compact Flash type I and II, MultiMediaCard, IBM  Microdrive xD-Picture Card, Sony Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro, Memory Stick Duo, MagicGate Memory Stick, SmartMedia, and Secure Digital.
Using the scanner and the built-in 33.6-kbps modem, you can send and receive faxes in color and black and white. You can also store up to 60 names and fax numbers in memory.
Performance
A lot of people complain about Epson inkjet printers because they are not as quiet as other brands. We have accepted the noise level in exchange for some of the best color images that we have seen out of an inkjet, and the Epson Stylus CX5800F is no exception. The 5,760 x 1,440 dpi resolution produces some pretty awesome pictures. You also get the advantage of Epson's DuraBrite Ink technology , which uses pigments that are insoluble in water to offer a smear-free image.
As far as speed goes, this model wouldn't win any awards. Epson claims the 5800F will print at up to 20 ppm (pages per minute) in black at its lowest resolution setting and up to 19 ppm in color. In our tests, we had results closer to 15 ppm in black and 10 ppm in color. Printing photos took some time as well -- about two minutes for a 4 x 6 inch print (photo mode, glossy photo paper) and three and a half minutes for an 8 x 10. (continued...)
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