Epson Stylus CX5500

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There are plenty of basic inkjet multifunction printers (MFP) on the market currently, and choosing one is not an easy task when most of them share similar specifications. This is why price plays an important role. The Epson Stylus CX5500 is probably one of the most affordable models in the entry-level class and offers a good array of ink cartridge choices. However, its standalone functions are somewhat limited so that may deter potential buyers.

Upside

In the past, entry-level color inkjet printers relied on a black and a combined color ink cartridge system, but the Epson Stylus CX5500 has slots for four different ink cartridges. That means users need only replace those which are drained instead of changing an combined color cartridge which may still have other remaining tones.

The CX5500 will appeal to students and light users who don't print heavy loads.
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To give users more ink choices, there are two options: Standard (S$15 (US$10.80)) and low-cost (S$9.90 (US$7.13)). The former gives more page yield, while the latter is cheaper but prints approximately 70 less pages. What is also thoughtful of Epson is that consumers can mix-and-match the cartridges. So if you print more documents, you can opt for the standard black ink cartridge and the low-cost version for colors.

Compared with Canon's equivalent, the Pixma MP145, the CX5500 has a higher maximum print resolution of 5,760 x 1,440 dots per inch (dpi) compared with its competitor's 4,800 x 1,200dpi.

The most attractive feature about the CX5500 is probably its cost. At S$148 (US$106.56), it is one of the more affordable multifunction printers on the market today.

Downside

Even though the CX5500 is an entry-level model, there are some aspects of it which we felt were lacking. For standalone copying, users can make only one copy at a time. This can be hassle if you need to print materials for project mates. Also, as the Epson doesn't have an additional USB port for flash drives, a computer is still needed for the scanning function. Overall, we felt the standalone function is somewhat compromised, but that is probably because the printer belongs to the entry-level class.

Outlook

If you're on a tight budget, the CX5500 would be an almost perfect choice--that is, if you are not a fussy user. We think the biggest advantage the Epson has over other similar machines would be its choice of cartridges and the ability to use both standard and low-cost options. If you don't require extensive standalone operation and don't print heavy loads, the CX5500 may be a good choice.