Epson Stylus Pro 3880 Ink Cartridges

Epson 3880 Printer Review

The Epson Stylus Pro 3880 is a large-format inkjet printer, but it doesn't take up the large amount of space of its full-sized cousins. Instead, it can print on media up to 17x24 inches in size, but its print speeds are a bit slow. Print quality is very impressive, however, thanks in part to the pigment-based Epson 3880 printer ink.

The 3880 measures 10x27x15 inches, which is pretty impressive considering its variety of paper handling and it weighs only 43.2 pounds without the Stylus Pro 3880 printer ink installed. The main top-loading paper tray can hold up to 120 sheets, and there are two other single-sheet manual feeders, one at the top and the other at the front. These give users options, especially when it comes to choosing a paper path with less bending, for heavy media. Reviewers noted disappointment that the printer can't handle paper rolls.

The 3880 comes with a USB 2.0 port, so it can be connected to a computer directly, and also includes an ethernet port for sharing it on a network. With its maximum print resolution of 2880x1440 dpi, it offers some of the sharpest print quality available for an inkjet in its price range.

Epson 3880 ink cartridges use dye-based inks that are rated to last for up to 200 years under the right storage conditions. The Stylus Pro 3880 ink cartridges are fairly affordable, but the fact that the system uses 8 colors can make it a little expensive to maintain. Buyers will do best to consider the cost of Epson 3880 ink a tradeoff for its stellar output quality.

The Epson 3880 can handle a variety of media types and sizes, and its quality is unmatched at the price, but users should be aware of its high running costs. Its speeds aren't overly impressive, but its network sharing abilities and multiple paper paths are very convenient.