Being an inkjet printer capable of taking plain A4 paper, the USB and parallel port-equipped Epson Stylus Color 870 Photo can be used as a document printer as well as for printing photos. It's not the fastest or sharpest in its class for ordinary document printing, but it's perfectly adequate.

However, as a photo printer, the 870 continues and exceeds the enviable reputation of its class-leading predecessor, the 750 Photo. Colour accuracy and tonal reproduction are first class. The 1440x720dpi piezo-electric print head is capable of firing droplets which become virtually invisible when using Epson's special glossy photo paper. There is also a total absence of banding.

The 870 is also very fast as it is capable of printing bi-directionally even in high quality print mode. A 6x4 inch print takes under 90 seconds. A print that fills most of an A4 sheet is completed in less than three and a half minutes. Epson fans will also be pleased to hear that the 870 is a lot less noisy than the old 750.

Only one inkjet printer on the market comes close the 870 in photo terms - Canon's BJC-8200 Photo (here's one we reviewed earlier). The Canon can match the Epson for tonal quality and fineness of grain, but the 870's speed, colour reproduction and contrast are better. The 870 is also substantially cheaper to buy. Running costs should be pretty similar, though the waste-conscious will welcome the Canon's separately replaceable ink tanks.