Epson PictureMate Pal PM 200

This is one of the few photo-only printers we included in this buyer's guide primarily because it offers easy hook-up for printing from memory cards, cameras and even camera-equipped mobile phones, without even turning your computer on. Images are printed onto special paper stock using a process that creates photos that are smudge, scratch, water and fade resistant for passing from hand to hand. Paper stock also comes in matte and glossy options, but print cartridges and photo paper must be purchased together. Combo packs retail for about $38 for about 150 glossy photos and $33 for about 100 matte pictures.

Because this printer only handles photos up to a 4x6" format, it's more compact than most.

This printer uses four ink colors (CMYb) with 90 nozzles for each color, and offers maximum resolution of 5760x1440 dpi for color photos. It can print a borderless 4x6 photo in as little as 60 seconds. Memory cards supported include compact flash, SD, SDHC, MiniSD, MicroSD, MMC, Memory Stick (Pro, Duo and MagicGate), Microdrive and xD-Picture card. Cameras and cell phones must support either PictBridge or USB direct print to attach these devices for direct printing on the PictureMate Pal PM200.

The PictureMate Pal PM200 works with Windows 98SE, 2000, Me, XP and Vista, as well as Mac OS X 10.2.8 through 10.3.9 or later versions. Epson includes Arcsoft and Photoimpression photo editing software for these operating systems as part of the bundle included with this photo printer, which normally retails for around $100 (a $20 rebate is available for this product as we write this story).

As a photo-only printer, this unit is compact with dimensions of 8.5" x 6.0" x 5.7" (21.59cm x 15.24cm x 14.48cm; when knocked down for storage) or 8.5" x 13.3" x 10.3" (21.59cm x 33.78cm x 26.16cm; when set up for printing). It also weighs a relatively modest 5.3 pounds (2.4 kg). On the downside, its small paper tray can only accommodate 20 pages of photo paper at any given moment.