Mid-February saw the release of Epson's new POS solution, the TM-T88V thermal printer, which is the latest in the highly successful TM-T88 POS series. This new printer offers some good features sure to stir the interest of loyal Epson customers, but does it have enough to draw new ones into the fold? Let's take a look.
One of the things Epson seems to be most proud of is that the T88V is the "only POS thermal receipt printer available today with ENERGY STAR qualified configurations", according to their press release. While the industry applauds the ENERGY STAR efforts of electronics manufacturers, I'm not sure how many business consumers make that a priority when looking for POS equipment. Nonetheless, Epson is committed to producing environmentally friendly machines.
Of highest importance for many POS users are durability and print speed. Epson products have a reputation for being reliable workhorses, but what catches my eye is the print speed which has been increased by 50% over its predecessor. Speed may not seem to be that important for what many perceive to be just a "cash register", yet for retailers with a heavy traffic flow, faster printing means faster flow. As a bonus, 16 levels of gray scale printing give the T88V a cleaner and crisper output.
Lastly, I'm intrigued by Epson's claim of an auto-cutter with a life of 2 million cuts. The bane of any POS system is the paper output, regardless of whether its a tear-off or auto-cut system. If the T88V's auto-cut system lives up to its claims of long life and the drop-in paper loading works without feeding or jamming issues, it may push this thermal printer over the top for many new customers. If you already use Epson POS solutions you'll feel right at home with the T88V; if not, now might be the time to give Epson a try.