Review - CP-88 Thermal CD Printer

[mikey]

The first thing I noticed about this unit is that there was a funky,
homemade, paper sticker on the front that said "CP-88". On the top of the
machine was "DISC TITLE PRINTER CW-50".

After a few Google searches, I came to realize that the "CP-88 Thermal CD
Printer" was a "Casio CW-50 CD Title Printer" with stickers covering the
model number and a large label on the back which obscures the manual disc
tray opening. I also found that my cheapest price for the CP-88 was $125 and
the CW-50 is going for around $85.



The so-called manual for the CP-88 is a backroom mimeographed copy that has
11 almost useless pages. The company "producing" these machines is Vinpower,
Inc. (http://ww.vinpower.net). Their web support consists of a FAQ and a
form to submit to obtain the nearest dealer. Casio's web site
(http://world.casio.com/ds/download/en/) offers a complete online 80 page
manual and a download of their latest software. I chose to install the Casio
Application software which has more options, although I needed to install
the CP-88 software first (with no restart) and then the CW-50 software to
get the correct driver to load.



The CP-88 does a fine job of printing on CDs and DVDs and I am pleased with
the quality of the printing. Different colored ribbons are available. The
ribbons that I ordered for the CP-88 were labeled CASIO TR-18xx, where xx =
color.



I feel as if I have been deceived and ripped-off by my purchase of the
CP-88. Spend less money and get a better deal by buying the Casio CW-50.

 

[Troy]

I got suckered into one of those also.I use Rimage thermal CD printers but
wanted to see what these CP 88 machines were all about.I payed $300.00 for
one when they first came out.I was pissed off when I found out about the CW
50.I sold it to my partner for $100.00.Vinpower can kiss my ass!!!!,they are
crooks.They sell overpriced machines that you can buy from other companies
for way less money.You should return it.I wish I could have.

Troy

 

[Troy]

By the way.....You can get a CW 50 for less than $85 on ebay.Sometimes you
can find used ones for real cheap.

 

[mikey]

I need to correct a portion of my review. I should have said:

"I chose to install the Casio Application software which has more options,
although I needed to install the Casio CW-50 software first (with no
restart) and then the CP-88 software to get the correct driver to load. You
then remove the install CD, turn off the computer, attach the printer, and
start computer. Do NOT put the install CD back in during the ADD HARDWARE
process. Let windows (XP anyway) find the driver."


You install the Casio CW-50 software FIRST and the CP-88 software next. I
was picking up an unsigned driver in Windows XP if I reversed the order.