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Ease of Use (7.00)
The extensive menu, large LCD, and simple control panel make the Panasonic KX-PX20 a very easy compact printer to use. The menu is mostly intuitive. It’s very compact and easy to carry, although the lack of a carrying handle, as is found on the Sony FP90, is unfortunate. Unlike the Canon models, the Panasonic PX20 isn’t equipped with a battery, optional or otherwise, which would make this a truly portable and versatile printer.
Value (2.00)
For the money, users can do much better with other compact photo printers, dye sub or inkjet. The expensive cost per print and poor image quality alone makes this a poor buy next to models such as the Sony FP90 and The Epson PictureMate Flash. But the lack of wireless compatibility, single memory card slot, and lack of optional battery go well beyond this to make the PX20 simply not worth the cost, unless the consumer is wed to Panasonic products.
Comparisons
 With a very similar design, the Sony DPP-FP90 beats out the Panasonic PX20 in many categories, including image quality, cost per print, and media card compatibility. The FP90 even adds a carrying handle. Menu options may be a little more limited than the on the PX20, but the FP90’s print quality is slightly better. Both printers feature a large, 3.6" LCD display, but the Sony FP90’s screen folds down face up, while the PX20’s screen folds down face down, protecting the screen.
 The Epson PictureMate Flash (PM280) sells for the same price, but the infinitely better print quality and host of features puts the PX20 to shame. The PM280 boasts a resolution of 5760 x 720 dpi, as opposed to the PX20’s (and most other dye subs’) 300 x 300 dpi resolution. True, the PX20 has a large 3.6" LCD screen compared to the smaller 2.5" preview screen on the PM280, but this is a small price to pay. The PM280 features multiple media slots and wireless sensor as well as a PictBridge connection and CD/DVD drive for accessing images. The CD/DVD drive is also a burner for saving images. Users can clear their memory cards for continued shooting by saving the images to CDs.
 At, $149, the Canon Selphy CP730 will save consumers some money over the PX20 with little change in print quality. However, users will have to endure the very difficult to see and small LCD screen which is embedded in the printer. One area where the CP730 has the other dye subs (Sony FP90 and Panasonic PX20) beat is the optional battery. This is a feature that should be standard on these compact photo printers, but only Canon and Epson seem to get that.
 For a notch up in price, the Canon Selphy ES1, selling for $249, improves over the other models with 300 x 600 dpi resolution and an optional battery and Bluetooth adapter. It accepts multiple media cards. Its self-contained design features a paper and ink pack that are bundled together for one easy installation. There is no separate paper cassette to attach every time you need to print. Like other Canon compact printers, it comes with a carrying handle. The PX20 has it beat in just one area—the larger 3.6" LCD display compared to the ES1’s 2.5" screen.
 Another dye sublimation printer for $199, the HiTi S400 presents a unique design to the compact printer market. Like the Selphy ES1, it stands upright. Unlike any other compact printer, it features a corded remote control device with an LCD screen for previewing images and viewing the menu. Where the HiTi has the other dye subs beat is in print quality, featuring 403 x 403 dpi resolution. It has an automatically opening and closing output print tray door to reduce dust. The S400 also features auto image optimization. Although it isn’t hard to do better than the Panasonic PX20’s single media card compatibility, it should be noted that the HITi S400 has slots for multiple media cards. It is alos compatible with PIctBridge and USB devices.
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