We list some of our favorite multi-function printers based on price, performance and utility.
Do you remember the days when your home office seemed cluttered with equipment? There was the printer, the copier, and the scanner — the last of which seemed to cause endless problems. But thankfully, that time is now ancient history. The new generation of the all-in-one printer combines everything into one unit that can do everything except make your morning coffee (although that may be in the works). These multi-function units not only cut down on space, which is a boon in every house, they’re supremely functional pieces of gear. We present five of our favorites.
HP Photosmart C3180
HP didn’t mess about with the Photosmart, which combines all the general features of an all-in-one, being able to scan, print, and copy. But it can also print photos directly from a Memory Card (Secure Digital/MultiMediaCard, CompactFlash, Memory Stick, Memory Stick Duo, and xD-Picture Card supported), with the ability to edit pictures on your PC with the included software. For printing, you get 22 pages per minute in black and white and 20 in color (draft mode). The scan resolution is up to 1,200 dpi with optical, or 19,200 dpi enhanced, with a maximum size of 8.5″ x 11″, and the paper tray can hold 100 sheets of paper, 20 transparencies, 20 labels, 20 cards, or 10 envelopes. At 17.1″ deep x 23.1″ wide x 6.4″ high, it doesn’t take up a lot of room, and weighing just over 11 pounds, it’s easily moved when you reconfigure your office. The HP Photosmart has a streetprice of around $100 USD. Compare Prices.
Canon PIXMA MP600
A bit more expensive, this offering from Canon aspires to be the Escalade of all-in-ones. It does everything you’d expect and quite a bit more. With a Bluetooth adapter, you can print from a Bluetooth device as far away as another room (handy if you have a picture on your phone). The printer controls are on a scroll wheel (not unlike an MP3 player), and there’s a 2.5″ TFT display where you can preview before printing. With the “Click-Connect” feature, you can use your PictBridge-ready digital camera or camcorder, then connect and print the image. You can also print from Memory Cards (xD-Picture Card, Memory Stick Duo, Memory Stick Pro Duo, and miniSD Card). The scanner will give you 2,400 x 4,800 dpi optical and 19,200 x 19,200 enhanced, with a maximum size of 8.5″ x 11″. At 17.7″ x 15.3″ x 7.6″ it’s not big, but it’s a hefty little beast, weighing in at just over 22 pounds. The Canon PIXMA MP600 can be found for under $200 USD. Compare Prices.
Brother MFC-240C
Think of the Brother as the dependable mid-priced Chevy of all-in-ones. It’s not flashy, but it does what it says on the tin. Mac and PC compatible, it has a good print speed (25 ppm black and white, 20 color in draft mode), a 100 sheet front loading tray, and a useful 10 page automatic document feeder. The controls are easy to figure out and use, and of course, you can print from Memory Cards (Memory Stick, xD PictureCard Types M and H, CompactFlash and SecureDigital). The copy speed is outstanding (18 per minute in black and white, 16 in color), and you can control the copy size in one percent increments from 25% to 400% — a very nifty feature. The scan resolution compares with the best, and unlike the other all-in-ones here, it also boasts a 14.4 Kbps high-speed fax modem. It’s 15.7″ x 14.6″ x7.1″ and weighs 17.4 pounds — again, mid-size. The Brother MFC-240C will set you back about $100 USD. Compare Prices.
Lexmark X1270
Think of this as the entry level, no-frills model from Lexmark. It’s cheap and cheerful, and it won’t print your photos directly. But unless you need that ability, this will probably serve your home needs. It’s not fast, just 10 ppm ink jet printing for black and white and three for color (10 and one for copying). The scan resolution is very fair, 600 x 1,200 dpi optical and 9,600 dpi enhanced, although it won’t win any prizes. The tray will hold 100 sheets of paper and prints a handsomely wide range of media. It’s certainly not built for heavy duty usage, with a recommended maximum of 2,000 pages per month, but for many home users that’s more than enough. So long as you don’t go in with unreasonably high expectations (it’s a Kia, not a BMW), you should be fine. The Lexmark X1270 can be found for under $50.00 USD. Compare Prices.
Epson Stylus CX7800
Epson’s entry into the all-in-one market compares very favorably. There’s direct photo printing with card slots to support a full range, like CF Types I & II, Memory Stick/PRO/Duo (with adapter), MagicGate, SmartMedia, SD and MiniSD (with adapter), MMC, MicroDrive, and xD Picture Card, or you can print from a PictBridge-enabled camera. There’s a 1-½” color monitor on the printer, and one nifty little feature is that you can make copies in color or black and white directly, without the need to control from the PC. The prints speeds are excellent (20 ppm black and white, 19 color in draft mode), and the scanning is 1,200 dpi optical. At 17″ x 16.26″ x 7.83″ and a hair over 21 pounds, it’s not a lightweight, but it can handle everything you need. Expect to spend around $200 USD for the CX7800. Compare Prices.
