Printers/Scanners

Personal laser printers are now available at sub £100 price points. One example is the LaserJet 1018 from HP.

This is an All In One that has a massive TFT display so for those not using a PC they can still copy and print without having to compromise.

Certainly a multi function unit, in fact I would say this was a fax that can scan, copy and print. It looks like a fax and even has a phone handset attached.

This is a multi function unit, meaning it has a scanner, it can copy, it can print and it can also send and receive faxes. An all in one cannot technically send/receive faxes.

While a general purpose printer can handle many tasks, sometimes a specialist printer would be more appropriate.

This is a printer that can be four or six inks. When the black is not in use it fits in it’s own little space inside the unit ready to be quickly swapped with the photo cartridge. However this unit is far more than a standard photo printer.

In an effort to cover as many options as possible, Lexmark has released the X8350 Multi-Function Device.

This is quite a stylish looking All In One device not at all boxy and best of all it has good connectivity for those who like to work away from a PC

This is a small All In One product that can either be a USB or network device. Not as small as the DCP 315-CN (24/4/06) but it does have some of the same problems.

I think this is the first colour laser printer that has fitted in the review space between my two PC’s, all the inkjets and multi functions fit there as do most mono lasers but unit now colour lasers sit in the office doorway.

This is a basic three ink printer in the supplied form, however it does not mean it is not capable of good image quality.

This is a 15x10cm photo printer and also comes with a digital camera. The camera has rechargeable batteries and takes power from the docked position on the printer.

Dimension wise this ‘All in One’ is tiny, weight wise it is very light, however despite some interesting translation software as a printer it can be very slow.

Very similar to look at as the 3310 but without the ability to connect wirelessly and in it’s favour probably around £70 cheaper.

This is a multi function unit, however for some reason – even though it has a Fax – HP decide to call it an All In One, this is normally saved for units without the Fax.

The rise in the popularity of digital photography has seen the introduction of personal photograph printers such as the Photosmart 385.

Whilst network inkjet printers are not rare, Wireless Network ones are, this offering supports wired and wireless networks and of course USB.

Not every document needs colour. For medium and heavy duty work, a laser printer can be the preferred option.

Printers tend to remain in one location. However the HP DeskJet 460 has other ideas.

This is even smaller than the Selphy I looked at on 2/1/06. It is a rather different unit perhaps the word ‘basic’ would be applicable.

This is not just another 15x10 photo printer, it can print far longer ‘Panorama’ and even 18x13cm images, these images require you only to insert the paper nothing else.

Printing labels need not tie up the resources of your computer and main printer. Instead why not consider a dedicated label printing device.

This is more than an All In One but less than a Multi Function unit, confused? The difference between the two is that Multi Function units send and receive faxes, this can ‘sort of’ send them.

Combining print, scan and copy facilities in a single device is becoming increasingly popular. The Brother DCP-120C is one example.

So what is Selphy, it is a photo printer that prints 15x10cm images. Like most other inkjet manufacturers Canon have a unit, however in shape anyway is rather different.

Why wait until you get back to base to print your digital images when there are portable photo printers around?

This is a multi function unit – as it has a fax – but it is not an inkjet, a multi function colour laser that prints as fast in colour as it does in black (sic).

This HP inkjet printer is quite wide but the depth makes you think surely this cannot print A4 it does and for good measure it’s borderless, however this is also a rapid unit.

This is a Multi Function Machine – as opposed to an All In One – simply as it also has a fax built in, so it’s a printer, scanner, copier and fax in a single unit.

Judgement of printers is not just about image quality but also running costs. HP’s 5440 model veers towards image quality.