Lacks autodial fax buttons, Bluetooth, and a dual paper input tray.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The HP Officejet Pro 8500 wireless makes a convincing inkjet argument for offices with a high volume of prints. With a function touch screen, multiple networking options, and an astoundingly fast print speed, it makes perfect sense to give this workhorse an Editors' Choice award.
Fast print speeds; two separate paper trays; easy wireless setup; comprehensive driver features; foolproof Smart Solutions widgets.
THE BAD
No Bluetooth support; expensive; auto-document feeder not adjustable.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The Lexmark Platinum Pro 905 is a fully capable all-in-one business device, but its touch screen might throw a wrench in your workflow. The Smart Solutions widgets add virtual customization to the control panel, but we wish Lexmark had retained a few hard buttons as well. As the top dog in the Lexmark printer family, the Platinum Pro 905 does the job, but the HP Officejet Pro 8500 Wireless does it better.
Fax, Copier, Printer, Scanner, Ink-jet, 4800 x 4800 dpi
THE GOOD
Prints high-quality color photos and documents; impressive output speed; attractive design; added extras like Quick Forms, ADF, and an integrated CD drive for custom prints.
THE BAD
Higher than average cost for black ink cartridge; minor omissions include a hinged scanner hood and speed-dial fax buttons.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The HP Photosmart Premium Fax All-in-One printer makes it easy to increase productivity thanks to its streamlined user interface. The fax, copy, print, and scanning features boast helpful extras like double-sided printing, wireless connectivity, separate photo trays, and quick-access control panel buttons, all while maintaining lab-quality photos and a low cost to print. We highly recommend this printer to anyone who can benefit from its multifunctionality.
Aside from a few design hang-ups and a slower than average output speed, the Lexmark X7675 Professional all-in-one printer is a cut above other multifunctional printers. Its excellent quality prints, easy-to-set-up wireless connectivity, and generous five-year warranty catapult it to the top of our list of favorites.
Copier, Printer, Scanner, Ink-jet, 2400 x 2400 dpi
THE GOOD
Fastest output speeds on any inkjet to date; outstanding print quality; compact footprint; inexpensive; robust driver options.
THE BAD
Higher-than-average cost per page; lacks creative software suite.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The Epson Stylus NX515 is a capable machine that will improve the efficiency of any office or work-at-home setup. Not only is it a lightning-fast all-in-one, but it also has a broader range of features than most other $150 AIOs. As long as you don't need a full creative software suite, the Epson Stylus NX515 will make a dependable sidekick to your computer.
Fax, Copier, Printer, Scanner, Ink-jet, 2400 x 4800 dpi
THE GOOD
Large 2.5-inch LCD; built-in memory card reader; stylish design; robust software suite; fast output.
THE BAD
Output quality can use improvement.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The Canon Pixma MX860's auto-document feeder, large LCD screen, and quick print speeds are sure to increase your productivity, but it also includes plenty of software to nourish your creative interests. At $199, this multifunctional printer earns our recommendation.
Inexpensive; includes auto-document feeder; robust software suite; 1.8-inch LCD; small footprint.
THE BAD
Spotty output quality; lacks media card reader.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The Canon Pixma MX330 doesn't produce the best quality prints, but you won't find a more versatile printer in the sub-$150 category. An auto-document feeder, 1.8-inch LCD screen, and easy-to-use features make it an excellent choice for creative homes on a budget.
Printer ships in recyclable bags; new design reflects modern aesthetic; comprehensive driver features; separate photo and paper trays automatically pick the right size for the job.
THE BAD
Onscreen apps take a long time to access and feel gimmicky; lacks autodocument feeder; slow response from touch screen; applications have a tendency to freeze up; small scanner bed.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Aside from the never-ending name, the HP Photosmart Premium TouchSmart Web All-in-One Printer looks good and prints high-quality photos at competitive speeds. We also appreciate the effort put into the downloadable applications for the interactive touch screen, but the innovation is offset by a hefty price tag. Unless Web connectivity and touch screens are a top priority, we recommend checking out HP's other multifunction printers, which still offer high performance but at a much lower cost.
Workgroup printer - Ink-jet - Color, Legal (8.5 in x 14 in), Workgroup printer, None, None, None, PC, Mac, 1 year warranty, USB, Ethernet
THE GOOD
Prints high-quality text and photos, fast print speeds compared with the competition, network ready.
THE BAD
No USB cord included, no LCD makes it difficult to troubleshoot.
THE BOTTOM LINE
We like the simplicity of the HP Officejet 6000 single-function inkjet printer. The print quality meets HP's high standards, and it outputs full color photos at an impressive rate, but its lack of an LCD screen takes some getting used to. Nevertheless, the HP Officjet 6000 performed well and earns our recommendation as a great single-function printer.
Inexpensive; dual output trays; fast output speed; painless Wi-Fi setup; comprehensive driver software; easy to use; small footprint.
THE BAD
Output quality will not satisfy professional photographers.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The HP Photosmart C6380 is a good fit for beginning photographers who want more than just a simple printer. Its six-ink cartridge bay, and scanning and copying capabilities extend its versatility, and while the output quality suffers a few missteps, the C6380 remains a worthwhile deal for the money.
Impressive print quality; fast output for color documents; high monthly duty cycle; comprehensive driver features and warranty; easy networking setup.
THE BAD
Slow black printing; no auto-duplexing; can't print directly from USB thumbdrive or digital camera; lacks wireless connectivity.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Although the HP CP2025n is rather slow to print black documents and is missing supplementary features such as USB-direct printing and wireless, the color laser shines in output quality, and the software holds your hand through a somewhat daunting learning curve. The CP2025n also has a high monthly duty-cycle, so we recommend it to anyone hunting for a workhorse printer to complement an equally diligent work environment.
Copier, Printer, Scanner, Ink-jet, 9600 x 4800 dpi
THE GOOD
Space-saving design; robust software; interactive LCD menu; dual-paper feeds; fast graphics and photo prints; auto-duplexer included.
THE BAD
Poor print quality; expensive; no fax machine; flimsy paper cassette; slow text output speed; unreliable wireless performance; unique gray ink can be hard to find.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The Canon Pixma MP980 multifunction printer, copier, and scanner are a step up from its predecessor, but the print quality isn't up to standard and it doesn't perform as quickly as the competition. The HP Photosmart Premium Fax all-in-one is a less expensive alternative that adds value with a fax machine and faster, higher quality output.
Improved photo quality and speed over previous model; 2.4-inch LCD display; easy to use Home Center software.
THE BAD
Fickle paper input tray; expensive; lacks auto-document feeder, USB port and scanner hinge.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Kodak's ESP 5250 multifunction printer isn't marred by the errors of its predecessors, but it still needs improvement before it can keep up with the competition. Right now, its pleasing photo quality and satisfactory output speed don't justify the $170 price tag and lack of features.
Personal printer - Ink-jet - Color, Legal (8.5 in x 14 in), Wired, PC, Mac, USB
THE GOOD
Cheap; prints decent quality text; compact .
THE BAD
Short 90-day warranty; poor photo quality.
THE BOTTOM LINE
HP's basic Deskjet D2660 inkjet has a fold-up paper tray and a unique paper corral that make it easy to store away. We noticed several flaws in the output quality, but if you don't expect too much in terms of photo output, this $50 inkjet will make an excellent at-home printer for intermittent use.
Workgroup printer - LED - Color, A4 (8.25 in x 11.7 in), Legal (8.5 in x 14 in), Wired, 20 pages/min, 16 pages/min, PC, Mac, Unix, USB, Ethernet 10/100Base-TX
THE GOOD
Performs admirably in speed and quality tests.
THE BAD
No auto-duplexing; Lacks wireless connectivity; No USB port for direct printing.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The OKI C3600n is neither small nor lightweight, but its quick print speeds and its impressive output quality make it one of our favorite color laser printers on the market today.
Triple-interface connectivity includes USB, Wi-Fi, and Ethernet LAN; interactive 4.2-inch touch-screen LCD; 5.8GHz digital handset and answering machine built-in; inexpensive; small and stylish.
THE BAD
Slow print speed; suffers the same mechanical errors affecting other Brother printers; ships with starter ink cartridges; short one-year warranty; no USB cord included.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The Brother MFC-990CW is a speedy, fully capable all-in-one device that earns our recommendation for an individual or a family that will make use of its touch screen and telephone/answering machine. Mechanical issues notwithstanding, this is the highest-scoring Brother printer we've tested to date.
Prints high-quality color photos and documents; industry topping output speed; small footprint; integrated CD drive for custom prints.
THE BAD
Extremely buggy software constantly disrupts work flow; flimsy plastic output tray; delicate input tray prone to paper jams.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The Epson Artisan 800 produces impressive color prints, photos, and text documents, and it outpaces the competition in almost all of our speed tests. We're impressed by its performance, but hesitate to recommend this printer based on the poor build quality and error-prone software.
Workgroup printer - Laser - Color, Legal (8.5 in x 14 in), Wired, 12 pages/min, 8 pages/min, PC, USB
THE GOOD
Easy installation; prints high-quality color documents; supports manual duplexing; small footprint.
THE BAD
Expensive; not compatible with Mac OS; slow color prints; lacks LCD display; ships with bite-size cartridges; fixed resolution.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The Color LaserJet CP1215 is HP's entry-level printer built to serve small workgroups, but it suffers from frustratingly slow print speeds, a missing LCD screen, and other problems. Your $299 will go much further with the Dell 1320c, another color laser with faster print speeds for the same price.
Fax, Copier, Printer, Scanner, Ink-jet, 1200 x 2400 dpi
THE GOOD
Inexpensive; auto-document feeder; Wi-Fi connectivity; driver settings provide helpful shortcuts; small footprint.
THE BAD
Painfully slow output speed; awkward page handling; lacks page status monitor and media card reader; low output page count; ships with shallow ink cartridges.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The HP Officejet J4680 offers more features at a cheaper price than most of its competitors, and small offices and home professionals will appreciate its print quality as well. Unfortunately, its negatives far outweigh the positives: your office productivity will take a major hit because of sluggish output speeds and faulty paper handling. For a better rounded all-in-one printer, we recommend picking up the Lexmark x7675 Pro or investing an extra $90 in the HP Officejet J6480.
Triple-interface connectivity includes USB, Wi-Fi, and Ethernet LAN; inexpensive; small and stylish.
THE BAD
Taxing print head produces slow-moving prints; suffers the same mechanical errors affecting other Brother printers; photo quality can use improvement.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The Brother MFC-490CW is an improvement over the more expensive MFC-5890CN, but that still doesn't excuse its drudging print speeds and mechanical issues under the hood. Instead of dealing with these headaches, we recommend you look toward the Canon Pixma MX330, which will give you consistent performance and a variety of extra features for the same price.
Workgroup printer - Laser - Monochrome, A4 (8.25 in x 11.7 in), Legal (8.5 in x 14 in), Wired, 38 pages/min, 18 pages/min, 40 pages/min, PC, Mac, Unix, USB, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n (draft), Ethernet 10/100Base-TX
THE GOOD
Auto-duplexing, built-in wireless print server.
THE BAD
Very expensive; inconsistent print speeds; poor output quality; ugly.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The Lexmark E460dw is an overly priced one-trick pony that produces mediocre prints at an inconsistent pace. Small businesses looking for a single-function monolaser should turn their attention toward the Samsung ML-2851ND instead.
Copier, Printer, Scanner, Ink-jet, 1200 x 2400 dpi
THE GOOD
Low cost to print; two-year warranty.
THE BAD
Poor output quality; slow print times; awkward build quality; outdated design; creative software requires online connection; no USB cord included.
THE BOTTOM LINE
We've tested plenty of printers at CNET, but very few have frustrated us as much as the Brother DCP-165C multifunction has. The counterintuitive setup, bland design, deplorable print quality, and crawling output speeds earns this printer a double thumbs down. Spend $30 more and you can get the Canon Pixma MX330, an all-in-one printer that adds a fax machine on top of the copy, scan, and print features.
Digital photo - Inkjet paper - Color laser paper, Legal (8.5 in x 14 in), A4, PC
THE GOOD
Low initial cost; simple, attractive design.
THE BAD
Expensive replacement cartridges; sluggish as a photo printer; poor-quality prints; no Ethernet port.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The Dell V305w is cosmetically appealing and inexpensive, but the output quality needs significant improvement, and the cost to maintain the printer is much higher than the industry standard. We recommend checking out the competition for a printer that will give you longer-lasting inks, cheaper replacement cartridges, and more acceptable photo-quality prints.
Compact; low cost to print; quiet; decent print quality.
THE BAD
Very slow output speed; lacks flatbed scanning functionality; tiny nonbacklit LCD display; bland design; no creative software tools.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The Brother MFC-3360C does decent quality text and graphics, but anyone printing a large volume of photos won't be happy with the extremely slow output speed. If you're set on buying a multifunction printer, put your $90 toward a more capable device, like the Canon Pixma MX330.
The Brother MFC-5890CN all-in-one is hands down the worst printer to take up space in our lab. From the irritating initial set up to the horrendous output quality and slow print speed, this device is the easiest way to flush $200 down the drain.
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