Why you need one, and why you might not…yet
Every self-respecting student or home-based worker needs a printer. But quite likely a copier too. And a scanner. And maybe a fax machine.
It wasn’t so very long ago that such capabilities would set you back a couple grand. However, all-in-one multifunction printers (MFPs) do it all in one box, and they’ve come a long way in the last few years. Not only can some of today’s dream machines handle all the above—at sub-$500 price points in most cases—but many of them will also print photos directly from your camera, print on both sides of a page and perhaps even fix you a double chocolate latte if you’re so inclined.
But do they do it quickly? Will consumables (ink or toner and associated materials) consume all the money you saved initially? Will they stand the test of time?
Truth is that if you have the bucks and the necessary space—two extremely critical considerations for a dorm or home office—separate components are still a solid option. Ask yourself the following: If a highly regarded mid-level standalone black and white home/home office laser printer such as HP’s LaserJet P2015d costs $400, and a top-notch standalone colour laser like the Lexmark C532dn runs perhaps $200 more, how can a laser-based MFP at that price point deliver the same level of performance? Answer: It can’t. Chances are it won’t be as fast. Its toner cartridges may cost more. And it’ll likely support less sophisticated printing functions.
Back in my day…
But the most important difference may be something you don’t even notice at first—reliability. Sure, the warranties may be equal, but things become much more interesting five or 10 years down the road. I write this gazing lovingly at my HP LaserJet 4, circa 1995. It’s been in for repair just once in a dozen years, and even then the problem lay with the owner, not the printer. Virtually all the moving parts are within the toner cartridge itself, and that cartridge is comparatively inexpensive. I’ve been tempted over the years to "upgrade" to a substantially more complex MFP and send both my printer and Panasonic phone/fax machine to the donation bin, but the old LaserJet 4, serial port connection and all, simply continues to be a faultless workhorse.
Something else to consider—if and when my standalone printer does break, I’ll retain use of my standalone copier and scanner. Yet when an MFP goes on the fritz, all those other functions are lost too until the unit comes home from the repair shop.
Still, most home- or dorm-based users simply don’t put intense demands and strains on their gear. Moreover, most of us need all the extra space an MFP can gain us, if just for the dishes and pop cans and televisions and all the other things that make a home office so…homey. For these reasons, and because MFPs are far less finicky now than they were even a few years back, they may be just the ticket for many.
As is the case with standalone printers, the prices of MFPs have more to do with the method of image transfer than anything else. The most affordable machines are typically based on inkjet technology. Inkjet advantages include near-universal colour capability and generally strong photo reproduction. For a few dollars more, you move into laser technology. Laser generally delivers much faster output and crisper images than inkjet, its toner cartridges usually cost less per page than inkjet cartridges and the machines themselves are less prone to breakdowns. However, the cost of laser jumps substantially if you want colour. And even though laser toner cartridges last a lot longer, replacing them will set you back $400 or more for the four colours.
The inkjet MFP battle
In the inkjet category, there seems to be no escaping the domination of Canon Canada . Currently consisting of no less than eight models, its wide-ranging PIXMA roster of MFPs stretches all the way from the $100 PIXMA MP160 to the $500 PIXMA MP960. But the best part is that virtually every model has been extremely well received by both the press and end users.
The everything-but-the-proverbial-kitchen-sink $400 PIXMA MP830 seems to hit the sweet spot just right, particularly if you also want high-grade photo printing. Features include a memory card reader, a big 2.5-inch LCD, a PictBridge connector so you can print directly from a PictBridge-enabled digicam, an integrated fax modem for standalone fax functionality, double-sided printing and scanning capabilities and 9600 dpi photo printing. It’ll theoretically print and copy black and white pages at the snappy rate of 30 pages per minute, and colour at 24 PPM. It isn’t networkable, but that shouldn’t matter much to the SOHO community.
At just $120, the ultra-affordable PIXMA MP180 has substantially more features than the bare bones $100 PIXMA MP160, and is therefore a good bet for the budget conscious shopper, student or light user who needs to copy, scan and print. Like the far pricier MP830, it has a PictBridge connector and a media card reader for PC-less printing. It can’t be networked, it can’t be used as a fax machine and its page per minute speed is far from the high-end inkjet MFPs, yet the price is right.
Canon’s PIXMA series leads the way, but don’t write off HP’s highly regarded Photosmart All-in-One series. Like PIXMA, the Photosmart lineup is all over the map, with a model in virtually every price range. Arguably the best of the HP bunch and priced right in between the two Canons discussed above is the Photosmart C6180 All-in-One Inkjet Printer. Indeed, it mimics most of the capabilities of the proficient PIXMA MP830, at about $100 less.
The unit offers blazingly fast 32 ppm monochrome printing and 31 ppm colour (under ideal conditions, of course), integrated wireless networking, a memory card reader, PictBridge support and a built-in fax. And its clever six-ink colour system allows you to replace only the colour(s) of ink you’ve used.
Lexmark Canada introduced a slew of inkjet MFPs at a variety of price points this year, with new slick styling and built-in Wi-Fi wireless networking on many models. In fact, Lexmark wants affordable wireless printing to be its big differentiator in this crowded market. Its X9350 ($300) is a four-function (print, copy, scan, fax) unit that offers up to 32 ppm (black) and 27 ppm (colour) print speeds, and along with built-in Wi-Fi and built-in duplexing. Like its competitors, it also supports PictBridge and comes with a multi-format memory card reader. For a bit more than half that price ($160), you can get the Lexmark X4550, no faxing, not auto duplexing and slower printing speeds, but also with Wi-Fi.
Epson Canada’s multifunction line is smaller than other manufacturers, with just four models ranging from $120 to $170. Epson printers have been long-time favourites with the digital photography crowd, largely due to Epson’s pioneering work with pigment-based inkjet inks, which are more durable and fade resistant than dye-based inks. Epson tries to capitalize on its photo printing strengths in its all-in-ones, which it calls More-in-Ones by offering PC-less printing (with built-in colour LCDs to preview images), borderless 4x6 printing and other specialized features on some models like a straight-through media path and CD carrier that allows you to print labels, graphics etc. directly onto CDs.
In the past, Brother Canada has been known for lines of tough workhorse fax machines, which found a home in both small and medium sized businesses. Today, its multi-function line seems to have more of a small business appliance flavour than an inkjet printer flavour. For example, some models sport a telephone handset, like the traditional fax machine. However, it also has the features that home users come to expect such as a built-in colour LCD screen, PictBridge support and a built-in memory card reader. Moreover, Brother’s line is even more extensive than Canon’s, with 13 models ranging from $80 to $270. The top-end MFC-655CW pushes the meaning of all-in-one by adding an answering machine to the usual feature set of print, copy, scan and fax. It supports both standalone fax and PC faxing. This one also comes with built-in Wi-Fi networking.
As you can see, if you want an inkjet-based all-in-one, there are many models to consider. Something to think about: If you’ve decided to go the inkjet route, ask your retailer or check the Internet for a cost per page figure for the printers on your short list. If none exist, determine the prices and projected longevity of the ink cartridges yourself. It’s more or less accepted that some inkjets—and even some lasers—will rob you blind after you’ve bought them, and that’s a situation nobody wants to be in.
Laser MFPs: To colour or not to colour, that is the question
When you talk laser MFP, the current buzzword is colour. But that doesn’t mean a black and white laser doesn’t have its place. In fact, considering lasers are generally more dependable than inkjets, and that black and white lasers are generally more reliable and far less costly than colour models, monochrome MFPs deliver huge bang for the buck for those who don’t print photos or colour brochures/homework.
On the decidedly thrifty side of things is the monochrome Samsung SCX-4200. Priced at little more than the cost of dinner and a movie for two ($150), it’s hard to believe it’s a laser. But it is, and not a bad one at that. It can’t handle faxes and it doesn’t incorporate fancy stuff like card readers, but it does deliver clean 600x600 dpi laser output, scalable copying and scanning capabilities. On top of all that, it’s tiny— with a footprint that’s just a bit bigger than a standard sheet of paper.
Some of the best dollar-to-performance monochrome lasers are found in Canon’s strictly black and white imageCLASS series. Of these, the imageCLASS MF4150, with oodles of upbeat online user reports, a sub-$300 price point and a small footprint, may be the best fit for the home office denizen. The unit prints, scans, faxes and copies; features a 35-sheet automatic document feeder and a 250-sheet front-loading cassette; and sports automatic double-sided operation. For another $100, the Brother MFC-7820N offers all of the above plus the added bonus of ultra-high 2400x600 dpi printing resolution, PC fax functions and a built-in internal network.
At the top of the multifunction totem pole is the full colour laser. Here, we have pricey beasts such as Lexmark’s x500n ($550) and x502n ($750), both of which feature great looking prints, a massive 128MB of internal memory and smoking fast speeds. The difference between the two? The x502n offers fax capabilities, while the x500n does not.
Big buck machines and future shock
You’ll find other equally respected models too, such as Brother’s Multi-Function Center MFC-9420CN, Epson’s AcuLaser CX11NF, Samsung’s Colour Laser MFP CLX-3160FN and Dell’s Multifunction Color Laser Printer 3115cn. Yet only the latter checks in under the $600 mark, and all are physically imposing units apparently designed for office workgroup environments rather than the home office or dorm. Despite traditionally superior reliability and lower usage costs (Dell claims just one and a half pennies per page for the 3115n), it seems most colour laser all-in-ones aren’t quite as ready for stay-at-home situations as their inkjet brethren.
What does the future hold? Down under in Australia, a company by the name of Silverbrook Research has quietly been slaving away on a technology deemed "Memjet." The big claim to fame is output speed—according to Silverbrook, Memjet can realistically print at an astounding 60 PPM. What’s more, the technology will apparently offer a price to performance ratio better than today’s monochrome lasers and photo print quality rivalling that of today’s finest photo-centric inkjets. Needless to say, the big players in the industry are listening. For more info, head to www.memjet.com and check out the video of Memjet at work—it’s quite incredible.
Every self-respecting student or home-based worker needs a printer. But quite likely a copier too. And a scanner. And maybe a fax machine.
It wasn’t so very long ago that such capabilities would set you back a couple grand. However, all-in-one multifunction printers (MFPs) do it all in one box, and they’ve come a long way in the last few years. Not only can some of today’s dream machines handle all the above—at sub-$500 price points in most cases—but many of them will also print photos directly from your camera, print on both sides of a page and perhaps even fix you a double chocolate latte if you’re so inclined.
But do they do it quickly? Will consumables (ink or toner and associated materials) consume all the money you saved initially? Will they stand the test of time?
Truth is that if you have the bucks and the necessary space—two extremely critical considerations for a dorm or home office—separate components are still a solid option. Ask yourself the following: If a highly regarded mid-level standalone black and white home/home office laser printer such as HP’s LaserJet P2015d costs $400, and a top-notch standalone colour laser like the Lexmark C532dn runs perhaps $200 more, how can a laser-based MFP at that price point deliver the same level of performance? Answer: It can’t. Chances are it won’t be as fast. Its toner cartridges may cost more. And it’ll likely support less sophisticated printing functions.
Back in my day…
But the most important difference may be something you don’t even notice at first—reliability. Sure, the warranties may be equal, but things become much more interesting five or 10 years down the road. I write this gazing lovingly at my HP LaserJet 4, circa 1995. It’s been in for repair just once in a dozen years, and even then the problem lay with the owner, not the printer. Virtually all the moving parts are within the toner cartridge itself, and that cartridge is comparatively inexpensive. I’ve been tempted over the years to "upgrade" to a substantially more complex MFP and send both my printer and Panasonic phone/fax machine to the donation bin, but the old LaserJet 4, serial port connection and all, simply continues to be a faultless workhorse.
Something else to consider—if and when my standalone printer does break, I’ll retain use of my standalone copier and scanner. Yet when an MFP goes on the fritz, all those other functions are lost too until the unit comes home from the repair shop.
Still, most home- or dorm-based users simply don’t put intense demands and strains on their gear. Moreover, most of us need all the extra space an MFP can gain us, if just for the dishes and pop cans and televisions and all the other things that make a home office so…homey. For these reasons, and because MFPs are far less finicky now than they were even a few years back, they may be just the ticket for many.
As is the case with standalone printers, the prices of MFPs have more to do with the method of image transfer than anything else. The most affordable machines are typically based on inkjet technology. Inkjet advantages include near-universal colour capability and generally strong photo reproduction. For a few dollars more, you move into laser technology. Laser generally delivers much faster output and crisper images than inkjet, its toner cartridges usually cost less per page than inkjet cartridges and the machines themselves are less prone to breakdowns. However, the cost of laser jumps substantially if you want colour. And even though laser toner cartridges last a lot longer, replacing them will set you back $400 or more for the four colours.
The inkjet MFP battle
In the inkjet category, there seems to be no escaping the domination of Canon Canada . Currently consisting of no less than eight models, its wide-ranging PIXMA roster of MFPs stretches all the way from the $100 PIXMA MP160 to the $500 PIXMA MP960. But the best part is that virtually every model has been extremely well received by both the press and end users.
The everything-but-the-proverbial-kitchen-sink $400 PIXMA MP830 seems to hit the sweet spot just right, particularly if you also want high-grade photo printing. Features include a memory card reader, a big 2.5-inch LCD, a PictBridge connector so you can print directly from a PictBridge-enabled digicam, an integrated fax modem for standalone fax functionality, double-sided printing and scanning capabilities and 9600 dpi photo printing. It’ll theoretically print and copy black and white pages at the snappy rate of 30 pages per minute, and colour at 24 PPM. It isn’t networkable, but that shouldn’t matter much to the SOHO community.
At just $120, the ultra-affordable PIXMA MP180 has substantially more features than the bare bones $100 PIXMA MP160, and is therefore a good bet for the budget conscious shopper, student or light user who needs to copy, scan and print. Like the far pricier MP830, it has a PictBridge connector and a media card reader for PC-less printing. It can’t be networked, it can’t be used as a fax machine and its page per minute speed is far from the high-end inkjet MFPs, yet the price is right.
Canon’s PIXMA series leads the way, but don’t write off HP’s highly regarded Photosmart All-in-One series. Like PIXMA, the Photosmart lineup is all over the map, with a model in virtually every price range. Arguably the best of the HP bunch and priced right in between the two Canons discussed above is the Photosmart C6180 All-in-One Inkjet Printer. Indeed, it mimics most of the capabilities of the proficient PIXMA MP830, at about $100 less.
The unit offers blazingly fast 32 ppm monochrome printing and 31 ppm colour (under ideal conditions, of course), integrated wireless networking, a memory card reader, PictBridge support and a built-in fax. And its clever six-ink colour system allows you to replace only the colour(s) of ink you’ve used.
Lexmark Canada introduced a slew of inkjet MFPs at a variety of price points this year, with new slick styling and built-in Wi-Fi wireless networking on many models. In fact, Lexmark wants affordable wireless printing to be its big differentiator in this crowded market. Its X9350 ($300) is a four-function (print, copy, scan, fax) unit that offers up to 32 ppm (black) and 27 ppm (colour) print speeds, and along with built-in Wi-Fi and built-in duplexing. Like its competitors, it also supports PictBridge and comes with a multi-format memory card reader. For a bit more than half that price ($160), you can get the Lexmark X4550, no faxing, not auto duplexing and slower printing speeds, but also with Wi-Fi.
Epson Canada’s multifunction line is smaller than other manufacturers, with just four models ranging from $120 to $170. Epson printers have been long-time favourites with the digital photography crowd, largely due to Epson’s pioneering work with pigment-based inkjet inks, which are more durable and fade resistant than dye-based inks. Epson tries to capitalize on its photo printing strengths in its all-in-ones, which it calls More-in-Ones by offering PC-less printing (with built-in colour LCDs to preview images), borderless 4x6 printing and other specialized features on some models like a straight-through media path and CD carrier that allows you to print labels, graphics etc. directly onto CDs.
In the past, Brother Canada has been known for lines of tough workhorse fax machines, which found a home in both small and medium sized businesses. Today, its multi-function line seems to have more of a small business appliance flavour than an inkjet printer flavour. For example, some models sport a telephone handset, like the traditional fax machine. However, it also has the features that home users come to expect such as a built-in colour LCD screen, PictBridge support and a built-in memory card reader. Moreover, Brother’s line is even more extensive than Canon’s, with 13 models ranging from $80 to $270. The top-end MFC-655CW pushes the meaning of all-in-one by adding an answering machine to the usual feature set of print, copy, scan and fax. It supports both standalone fax and PC faxing. This one also comes with built-in Wi-Fi networking.
As you can see, if you want an inkjet-based all-in-one, there are many models to consider. Something to think about: If you’ve decided to go the inkjet route, ask your retailer or check the Internet for a cost per page figure for the printers on your short list. If none exist, determine the prices and projected longevity of the ink cartridges yourself. It’s more or less accepted that some inkjets—and even some lasers—will rob you blind after you’ve bought them, and that’s a situation nobody wants to be in.
Laser MFPs: To colour or not to colour, that is the question
When you talk laser MFP, the current buzzword is colour. But that doesn’t mean a black and white laser doesn’t have its place. In fact, considering lasers are generally more dependable than inkjets, and that black and white lasers are generally more reliable and far less costly than colour models, monochrome MFPs deliver huge bang for the buck for those who don’t print photos or colour brochures/homework.
On the decidedly thrifty side of things is the monochrome Samsung SCX-4200. Priced at little more than the cost of dinner and a movie for two ($150), it’s hard to believe it’s a laser. But it is, and not a bad one at that. It can’t handle faxes and it doesn’t incorporate fancy stuff like card readers, but it does deliver clean 600x600 dpi laser output, scalable copying and scanning capabilities. On top of all that, it’s tiny— with a footprint that’s just a bit bigger than a standard sheet of paper.
Some of the best dollar-to-performance monochrome lasers are found in Canon’s strictly black and white imageCLASS series. Of these, the imageCLASS MF4150, with oodles of upbeat online user reports, a sub-$300 price point and a small footprint, may be the best fit for the home office denizen. The unit prints, scans, faxes and copies; features a 35-sheet automatic document feeder and a 250-sheet front-loading cassette; and sports automatic double-sided operation. For another $100, the Brother MFC-7820N offers all of the above plus the added bonus of ultra-high 2400x600 dpi printing resolution, PC fax functions and a built-in internal network.
At the top of the multifunction totem pole is the full colour laser. Here, we have pricey beasts such as Lexmark’s x500n ($550) and x502n ($750), both of which feature great looking prints, a massive 128MB of internal memory and smoking fast speeds. The difference between the two? The x502n offers fax capabilities, while the x500n does not.
Big buck machines and future shock
You’ll find other equally respected models too, such as Brother’s Multi-Function Center MFC-9420CN, Epson’s AcuLaser CX11NF, Samsung’s Colour Laser MFP CLX-3160FN and Dell’s Multifunction Color Laser Printer 3115cn. Yet only the latter checks in under the $600 mark, and all are physically imposing units apparently designed for office workgroup environments rather than the home office or dorm. Despite traditionally superior reliability and lower usage costs (Dell claims just one and a half pennies per page for the 3115n), it seems most colour laser all-in-ones aren’t quite as ready for stay-at-home situations as their inkjet brethren.
What does the future hold? Down under in Australia, a company by the name of Silverbrook Research has quietly been slaving away on a technology deemed "Memjet." The big claim to fame is output speed—according to Silverbrook, Memjet can realistically print at an astounding 60 PPM. What’s more, the technology will apparently offer a price to performance ratio better than today’s monochrome lasers and photo print quality rivalling that of today’s finest photo-centric inkjets. Needless to say, the big players in the industry are listening. For more info, head to www.memjet.com and check out the video of Memjet at work—it’s quite incredible.
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