All-in-one printers

Print, scan and copy with one device; we round up six of the best all-in-ones.

The first all-in-ones were clunky machines that used outdated technology, were often unspeakably slow and produced poor-quality output. Thankfully, those days are long gone, and some of the new models on test here are barely larger than their printer-only counterparts.

Not only that, but they use current print and scan engines, which means they not only deliver fantastic quality, but also stunning speed. The Canon MP600, for example, can print colour documents at over 9ppm. Plus, copies of documents and photos are practically indistinguishable from the originals.

Lexmark’s X9350’s Wi-Fi features allow you to print or scan from your notebook without wires. Some models also have dedicated photo trays, so you don’t have to take A4 paper out every time you want to run off a few holiday snaps. HP’s Photosmart C5280 even lets you load 7 x 5in paper – ideal if you like your photos that bit larger. Most devices have colour screens and media card readers that allow you to simply walk up and edit photos before printing.

If your priorities lie more with office tasks, we’ve included a couple of all-in-ones with integrated fax machines. The Lexmark also has an automatic document feeder so you can scan, copy or fax multipage documents with ease.

Whatever your requirements, one of the all-in-ones here is sure to suit, so read on to find out which models walk away with a coveted PC Authority award.

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This Group Test appeared in the November, 2007 issue of PC & Tech Authority Magazine