A multifunction device gives you a printer, scanner, copier, and sometimes a fax machine in a single unit, often for less than $200 for an inkjet model. Laser multifunctions can start around $180, but rise considerably with color capability.
A multifunction device offers versatility and affordability. You get a printer, scanner, copier, and sometimes a fax machine in a package that's just a little larger than a regular printer. These devices have improved over the past few years, so even a home office user may be satisfied with their print quality.
WHAT'S AVAILABLE
Most major printer manufacturers are also in the multifunction business. The key brands in the category are Brother, Canon, Dell, Epson, Hewlett-Packard, and Lexmark.
The two types are inkjet and laser. Inkjet models can print and copy in color. Most laser models print and copy only in black and white. More expensive models can print in color, but they're expensive--$800. Most multifunction devices support both Windows and Macintosh computers, but because these units don't have a serial port, they will not work with Macs manufactured before mid-1998. Price range: $100 to $400.
IMPORTANT FEATURES
All these devices are TWAIN-compliant. (TWAIN refers to an interface between image-processing software and a scanner or digital camera.) As with printers, a selling point is maximum resolution, or maximum dpi, used when printing photos. But a model with a high maximum dpi does not necessarily produce the highest-quality output. Most multifunction devices can reduce or enlarge images.
Multifunction devices that can fax do so in black and white, but most can also fax in color to a color-enabled device. Most current models have a flatbed scanner. After scanning, text must be "read" by an optical-character-recognition (OCR) program before it's edited on the computer. Images can be used immediately either by a graphics program that comes with the scanner or one that you buy separately.
HOW TO CHOOSE
Consider space. Printers that also scan and copy can save space compared with having a separate unit for each. But keep in mind that most multifunctions are larger than regular printers and require more vertical clearance to lift the lid. If a basic inkjet printer and a separate fax machine are all you need, you can get these for about $200.
Weigh a multifunction's limitations. Photo quality from multifunction printers may not match that of regular printers. The included scanners, which have resolution ranging from 600 to 2,400 dpi, delivered quality similar to that of the stand-alone scanners in our last tests but were slower. If you choose an all-in-one, check to see whether it can make copies when the computer is off.
Consider your future needs. If you decide to use one machine to do everything, you will sacrifice some future flexibility: You can't upgrade just one function in a multifunction device. And if a major part breaks down, the entire machine may be out of service.
Choose between inkjet and laser. If you scan and print mostly color photos or graphics, look for an inkjet model. But if you plan to print or copy only black-and-white text, a black-and-white laser multifunction device is the more appropriate choice.
Copyright © 2002-2006 Consumers Union of U.S., Inc.
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