Top 5 Multifunction Inkjets Versatile All-in-One Models Continue to Improve
The Canon Pixma MP500's blend of print quality, features, and attractive price earn it a Best Buy on this month's chart.
Canon's Pixma MP500 is good for everyday tasks.
Using a single, compact device to print, scan, copy, and in some cases fax can undeniably be more convenient than working with separate products. Aside from saving you desk real estate and money, purchasing a single machine means you have only to learn to use the one device.
Also, inkjet multifunction printer technology is maturing. For instance, all of the models we tested for this chart use pigment-black ink, which improves text print quality on plain paper because the paper absorbs it less, resulting in sharper, deeper prints.
But before you dive into this month's chart, it's important to understand the three types of inkjet MFPs: office-oriented models that frequently offer extra paper-management options; units with photo-centric features such as support for film scanning; and all-around performers that combine aspects of both. Examples of the last type include the third-place HP Officejet 7210 All-in-One and its fourth-place sibling, the Officejet 7410, which at $500 represents the high end of the inkjet MFP market.
The Officejet 7410's built-in ethernet and 802.11g Wi-Fi connectivity, 50-page automatic document feeder, fax capabilities, and quality text output make it ideal for the workplace, while its superior color prints on photo paper and its PictBridge support should appeal to photo enthusiasts.
Judged by our panel to have print quality equal to that of the 7410 is this month's Best Buy: Canon's five-ink Pixma MP500. Although it lacks such frills as faxing and film scanning, this is a very good and reasonably priced unit offering solid performance. For instance, we were able to copy (scan and then print) 4.3 pages per minute. The MP500 has a 2.5-inch LCD screen and a specified optical scan resolution of 1200 by 2400; however, more demanding users such as professional photographers might be better served by its bigger relative, the Pixma MP950. Sitting just outside the Top 5, this $449 powerhouse includes a gorgeous 3.6-inch LCD screen and has an optical scan resolution of 3200 by 6400 to accommodate its film scanning functions.
Epson's number-two-ranked Stylus CX7800 also features film scanning capabilities, and at $180 is much more attractively priced. Although we liked this model's prints, it suffers from sluggish print speeds at its default driver settings, and a 1.5-inch display that's tiny compared with the 2.5 inches or larger found on most other units we evaluated.
Danny AllenFind the Very Latest Multifunction Inkjet Charts
Click on the links below for the latest online multifunction inkjet rankings or for a comprehensive list of all printers we've tested.
Top Multifunction Inkjets From the March 2006 Issue of PC World Magazine
