If you're among the three million British citizens now working from home, you'll know the importance of keeping computer equipment as compact as possible. An all-in-one printer that also functions as a scanner and photocopier can make life much easier. Six of these printers went on the test bench for individual all-in-one printer reviews.
The Canon Pixma MP520 is an attractive all-round printer. Print and scan speeds are high, running costs are low, and photo sharpness scored well in the all-in-one printer reviews. With a compact design, two paper trays, and 2.4in colour display, it is generally priced at £95 or £80.
The Lexmark X4550, a wireless printer, operates anywhere in the house using your wi-fi network. It produces fine print quality, clear photos, and colour prints. In all-in-one printer reviews, however, it rates poorly for grainy, low resolution scanning and slow and sometimes distorted photocopying. Cost is generally £75.
The HP Photosmart C5280 scores well for its fast, high quality printing of photos and text. It also produces good high resolution scans despite a problem with straight lines. However, it is noisy and its photocopying has outline and colour problems. Generally priced at £100, it is available for £62.
The Brother MFC-465CN is a network printer whose Ethernet port allows printing from a wi-fi enabled laptop even if the main computer is not turned on. It has the added attraction of working as a fax machine. Slow speed, however, is a problem. Generally priced at £130, it is available for £112.
The Epson Stylus DX8400 has the slowest photo printing speed of those in the all-in-one printer reviews. Text printing is also slow; there are colour problems with scanning and copying, and printing costs are double those of its competitors. Generally priced at £75, it is available for £62.
The Lexmark X2550 has acceptable text and colour printing and running costs are reasonable, but operation is slow. Scans are grainy and of low resolution. Suitable for those whose printing needs are minimal and generally priced at £55, the Lexmark is available for £38.
