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Product Guide: Multifunction Printers
Want a printer that can do it all? Here's a directory of the latest multifinction printers to hit the market.
Multifunction machines—the combo printer/copier/scanner and sometimes fax—have proven so popular many vendors now emphasize them in their line-ups over dedicated printers. Here is a selection of some of the latest models from leading suppliers.
INKJETS
Vendors have pushed inkjet printing technology, where it can now take a practiced eye to tell the difference between some inkjet or laser prints. Print speeds have also improved with print resolution, and many units are now designed for photo printing in addition to standard office functions.
EasyShare 5100
Eastman Kodak
$99
This printer/scanner/copier is the entry level model in Kodak’s printer line-up. Its print speed is at a rate at up to 32 pages per minute (ppm) in black and 30ppm color. It uses a two cartridge six-ink system. In addition to printing documents, it can also produce borderless photos from 3-1/2 x 3-inches up to a full page. In its copy mode, the unit will produce up to nine copies of each original. It has a media card slot, USB 2.0 port, and can print directly from PictBridge cameras or Bluetooth enabled devices.
X6650
Lexmark International
$129.99
This is an economical printer/copier/scanner/fax with built-in support for W-Fi wireless printing. The maximum print speed is 25ppm black, 18 ppm color, and maximum print resolution is 4800 x 1200 dpi. It functions as a standalone copier and fax and can scan documents directly to PDF. Pictures can be printed directly from memory cards, PictBridge cameras, or USB devices.
Pixma MP620
Canon USA
800-652-2666
$149
This printer/scanner/copier supports direct printing over a Wi-Fi or Ethernet network. Maximum print speed is 26ppm black and 17ppm in color. Maximum print resolution is 600 x 600 dpi black and 9600 x 1200 dpi color in its photo printing mode. It can scan, copy, or fax original documents measuring up to 8.5 x 11.7 inches. An AutoScan feature detects the original and automatically scans and saves the file at the proper settings. There is a memory card reader compatible with all standard flash memory formats for photo printing from the card.
WorkForce 600
Epson America, Inc.
800-463-7766
$199
This is the top model in a new line of inkjets for workgroups with up to five employees. The printer/copier/scanner/fax has top print speed of 27ppm black and 19ppm color in its normal printing mode, at 5760 x 1440 dpi. Its four-cartridge ink system allows you to replace individual colors as needed. Support for a wired or Wi-Fi network is built-in. There is a 30-page auto document feeder for copy/scan/fax projects. The unit has a 2.5-inch tilting LCD display and memory card slots for direct printing from all popular media card formats.
OfficeJet Pro L7590
Hewlett Packard
800-888-0262
$199.99
This is a high speed inkjet printer/copier/scanner/fax for the home or small office. Maximum print speed is rated at 35 ppm black, 34ppm color, with laser-quality prints produced at 12ppm black and 10ppm color. Maximum print resolution is 1200 x1200 dpi black and 4800 x1200 optimized dpi for color. The four-color ink system uses separate cartridges for each color. Duplex (two-sided) printing is supported. The full featured fax can transmit documents in black or color. Ethernet support is built in; Wi-Fi and Bluetooth wireless support are optional.
MFC-6490CW
Brother International Corp.
$299
This “Professional” series printer/copier/scanner/fax features an oversized flatbed for scanning, copying, and faxing ledger-sized originals up to 11 x 17 inches. Its print speeds are rated 35ppm black and 28ppm color, and maximum print resolution is 6,000 x 1,200 dpi. Wi-Fi and wired network support is built-in. It has a four cartridge ink system with separate cartridges for each color. There is a 3.3-inch color LCD monitor for reviewing images or setting all unit functions. The unit has a 50-page automatic document feeder.
LASER PRINTERS
Multi-function lasers now start in ballpark of $500, making them a viable option for those who do a lot of in-house color printing. Cost per prints is lower when compared with inkjets; toner cartridges need to be replaced far less frequently and laser printers are much quieter than inkjets. Then there’s the durability of the prints. Laser prints typically hold up better than inkjet prints, especially if exposed to water.
CLX-3175FN
Samsung Electronics America
Samsung Electronics America
800-726-7864
$519.99
This is an economical entry-level color laser printer/copier/scanner/fax for the home or small office. Print speed is rated at 17ppm back and 4ppm color at 2400 x 600 dpi. Color or black copies are produced at 600 x 600 dpi and faxes are transmitted at 300 x 300 dpi. It will scan to USB connected devices, software applications, and a network. It has a 15-page automatic document feeder, two-line LCD, and 128MB of internal memory. Ethernet support is built-in.
2135cn Multifunction Color Laser Printer
Dell Computer
1-800-449-3355
$599
This printer/copier/scanner/fax for Windows is targeted at businesses with low-to mid volume printing requirements. It has a maximum print speed of 16ppm black and 12ppm color at 600 x 600 dpi resolutions. It has a 400MHz processor and 128MB RAM for processing jobs. It can be connected to a wired Ethernet network or other hardware via a USB 2.0 port. It has a 35-page automatic document feeder and uses separate toner cartridges for each color.
LaserJet M2727 MFP
Hewlett Packard
800-888-0262
$599
This printer/copier/scanner/fax comes ready to connect to a wired Ethernet network. Maximum print speed is rated at 27ppm normal, 8ppm in its best quality mode, and maximum resolution is 1,200 x 1,200 dpi when printing, 600 x 600 dpi for copies. It has a 450MHz processor and 64MB of Ram for processing jobs. There is s 50-page automatic document feeder and the unit also supports automatic duplex printing.
Phaser 6115MFP
Xerox Corp.
1-866-460-2248
$699 for basic configuration
This is a desktop printer/copier/scanner/fax for small workgroups. Maximum print speed is 20ppm back, 5ppm color. Maximum print resolution 2,400 x 600 dpi when printing and 600 x 600 dpi when copying. The unit can scan or copy legal sized documents and has a 50-page document feeder. It uses high capacity black and color toner cartridges.
Aficio SP C220S
Ricoh Americas Corp
$829
This is a desktop multifunction printer/copier/scanner. The print speed is rated at 16ppm in black or color at 600 x 600 dpi. The unit has its own 490MHz processor and 128MB RAM for processing jobs. SUpport for wired Ethernet or Wi-Fi wireless networks is built-in. Full color and monochrome copying and scanning in available, as well as 256 grey level scanning. Scan setting include automatic scan-to-email, scan-to folder and scan-to FTP.
magicolor 4690 MF
Konica Minolta
$999
This color printer/copier/laser/fax features an *-1/2 x 14 flatbed for scanning or copying. Print speed is rated at 25ppm in black or color at 2,400 x 600 dpi. The printer has a-50 page automatic document feeder and supports automatic two-sided printing. It can scan directly to e-mail, PDF, FTP or USB. The full-featured fax has 6MB of internal memory.
Michael Antoniak is a journalist and technology expert with a focus on real estate applications. Antoniak also writes about real estate technology at his blog, RealTechTools. He can be contacted at antoniak@dtccom.net.