TCP Lab tests inkjet-based multifunction printers

When it comes to the inkjet printer market, the multifunction device is the fastest growing segment. That's not really surprising--more people are working from home regularly, whether it's a home-based business or they telecommute. In either case, the multifunction printer offers a very nice all-in-one bundle for those who need to do work from home. Why buy a printer, a scanner, and a copier when you can get all of them in a single (and much less expensive) piece of hardware?

For those who really want to throw themselves into things, many of these machines even come with built-in fax components, too.

The most popular, most basic configuration for a multifunction printer is the print/scan/copy trio. These three go together so well it's actually baffling that it took as long as it did for manufacturers to combine them. The printer is usually a reasonably standard inkjet print assembly, but the body is enlarged to include a scanner. Those two components, when integrated, make it very easy to make copies as well; while it was always theoretically possible to do this with separate scanners and printers, the multifunction units make it a one-touch operation, and (usually) a PC-free operation at that.

Sheet-feed vs. flatbed
The scanning component takes one of two forms: with a sheet-feed scanner, rollers pull the sheet of paper through the machine; with a flatbed model, you lay your sheet on a piece of glass, and the scanning unit moves across the sheet. Most earlier multifunction printers used a sheet-feed scan component, but those scanners were only able to handle single pieces of paper, not a book opened to a certain page or media of non-standard size or texture.

Multifunction printers using a flatbed-scanning component have gained a good percentage of the market, and no wonder: while they make for a larger overall design, they're much more versatile, allowing you to scan whatever you can place against the glass. The big downside with flatbed models versus the sheet-fed style, is that if you have multiple pages to scan--or fax--you have to do them one at a time, or spend more on a flatbed model that has an automatic document feeder.

To fax or not to fax?
Another evolution of the multifunction printer is the faxing capabilities. Many early multifunction models featured a built-in fax component, but that began to tail off when people realized they could use the scanning component in conjunction with their PC's built-in fax modem. Dropping the fax component from these machines also meant a price drop, which was a nice bonus.

That tide may be turning on that trend, however, now that broadband is becoming the preferred method of getting onto the Internet. As dial-up becomes less popular, modems will start to disappear from the standard PC configuration. At that point, more multifunctions may start to feature fax components.

Even if your PC has a fax modem, there are a couple of good reasons to pay extra for a multifunction with built-in fax: it's easier to send a fax directly from a fax machine-style printer; and you can send and receive faxes even when the computer is off.

This month, we looked at a few different types of multifunction printers. All of the models use inkjet technology, which means they're typically slower than laser-based models, but are also much less expensive and can copy and fax in colour.

Compact
Though multifunction printers already save space on the desktop, a growing number of models are even more compact. Here are a few of those newer machines.

Brother MFC-4420c
From: Brother Industries Ltd., http://www.brother.ca/
Estimated price: $399
Cartridge prices: $35 (black), $19 (ea. C, M, Y)

Brother's MFC-4420c is an impressive little unit: standing only 16 cm high through the body (about 32 cm with the paper support fully up), the fact that it manages to squeeze built-in fax capabilities into a machine that already has print scan and copy capabilities is impressive.

The inkjet-based, multifunction uses an innovative four-cartridge ink system that flattens the cartridges right out in order to keep the profile of the device smaller; the cartridges slot in just under the front lip of the printer, and ink is fed to the separate printhead inside. This configuration has a second advantage: there are no electronic components on the cartridges, which lowers their cost.

The machine's compactness wouldn't mean much if it wasn't up to its many tasks. Thankfully, it's a pretty impressive machine in that department as well. Its print output is a touch slower than some of the larger machines, but it's still quite good in draft mode. Print quality is also excellent whether you're using the machine as a printer or a copier.

You can do one-touch copying if you prefer, but you can use the menu system to adjust the quality and scaling (from 25 to 400 percent in 1 percent increments). Scanning to the PC is a bit more involved, but pretty easy; selecting your options from the printer opens up the scan/optical character recognition (OCR) application on the PC and saves it into the documents folder for that program. You'll definitely get better scanning accuracy by opening up the software first, however, and selecting your options from there.

The built-in fax component bumps its price up, but for those who require PC-free faxing, it's a real plus. As with many other Brother fax machines, the MFC-4420c features a quick scan to memory feature, so you don't have to wait for the fax to go through at the other end before you can get your originals back. The machine will also fax in colour, using JPEG compression (the machine at the receiving end needs to have colour fax capabilities too, of course).

Adding to an already impressive package, this printer features slots for three types of digital camera media--Type II CompactFlash, MemoryStick, and SmartMedia--so you can print photos without having to turn on the PC.

Hewlett-Packard PSC 1210
From: Hewlett-Packard Co., http://www.hp.ca/
Estimated price: $200
Cartridge prices: $30 (black), $52 (tri-colour)

Battling it out for the honour of smallest all-in-one is HP's PSC 1210. At a glance, the Brother machine above, looks smaller--the scanning section stands only 13 cm off the desk--but when you measure the paper feed assembly, it's about 12 cm taller than the HP model. The PSC 1210 is also shorter in the other dimensions, which means that--optical illusions aside--it's the most compact multifunction machine we've seen. True, it lacks a built-in fax component, but it's still a very powerful little unit.

It looks deceptively basic, but has plenty of functionality: along the left of the flatbed scanning component lid is a row of buttons that include one-touch scanning or copying (in black or colour). The buttons offer most of the commands you need to scan or copy, but you have even more control by hooking it up to your PC, and making selections from the software. If you want to send a fax, you definitely need to have the PC powered up, because you can only send faxes via the PC's modem, as there is no built-in fax (you have to scan documents into the PC and send them out using a separate fax program).

The print quality on this machine is excellent despite the compact size. The main complaint here, if any, is that the machine's copying abilities are fairly limited: you can make a maximum of nine copies per original, and you're not given a lot of control over the copy from the machine itself (size options are 100 percent or "fit to page"). If you only ever need to make basic copies, this machine will be fine, but for more complicated copy jobs you'll want to use the PC software.

Lexmark X1150
From: Lexmark Int. Inc., www.lexmark.com/canada
Estimated price: $179
Cartridge prices: $46 (standard black), $30 (moderate-use black), $50 (colour), $35 (moderate-use colour)

Lexmark's X1150 is another very compact multifunction printer. It also has the lowest price point of the systems reviewed this month. Of course, its low price means a few compromises have been made. The main issue is that all of its functionality, including copying, is host-based--which means it needs to be connected to a PC that is turned on.

That's a pretty serious drawback for some users, especially if the computer's busy doing other things--every time you make a copy, the software will engage and some of the computer's resources will be used.

That said, there are some really nice features to the X1150. First, is its compactness: if it wasn't for the paper support and the output tray, it would be one of the smallest machines of its type. Second, it communicates with the PC using USB 2.0 (which has a top data transfer rate of 480 Mbps versus standard USB at 12 Mbps)--probably a must with host-based copying. As well, the software includes faxing capabilities, which means host-based faxing is more streamlined than other all-in-ones that require a separate program (an all-in-one with a fax component is still easiest, but a bit much to expect at this price).

Though a touch slower than the competition, the output quality for the X1150 is very good--technology from Lexmark's higher-end printers having drifted down to its lower-priced models--so you get great prints and high-quality copying. If most of your printing will be from the PC, this unit will be a good choice. Still, printer-based copying would have been a nice addition. As it stands, the X1150 offers very good value but more demanding users will want to look farther up the product line.

Mid-range
The majority of multifunction printers fit in this category. These models are, for the most part, the traditional size for multifunctions, and are priced mid-way between the compact and office-friendly ranges, with variations based on feature sets (fax capability and digital camera media slots, for example).

Canon MultiPass F20
From: Canon Canada, http://www.canon.ca/
Estimated price: $349
Cartridge prices: $11 (black), $29 (colour)

Canon's multifunction line has a few family members, and the MultiPass F20 is the entry-level model. While it's the only member without a fax component, it still has a lot of great features, including the ability to read and print directly from digital camera media of any type, as long as you have a PC Card adapter for your type of memory card (it ships with a Type I CompactFlash adapter).

It's pretty easy to do an index print, though selecting individual images is a bit tougher using the menu system. Both photo printing and copying produce excellent results, as does printing from the PC.

There are a few issues with the printer's menu system, however. The first is mostly an unfortunate design choice: whenever the printer is shut off, it defaults to black-and-white mode when it's restarted, which means you have to change it back to colour before doing colour copies. (While this is probably based on the assumption that most documents will printed in black, it would be nice if the menu system remembered settings at shutdown, so you wouldn't have to change them every time.)

Secondly, pressing the photo card button by mistake caused problems: the machine would not cancel this menu request until either the photo card was inserted or the printer turned off.

Once you get past these glitches, however, it's pretty smooth sailing. The software setup is straightforward, and the toolbar is easy to use. In the end, the MultiPass F20 is a very good multifunction printer with a couple of control panel annoyances that keep it from being truly excellent.

Epson Stylus CX3200 / CX5200
From: Epson America, Inc., http://www.epson.com/
Estimated price: $279/$349
Cartridge prices CX3200: $47 (black), $47 (colour)
Cartridge prices CX5200: $52 (black), $19 (C, M, Y)

At the time of our testing, Epson had two multifunction printers in its lineup. The Stylus CX3200 is the more value-oriented of the two; even so, it's a fairly full-featured model, with one-touch copying (with a separate button for colour and for black and white copies), scanning, and high-quality printing. The Stylus CX5200 is the more business-oriented unit. Though it looks similar, it has a faster print engine, better resolution, and uses DuraBrite ink in four separate ink tanks for maximum ink efficiency. (Epson claims images and documents printed with DuraBrite ink and compatible paper will resist fading for up to 80 years.)

Both printers feature an LCD menu system on the top panel, that offers a fair amount of control over document output. Copying documents is PC-free, with a number of scaling options, mostly listed as scaling from one paper size to another. Print quality from both machines is exceptional, with 5,760 dots per inch (dpi), horizontally.

You'll definitely get a lot more out of these machines using the included software, which, happily--as neither model has a built-in fax component--integrates with your existing fax software. Whether you're planning to use them mostly for printing or copying, they are both pretty solid machines. For those who want longer-lasting documents and don't want the hassle of throwing out a tri-colour cartridge when just one colour runs dry, the CX5200 is worth the extra investment.

Hewlett-Packard PSC 2210
From: Hewlett-Packard Co., http://www.hp.ca/
Estimated price: $450
Cartridge prices: $30 (black), $52 (tri-colour), $38 (photo)

If you're considering an HP multifunction, and are not that concerned about ultra-compactness, add 1000 to the PSC 1210 and choose the 2210 model instead. It sports a bigger footprint, a bigger price tag, and a bigger array of functionality.

One of the reasons it costs more than many other units this size is its digital photography features: slots for digital camera media (Type II CompactFlash, SmartMedia, SecureDigital, and MemoryStick); and an innovative use of the scanner component in conjunction with these cards. After inserting a card and pressing a few buttons, you can make a series of index prints, each of which has a series of check boxes. Tick off the thumbnails you want prints of, scan the index sheet, and it automatically prints full-size images of your selections, with sizing and border options you choose.

Of course, the printer also does all of the usual stuff a multifunction should, including PC-free copying, printing from the PC, and scanning images to the PC. The PSC 2210 also has a fax component, which only adds to its overall value. That, along with its excellent print quality, makes it definitely worth consideration despite the higher cost.

Lexmark X5150
From: Lexmark Int. Inc., www.lexmark.com/canada
Estimated price: $249
Cartridge prices: $53 (black), $60 (colour), $74 (high-yield colour)

While Lexmark recently introduced a number of multifunction printers that push the price point down, the attractively priced X5150 has already been out for a few months.

The onboard menu system is very powerful, giving you full control over image printout, including quality, darkness, number of copies, and even seemingly obscure tasks like printing to a t-shirt transfer. On pressing the scan button, you can select the application (including Internet Explorer, Notepad, and Lexmark's photo editor) into which you want to open the scan, which is exceptionally powerful. You even have the option of sending your scan via fax (a fax program is included in the software bundle), even though no fax capabilities appear on the printer itself. Even if a lot of these options aren't exactly one-touch, the X5150's menu system is still one of the nicest we've seen.

Its print quality is every bit as good as the menu system, with excellent prints and great copying capabilities. The X5150 is also one of the faster black and white printers in this price range, at up to 19 pages per minute. All in all, it's a great combination: expansive features, good speed, and low price.

Office-friendly
Though big offices will probably have separate fax machines, laser printers, and the like, smaller offices may still have a use for an all-in-one multifunction machine, especially for faxing. These models will usually be faster, and the higher-end models can include an automatic document feeder to streamline faxing and copying tasks.

Brother MFC-5200c
From: Brother Industries, Ltd., http://www.brother.ca/
Estimated price: $699
Cartridge prices: $35 (black), $19 ( ea. C, M, Y)

On the opposite end of the size scale from the MFC-4420c, we have the MFC-5200c, which is a lot bigger and has a lot more functionality. It uses four separate ink tanks (cyan, magenta, yellow, and black, for more efficient ink usage) that have more ink in them and slot straight into the printhead. Installation of the cartridges was somewhat awkward, though (the cover could not be raised enough to easily read the instructions inside), and provided one humorous moment during initial setup: the LCD window said "please open cover" but as soon as we did, a message said "cover open, please close cover."

Once that was complete, we had very few issues with the printer. Colour copying was pretty straightforward, and the 30-page sheet feeder was very easy to use. As with the 4420c, this model features scaling from 25 to 400 percent in 1 percent increments, giving you fairly fine control over your copy sizes. The MFC-5200c also comes with slots on the front for digital camera media, and it's fairly easy to do an index print (it's not a one-touch operation, but the LCD menu steps you through it).

This model also has a built-in fax modem, allowing you to send and receive faxes even if it's not connected to a PC. The modem transfers data at 33.6 Kbps, so you can send colour faxes a lot more quickly to compatible 33.6 Kbps machines. About the only downside here is the cost: at $699, it's the most expensive machine in the roundup.

Hewlett-Packard OfficeJet 6110
From: Hewlett-Packard Company, http://www.hp.ca/
Estimated price: $500
Cartridge prices: $30 (black), $52 (tri-colour), $38 (photo)

Moving up the HP multifunction line to something that will satisfy a busier, more demanding group of employees, we have the OfficeJet 6110. It definitely has more features than the other HP machines in this roundup, including a 35-page sheet feeder and full onboard fax component.

The control panel and menu system has also been greatly enhanced for the 6110. It starts with the included template label, indicating the various button commands, which comes in separate French and English versions--just snap on the version you prefer. The onboard menu system is also quite powerful, giving you great control over PC-free print output, including commands for transparency and iron-on transfer printing. Not all of the options are one-touch, but the menu makes it pretty easy to navigate through the panel buttons.

The print quality is, as expected, top-notch. And though it's fairly slow in highest quality mode, it can certainly crank sheets out quickly in draft mode. (For better photograph printing, you can replace the black ink with an optional photo cartridge.) The 6110 has a built-in 33.6 Kbps modem for speedy transfer of colour faxes (provided there's a compatible machine on the other end, of course).

Lexmark X6150 / X6170
From: Lexmark Int. Inc., www.lexmark.com/canada
Estimated price: $299 / $399
Cartridge prices: $53 (black), $60 (colour), $74 (high-yield colour)

At the high end of Lexmark's all-in-one inkjet line, the X6150 and X6170 both offer a lot of functionality at very competitive price points. Both models feature speedy printing, built-in 33.6 Kbps fax modem, USB 2.0 connectivity, and an excellent menu system on the front control panel. The main difference between the two models is the X6170's 50-page automatic sheet feeder.

Setup of both models is quick and easy: lift the lid, unlock the scanner, insert the cartridges, then let the LCD menu system step you through various configurations after you lower the lid.

The menu system on the printers is very powerful: there are three "mode" buttons for one-touch switching between copying, scanning, and faxing. Once you've selected a mode, you can copy, scan, or fax in colour or monochrome with one more touch of a button. The options menu gives you a lot of control over PC-free output, including the ability to print to transparencies and multi-up printing (allowing you to fit up to 16 pages onto one physical sheet). As with the X5150, the X6100 series allows you to scan directly into a selected application from the printer's LCD panel, instead of forcing you to do so from the software control panel on your PC.

The quality of the prints is excellent. As with the other printers at this level, the best quality mode takes a while when it comes to printing photographs, but in draft mode you'll achieve much faster speeds.

While both machines are excellent, the auto-document feeder on the X6170 will make it more attractive to those who send a lot of faxes or regularly copy multi-page documents. While it does add $100 to the cost of the machine, it still comes in at a more attractive price point than many of the other printers with document feeders onboard.

Click here for the TCP Test Lab: Multifunction Devices table.

By Sean Carruthers

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