27. November 2009

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Comparative Test Eleven multifunction printers: Eleven AIO´s: An overview

Brother DCP-165C und MFC-790CW

The Japanese manufacturer Brother sent us two AIO´s for this test: Brother DCP-165C without fax and Brother MFC-790CW with fax. AIO´s without fax are called "DCP-"*1, with fax "MFC-"*2.

Brother DCP-165C: Very flat AIO without extras.

Brother´s DCP-165C is available for about 120 Euros. It´s a plain AIO with memory card reader, but without LCD (liquid crystal display), automatic document feeder (ADF), fax, and duplexer. Interface is USB only.

Brother MFC-790CW: Well-equipped with big touchscreen.

A MFC-790CW will cost you about 220 Euros, but you get a lot for your money. Handling via a big LCD touchscreen is quite simple. A fax, an automatic document feeder (ADF) for faxes and scans, a memory card reader, and even a telephone receiver are included. We missed a duplexer for automatic double-sided printing, however.

Canon Pixma MP490, MP560, and MP640

Canon introduced their new models in August 2009. Three of them DC incorporated in this test: Canon Pixma MP490, Pixma MP560, and Pixma MP640. All of them have a fairly unique feature: Whenever they receive a print job, their output tray opens automatically.

Canon Pixma MP490: For low demands only.

Canon´s Pixma MP490 is a bargain for about 100 Euros. It has no fax, no ADF, and no duplexer, thus being not the best companion in an office. But contrary to other AIO´s in this price range (Brother DCP-165C and Lexmark Impact S305) this Canon sports a LCD (liquid crystal display).

Canon Pixma MP560: Well-equipped Wlan-printer.

Canon´s Pixma MP560 will cost you 70 Euros more (170 Euros). This will get you single ink cartridges, a duplexer for automatic double-sided prints, Wlan, and two papertrays. Fax and automatic document feeder (ADF) are missing, however.

Canon Pixma MP640: Almost perfect outfit - only an automatic document feeder (ADF) and a fax are missing.

Canon´s flagship among their office-qualified AIO´s is Pixma MP640, for about 200 Euros. Compared to the slightly cheaper MP560 it has an additional Ethernet connection (cable). And CDs/DVDs can be printed on. This works via scanner: Put the original CD/DVD onto the scanner and you get a label copy. But we miss an automatic document feeder (ADF) and a fax.

Epson Stylus SX510W and Office BX610FW

Epson fields two Wlan-AIO´s in elegant black: Epson Stylus SX510W and Office BX610FW.

Epson Stylus SX510W: Simple AIO with Wlan.

For a moderate 130 Euros the Stylus SX510W is fairly well equipped: Single ink-tanks, Wlan, and LC-display. Essentials for an office like duplex-unit, automatic document feeder (ADF), and fax are not supplied, however.

Epson Stylus Office BX610FW: Good cost/performance ratio.

The Office BX610FW has almost all you need for a busy office. Automatic document feeder, fax, and Wlan. There is also an additional interface for Ethernet. Only a duplexer is missing.

HP Photosmart C4680 and Premium Fax C309a

Regrettably HP could allocate only the smallest of their five new Photosmart-models (see DC-news). Hence DC added the Photosmart Premium Fax C309a to this test.

HP Photosmart C4680: Basic AIO with single ink-tank.

The small Photosmart C4680 is the cheapest AIO in this test. It has a tiny 1.4-inch LCD for direct printing from memory-cards. Apart from that it features nothing spectacular. The paper tray can hold 80 sheets only, and there is no output paper tray. Printed pages simply drop down. Since this AIO has a multi-color ink cartridge, the print head goes down the drain even if only one of the three colors is used up.

HP Photosmart Premium Fax C309a: Pretty expensive but with very good outfit.

HP´s Photosmart Premium Fax C309a is the only device in this test with the whole works: Five single ink cartridges, duplex-unit, automatic document feeder (ADF), fax, memory card reader, LC-display, CD/DVD-print, and network. The ADF is capable of both-sided scanning, so you get a both-sided copy. The only downers are costs: You have to pay about 300 Euros for this AIO, and cost of print is higher than of the winners of this test.

Kodak ESP 5250

Kodak´s ESP 5250 has been launched only recently. Compared to it´s predecessors nothing has changed regarding print head/ink tanks. You get it for about 150 Euros, that´s a bit more expensive than for similar models made by Brother, Epson, and Canon. But low running costs make up for that.

Kodak´s AIO is for users, who do not require a wide range of options: You get a memory card reader, LC-display, and Wlan.

Kodak ESP 5250: Somewhat more expensive, but with low running costs.

Lexmark Impact S305

Lexmark recently introduced eight new AIO´s (see DC news). At the beginning of our test only a Lexmark Impact S305 was available, which is in the test. A stand-alone test of Lexmark´s Prestige Pro805 will follow.

That´s new: Lexmark´s Impact S305 has single ink tanks. But they have a chip (RFID, not visible from the outside). And Lexmark is still patronizing it´s customers with a return program for ink cartridges. By opening the package you agree to send used ink cartridges after use back to Lexmark. The cartridges cannot be refilled.

For about 100 Euros you get an AIO with a scanty outfit: No automatic document feeder (ADF), no fax, no LC-display. But handling is easy.

Lexmark Impact S305: For the first time single ink tanks and permanent print head.