| Do-it-all office inkjets work and play | ||||
![]() Elsa Wenzel, associate editor |
Most offices shop for a laser multifunction to meet all of their document demands. But only ink-based multifunctions can juggle spreadsheets for work and print pictures for play. For home offices or small start-ups, these models include text and photo printing, scanning, and faxing, plus they have an automatic document feeder to make stacks of photocopies. Some also can network. Scrapbook hobbyists should turn to a digital imaging-driven all-in-one, while high-volume business users should consider a laser multifunction to print lots of text and save on upkeep costs.
CNET users loved the Brother MFC-5840cn most, with their 8.6 rating far above our 5.5 score. We dinged this machine for its amateurish print quality, noisiness, and creaky moving parts. However, users found it a dream to set up. The opposite was true with the HP Officejet 7410, which readers scored an average 5.7 and despised for wasting hours of their time to install. But since we didn't encounter such problems, we found that its elegant design and great-looking prints merited an 8.0 score.
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| Product name |
Canon Pixma MP780 |
Brother MFC-5840cn |
HP OfficeJet 7410 |
Brother MFC-420cn |
Dell 962 |
Lexmark X7170 |
| Review date | February 4, 2005 | April 29, 2005 | December 10, 2004 | November 2, 2004 | January 27, 2005 | November 4, 2004 |
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| Buying choices |
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| Review summary | The Canon Pixma MP780 is well suited for home offices or businesses small enough to get by without a networked multifunction printer. | We love this all-in-one's low price and office-appropriate features, but we can't overlook its poor performance and dismal output quality. | You'll get what you pay for. The 7410 provides the latest all-in-one features and functions--for a price. | The Brother MFC-420cn is a good multifunction for easy digital photo printing, but it's too limited for heavy workloads. | The Dell 962 crams four multifunction features into a single speedy printer without too many compromises along the way--unless you crave fast photocopying. | The Lexmark X7170 fits a home or a small office that values good-looking photos more than speed, sharp text prints, or great scans. |
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| User comments | 7.7 Very good (from 113 users) | 7.7 Very good (from 22 users) | 5.0 Average (from 196 users) | 6.2 Good (from 87 users) | 5.8 Average (from 16 users) | 5.6 Average (from 18 users) |
| Basic Specs | ||||||
| Copier Type | Digital | Info unavailable | Digital | Info unavailable | Digital | Digital |
| Max Fax Transmission Speed | 33.6 Kbps | 33.6 Kbps | 33.6 Kbps | 14.4 Kbps | 33.6 Kbps | 33.6 Kbps |
| Data Compression System | MR , MH , JPEG , MMR | MR , MH , JPEG , MMR | Info unavailable | MR , MH , JPEG , MMR | Info unavailable | Info unavailable |
| Fax Resolutions | 203 x 98 dpi , 203 x 196 dpi , 200 x 200 dpi | Info unavailable | 300 x 300 dpi , 200 x 200 dpi | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | Info unavailable |
| Scanning | 2400 x 4800 dpi | 1200 x 2400 dpi | 2400 x 2400 dpi | 600 x 2400 dpi | Info unavailable | 1200 x 4800 dpi |
| Original Type | Books , Sheets | Sheets | Sheets | Sheets | Sheets | Sheets |
| Document Feeder Capacity | 35 sheets | 35 sheets | 50 sheets | 10 sheets | 50 sheets | 50 sheets |
| Media Type | Plain paper , Transparencies , Photo paper , Envelopes | Plain paper , Photo paper | Plain paper , Cards , Banner , Greeting cards , Transparencies , Labels , Photo paper , Iron-on transfers , Envelopes | Plain paper , Photo paper | Plain paper , Transparencies , Photo paper , Envelopes | Plain paper , Cards , Banner , Transparencies , Coated paper , Labels , Photo paper , Iron-on transfers , Envelopes |
| Standard Media Capacity | 300 sheets | 350 sheets | 400 sheets | 100 sheets | 100 sheets | 150 sheets |
| Max Media Capacity | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | 400 sheets | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | Info unavailable |
| Output Trays Capacity | Info unavailable | 50 sheets | 50 sheets | 25 sheets | 50 sheets | Info unavailable |
| Printer type | Multifunction printer | Multifunction printer | Multifunction printer , Multifunction | Multifunction printer , Multifunction | Multifunction | Multifunction printer , Multifunction |
| Max Resolution B/W | 600 x 600 dpi | Info unavailable | 1200 x 1200 dpi | 6000 x 1200 dpi | Info unavailable | 2400 x 1200 dpi |
| Max Resolution Color | 4800 x 1200 dpi | 6000 x 1200 dpi | 4800 x 1200 dpi | 6000 x 1200 dpi | 4800 x 1200 dpi | 4800 x 1200 dpi |
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| Product name | Canon Pixma MP780 | Brother MFC-5840cn | HP OfficeJet 7410 | Brother MFC-420cn | Dell 962 | Lexmark X7170 |
| Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications |
| Price range |
$428 from 1 store | Email me when this product is available |
$276-$355 from 2 stores |
$199 from 1 store | Email me when this product is available |
$123-$189 from 5 stores |