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by M. David Stone
PCMag's M. David Stone regularly reviews multifunction printers, and the quantity of the reviews gives him an excellent frame of reference. Stone does an excellent job of comparing and reporting relative… speeds complete with comparison charts, but we'd prefer to see direct comparisons of print quality. Though not every specification is tested, what testing is done is very good, and the reviews are more substantive than those from other computer magazines and websites. The magazine no longer reproduces photos or scans, but the descriptions of output are helpful. Among PCMag's more recent top picks are the HP Photosmart Premium Fax and the HP OfficeJet Pro 8500 -- though none get more than four out of five stars.
by Editors of CNET
CNET reviews the most multifunction printers and covers all types. Reviews spend more time on design and features than performance, but comparison charts do show the speeds and image quality scores of each… model relative to the competition. Users can contribute their own opinions as well, some of which contrast starkly with the conclusions drawn by editors. In some other cases, readers hold certain multifunction printers in much higher regard than the editors do. No recent models receive Editor's Choice awards, even the favorably reviewed HP Photosmart Premium Fax and Canon Pixma MX860.
by Editors of ConsumerReports.org
by Mike Pasini
Mike Pasini reviews a handful of printers a year, testing on Macs predominantly, but also on computers running Windows. Reviews are exhaustive, covering everything from installation to maintenance. Although… they are not strictly comparative, reviews often refer to competing models in passing, allowing a good sense of how they rank as far as price, features and performance. Pasini likes the Canon MP line, calling it "well engineered." He singles out the Pixma MP620 and MP980 for praise most recently.
by Simon Williams
Simon Williams reviews more than one multifunction printer per month, which creates an excellent background for evaluation. Testing is very good, and reports are detailed, but some key areas are ignored.… For example, scanning is not evaluated at all. Speed and cost of use are measured. Product pictures are helpful, but we would like to see print samples as well. Most recently, Williams recommends the HP Photosmart C6380 for its high print quality at a low price.
by Editors of PC Pro
Britain's PC Pro reviews and rates a few multifunction printers mixed in with standalone printers. Each all-in-one printer gets a short report that delves into the high and low points but not in much… detail. Printers are not compared in the write-ups, but they are given numerical scores and ranked on the landing page, so it's easy to see how editors think they stack up. Unfortunately, the quality of these reviews varies greatly, and the numerical scores aren't always consistent with the overall conclusions of the reviews. The Canon Pixma MX860 gets a Recommended rating from reviewer Jonathan Bray, who says it has "absolutely everything" and only falls short in output volume.
by Editors of Macworld
Macworld is a good place for Mac users to find compatible multifunction printers. Though the reviews are not directly comparative, scanning and printing operations are subjected to timed trials. Print and… scan/copy quality are evaluated by a jury rather than by one reviewer. Among newer MFPs, reviewer Chris Holt likes the Epson Workforce 600, which he cites as one of the fastest and most well-rounded printers available.
by Peter Piazza
Peter Piazza, About.com's guide to printers/scanners, maintains a small but fairly up-to-date review database. Piazza doesn't compare printers with each other, but the reviews are easy to read and based on… hands-on testing, including comments on start-up times, installation and print speeds. This site is worth a look once you narrow down your choice. Reviews are not dated, so it's hard to tell which reviews are more recent. Piazza's current top picks are the laser Brother MFC-7840W and the inkjet Epson WorkForce 600. (Note: ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but the two don't share an editorial affiliation.)
by Melissa Riofrio
by Melissa Riofrio
This chart lists PC World's current top 10 inkjet multifunction printers. Canon and HP are equally represented, with three printers each. Links lead to full reviews and test reports. The rare direct… comparisons are only within manufacturers' lines and are usually limited to features instead of performance. The Canon Pixma MX700 is rated first for blending home and office features, while the number-two HP Photosmart C6380 scores the same and is recommended more for home use.
by Ryan McLaughlin
JustTechn.com reviews two multifunction printers, both inkjets, which are assigned an overall rating, as well as separate ratings based on five key areas. The Epson Artisan 800 gets an Editor's Choice… designation for speed, quality and quiet operation. Reviews are fairly detailed and include extensive product photos, as well as samples of print quality. The site has great potential, but it's currently hindered by its limited database of MFP reviews, which are mixed in with peripherals like mice and keyboards. It's also hindered by the fact that the ratings standards are not well explained.
by Eric Grevstad
Eric Grevstad reviews a multifunction device every couple of months or so. Scores provide the only distinctions. The HP OfficeJet 6500 Wireless scores a very good 14 out of 15 for its speed, features and a… very low print cost per page. Reviews include product photos and screen shots, but prints and scans are not reproduced. Some reviews are adapted from HardwareCentral.com's sister sites, such as SmallBusinessComputing.com.
by Editors of ITReviews
U.K. website IT Reviews is a prolific reviewer of multifunction printers, testing several models each month. Reviews are short but reasonably substantive, even though editors don't document the testing very… well. While conclusions are balanced, they rarely lead readers to a decision. A small percentage of products earn Recommended designations, including the HP Photosmart Premium Fax, which is praised for its ease of use, design and output quality.
by Eric Griffith
PCMag.com conducts occasional service and support surveys of its subscribers. A chart shows how owners fared with printer-brand reliability and tech support, as well as what percentage of printers from each… brand needed repair. They also assess the owners' likelihood of recommending the brand to others. Owners report that multifunction printers need more repairs than standalone printers. Kodak wins the Readers' Choice for all-in-one printers, although Canon also scores consistently well in many categories.
by Editors of PC World (Australia)
by Editors of PC Advisor
by Contributors to Amazon.com
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