Multifunction Printers Reviews

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Multifunction Printers Reviews Reviewed
Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Multifunction Printers Ratings Comments on Reviews
1. PC Magazine >> Details/Subscribe	Multifunction Printer Reviews M. David Stone As of Nov. 2007		PC Magazine regularly reviews multifunction printers. Primary reviewer M. David Stone does an excellent job of comparing and reporting relative speeds, 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. Multifunction printers are given a single rating, and the quantity of the reviews gives Stone an excellent frame of reference.
2. PrinterInfo.com	Multi Function Printer Tom Warhol As of Nov. 2007		This new review source has excellent reviews, but in its infancy, it has only reviewed four multifunction printers as of our last visit. Reviews are comprehensive and balanced. They are neatly arranged in multiple sections. The reports are more technical than most, but section conclusions are written in plain English. Each all-in-one printer is rated in each section, and PrinterInfo.com provides overall rankings. Comparisons are direct, frequent and relevant. Conclusions are decisive and comparative. Product photos and screen shots are very good, but the site doesn't show print reproductions or scans.
3. BeHardware.com	Product review: 16 multi-function printers from 50 to 259 euros Vincent Alzieu May 19, 2007		BeHardware.com is a French website devoted to computer hardware evaluation. This review directly compares 16 multifunction printers in a variety of price ranges. The website publishes side-by-side comparisons of scans of text, graphics and photos. Comparative printing and scanning speeds are charted, as is relative cost of use. Each all-in-one printer is then individually evaluated. In the conclusion, Vincent Alzieu selects the best printers for various priorities, mentioning any tradeoffs. This review is outstanding in all regards: It is comprehensive, objective and decisive. The exceptional documentation means that readers don't need to take the reviewer's word for anything. However, some of the multifunction printers covered are not available in the U.S., while a few others have since been discontinued.

Multifunction Printers Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.

Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Multifunction Printers Ratings Comments on Reviews

4. CNet.com	Printer Reviews Felisa Yang As of Nov. 2007		CNet.com reviews the most multifunction printers and covers all types. Reviews spend lots of attention on design and features, but are greatly enhanced with comparison charts that show the speeds of each model relative to competing models, and show scan and print quality relative to competing all-in-one printers. With some visual proof, such as reproductions of photos and scans, CNet's reviews could rank among the best. A few older reviews benefit from the contribution of many user reviews. However, they reveal some flaws in CNet's ratings. The two HP multifunction printers selected as Editors' Choices by CNet each have 33 user reviews with average ratings that are barely half of CNet's score.
5. Popular Photography >> Details/Subscribe	All-in-One Printer Shootout Michael J. McNamara Apr. 2007		This review directly compares the Canon Pixma MP810, Kodak EasyShare 5300, HP Photosmart C7180 and the now discontinued Epson Stylus Photo RX580. The multifunction printers were chosen as the best values in each manufacturer's line, but the price range of $150 (Epson) to $380 (HP) creates a hilly playing field. Reviewer Michael J. McNamara finds positives with the Epson, Canon and HP all-in-one printers, but the HP C7180 is subsequently named a 2007 POP (Photography's Outstanding Products) award winner. A photo gallery shows test results in complex color graphs.
6. Trusted Reviews	Printers Simon Williams As of Nov. 2007		Simon Williams reviews more than one multifunction printer per month, which creates an excellent background for evaluation. The inkjet all-in-one printers reviewed are sold in the U.S., but many of the laser models are only sold in Europe. One exception is the Canon Pixma MP610, which is the successor to the very popular MP600 and a recommended multifunction printer in its own right. Testing is very good and test reports are detailed, but some key areas are ignored. For example, scanning is not evaluated at all. Speed and cost of use are measured. The reviews are balanced, occasionally comparative, objective and performance-oriented. Overall ratings and subcategory ratings for features, print quality, print speed and value provide the primary basis for comparison.

Multifunction Printers Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.

Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Multifunction Printers Ratings Comments on Reviews

7. PCPro.co.uk	Home all-in-ones Editors of PCPro.co.uk Aug. 13, 2007		Britain's PC Pro reviews six multifunction printers for home users in this roundup. Each all-in-one printer gets a short report that delves into the high and low points, but not in much detail. Multifunction printers are not compared in the writeups, but are given numerical scores and ranked on the landing page, so it's easy to see how editors think they stack up. A separate companion report ranks four office multifunction printers; this report has the same positives and negatives. Searching the site turns up a plethora of additional single-product reviews from PC Pro and its sister magazines, Computer Buyer and Computer Shopper UK. The quality of these reviews varies greatly.
8. Consumer Reports >> Details/Subscribe	All-in-one printers Editors of Consumer Reports June 2007		In its latest update, Consumer Reports ranks a dozen inkjet multifunction printers and two laser printers. Editors say other models were tested, but not rated. In the ratings chart, each tested model gets a score for photo, text, graphics, and scan and copy quality. On the downside, discussion is brief and more explanation about the individual multifunction printers, and some of the recommendations made, is needed.
9. Macworld >> Details/Subscribe	Printers: reviews Editors of Macworld As of Nov. 2007		Macworld is a good place for Mac users to learn about multifunction printers. Though the reviews are not directly comparative, the scanning and printing operations are subjected to timed trials and print and scan/copy quality is evaluated by a jury rather than one reviewer. An overall rating is assigned, but scores are too close to make those particularly helpful. Still, with careful reading, many readers will be able to pick out which multifunction printers the editors deem best. Note that all reviewed all-in-one printers also work under Windows.
10. What Digital Camera	Printer Reviews Editors of WhatDigitalCamera.com As of Nov. 2007		What Digital Camera is a UK digital photography magazine and website. Editors regularly review multifunction printers, but do not publish the full content of those reviews online. The online reviews are very short and not directly comparative, but conclude with scores. Each review is substantive and a concise summary. The magazine has two limitations for U.S. readers: the minimal online content (with limited newsstand availability of the magazine), and that not all models are sold in the U.S.
11. PC World >> Details/Subscribe	Top 10 Inkjet Multifunction Printers Editors of PC World Sept. 12, 2007		This chart lists PC World's current top ten multifunction printers. Canon all-in-ones dominate the list; about half of the multifunction printers tested at PC World are made by Canon, skewing the results. Links lead to full reviews and test reports. Testing and documentation are good, except that PC World doesn't publish reproduced prints or scans. The rare direct comparisons are only within manufacturers' lines, and usually limited to features instead of performance.
12. JusTechn.com	Canon Pixma MP530 All-In-One Printer Ryan McLaughlin Jan. 28, 2007		In this single-printer review, Ryan McLaughlin gives readers some excellent tools for consideration and makes the best comparisons he can. Photographs, a screen shot, several scans and a reproduced print tell readers a lot about what they would be getting with the Canon Pixma MP530 all-in-one printer.
13. Business Week >> Details/Subscribe	Printer reviews Cliff Edwards and others As of Nov. 2007		Business Week has reviewed about six multifunction printers. So far, Business Week's reviews are undistinguished and not very comprehensive. Writeups are full of clichés, and based more on subjective reaction than formal testing. Single ratings, pros, cons and one-line summaries are imitative of PC Magazine and CNet.com, but less substantive overall.
14. HardwareCentral.com	Reviews Eric Grevstad As of Nov. 2007		Eric Grevstad reviews a multifunction device every couple of months or so. Reviews are generous to the products, but satisfactorily balanced. Conclusions usually include indirect comparisons, but all-in-one printers are never directly compared. Scores provide the only distinctions. Photos and screen shots are very good, but prints and scans are not reproduced. Grevstad says the HP Officejet Pro L7680 is the best all-in-one printer ever tested by Hardware Central, although it is more expensive than comparable competing products.
15. IT Reviews.com	Inkjet Printer and Laser Printer Reviews Editors of ITReviews.co.uk As of Nov. 2007		U.K. website IT Reviews is an extremely prolific reviewer of multifunction printers. Reviews are short but reasonably substantive, even though editors don't document testing very well. While conclusions are balanced, they rarely lead readers to a buy or reject decision. IT Reviews makes only generic comparisons. All-in-one printers aren't rated or ranked. A small percentage of products earn Recommended awards, but no current models are honored. We could only guess which of the 15 current multifunction printers is considered best by editors.
16. PC Magazine >> Details/Subscribe	20th Annual Reader Satisfaction Survey Subscribers of PC Magazine Sept. 13, 2007		PC Magazine 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, and the owners' likelihood of recommending the brand. A great benefit is that the chart breaks multifunction printers into categories: inkjet all-in-one, mono laser all-in-one, color laser all-in-one and photo all-in-one. Owners report that multifunction printers need more repairs than standalone printers. Each major brand fares well in one or two categories, but not others.
17. PC World >> Details/Subscribe	Printers: Multifunction Devices Editors of PC World (Australia) As of Nov. 2007		Australia's edition of PC World regularly reviews multifunction printers, including a slew of them recently. Reviews are uneven, though most cover the key issues. A few reviews are taken from the U.S. version of PC World, which is owned by the same parent company. Descriptions of output quality are very good, but not as revealing as reproductions of text and photo prints would be. Occasional comparisons help, but usually just address speed.

Multifunction Printers Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.

Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Multifunction Printers Ratings Comments on Reviews

18. PC Advisor	Multifunction Printer Reviews Editors of PCAdvisor.co.uk As of Nov. 2007		PC Advisor reviews lots of multifunction printers, but not all are available in the U.S. This British magazine uses lots of writers, so the review quality can vary quite a bit. Multifunction printers are not usually compared, though ratings for build quality, features and value can help readers a little in that regard. There's also an overall rating, but too many all-in-one printers get similar scores, so there's not much of a spread.
19. PC World >> Details/Subscribe	Top Multifunction Laser Printers Danny Allen July 7, 2006		PC World apparently no longer reviews multifunction laser printers. This chart lists ten multifunction laser printers previously reviewed by PC World, all of which were last rated November 10, 2005. Some of the models are still available, but the context has changed considerably in two years. Individual reviews of those models still have some relevance, but readers will have no idea how those models compare with the many newer, but not reviewed, multifunction laser printers.
20. Amazon.com	Multifunction Devices Contributors to Amazon.com As of Nov. 2007		With recent turnover in models, only multifunction printers that have been on the market for a long time have a lot of user reviews. Customer satisfaction is generally high, as most all-in-one printers have high average ratings. As a generalization, a higher price generates a higher average rating. The Canon Pixma MP600 and Canon Pixma MP810 stand out a bit, with 4.5/5 average ratings and significant quantities of reviews. The Epson RX680 only has eight reviews, but most of the buyers who care to comment bought lemons. About half of reporting owners experienced early hardware problems with the Kodak EasyShare 5300.
21. Tom’s Hardware Guide	16 Multi-Function Inkjet Printers Justin Korelc and Ed Tittel July 5, 2007		This is a fine informational article, but it is not a review. Neither text nor image quality is addressed. Features are compared in a chart, and in descriptions of each multifunction printer. The article does cover print speeds, but the reviewers don't say if the cited speeds are from test results or the manufacturers. In fact, testing is not mentioned. The article does not include ratings or print reproductions. The conclusion doesn't specifically identify a best model, but it implies that the Brother 440CN is the best overall.
22. HubCanada.com	Multifunction Printers: Why you need one, and why you might not…yet Gord Goble Aug. 2007		HubCanada.com is the online outlet of HUB: Digital Living Magazine, based in Toronto. This is an informational article, rather than a review. Gord Goble does a fine job of explaining the reliability disadvantages of multifunction machines as opposed to separate components, then abruptly jumps into a discussion of the offerings of the major manufacturers. He briefly explains each manufacturer's market niche (in Canada, but it applies in the U.S., too) and mentions a model or two to consider. This appears to be based on price, features and specifications. No testing or experience with the all-in-one printers is mentioned.
23. The Wall Street Journal	Kodak's New Printer Is a Good Start, Plus It Cuts the Cost of Ink Walter S. Mossberg Apr. 26, 2007		This article goes slightly beyond a single-product review, as Walt Mossberg compares the Kodak EasyShare 5300 with the HP Photosmart C6180. However, comparisons are indecisive. The review is sincere, but research and testing are inadequate. Unlike Mossberg, most reviewers attempt to address the major buying consideration with this model, which is discerning if it really is cheaper to use, as Kodak claims.

Multifunction Printers Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.

Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Multifunction Printers Ratings Comments on Reviews

24. Consumer Guide.com	Printers Expert Reviews Editors of ConsumerGuide.com As of Nov. 2007		Consumer Guide does not currently offer much for the multifunction printer buyer. The site is difficult to navigate, and multifunction printers can be found intermingled with reviews of photo, laser and inkjet printers. In addition, old models stay on the site well after they are discontinued. The reviews themselves, while better than they used to be, still fall short of real insight and rely far too much on manufacturer-supplied information. At least some testing is now being done, it appears, and a few critical comments give us hope that someday this could be a worthwhile place to visit.