Canon LBP3000

Canon's beige and grey LBP-3000 laser printer looks a little like a paper shredder, but is a good choice for an office worker or home environment with light to moderate demands. The diminutive machine has a footprint similar to an inkjet device, measuring 37 x 25 x 22 cm and weighing in at just over 6kg, so it should fit neatly on most desks.

Canon has only fitted 2MB of memory to the 3000 to keep costs down, but this brings a minor issue along with it. The LBP-3000 relies on the Windows GDI to handle print processing, so the device will only work under Windows and all images have to be pre-processed before being passed to the printer. Mac OS and Linux users are left out in the cold, but this is common for entry-level laser and even ink printers.

Canon is pitching this printer at homes or office staff. As a result, the company has opted to fit a single toner and drum cartridge to simplify replacing and monitoring consumables. The cartridges are rated to last for 2500 pages at 5% coverage on an A4 sheet, which should see several months' use. The 3000 is a great printer for anyone not too comfortable with technology. The single consumable cartridge is easy to replace, and there are even voice prompts to help you if you get stuck. The paper tray will hold 150 A4 sheets, while there's also a manual feed slot for handling cardboard or envelopes.

The 600dpi print engine does a good job with text - especially considering the low purchase price - but the printer has some trouble with extremely fine detail, with banding and smearing evident on closely-spaced high-density black lines. After taking around 10 seconds to print the first page, the 3000 consistently sustained rates of 13 pages per minute, which is fine for most offices or homes.

All up, the 3000 is a solid choice for business or home. It's quick enough for home, offers excellent features for those without much experience with printers, and runs quietly. At this price point, what more could you want?