The 1720dn Laser Printer offers a lot of features and flexibility for an accessible price. A small office with big ambitions won't have to leave this printer behind.

The A616 produced attractive prints with minor flaws and slow print speeds. If you're looking for colour accuracy and a speedy photo printer you might want to look elsewhere.

The Polaroid PoGo's appeal lies in its mobility and its near-instantaneous picture production. The price is steep for what amounts to a one-trick gimmick printer. But that doesn't detract from the silly fun people can have by printing pictures on the go. Teens and tweens, in particular, will love this feature; and casual users and business people (for example, real-estate agents who want to print pics of specific rooms for clients without delay) may appreciate PoGo's portability.

It's rare that a product – even a very good one – balances function, innovation, and performance, but that's what Hewlett-Packard has done with the Designjet Z3100 Photo Printer. The ease of use, excellent print quality, and smart design touches have been combined into one of the best professional printers we have ever seen.

Although budget printers are never completely satisfactory to use, the Deskjet D2560 makes a decent attempt. It feels delicate, but its speed, quality and running costs make it tempting.

If you need a dirt cheap multifunction to scan and print the homework that’s due tomorrow, then the X2650 may be up your alley. But for everyone who expects at least average quality from their devices, keep moving.

For the money, you get good overall speed and output, along with some reasonable compromises.

Even if you're looking for a cheap-as-chips multifunction, the F2280 isn't necessarily a compelling choice. It's slow and noisy, and text quality isn't that great. However, if you need a cheap solution for printing the odd photo then this unit does the trick.

This simple, inexpensive, and compact home printer is adequate for everyday printing tasks, but its print quality could be better.

The Canon Pixma MP160's everyday print jobs came out crisp, while scans are above-average but with limited resolution. The lack of a memory card slot could be an important omission.

Epson’s Stylus CX5500 carries a number of flaws which will deter some buyers. However, given its low price point and cost efficiency, this multi-function will suit those in need of a budget unit with cheap running costs.

The Pixma MP210's real attraction is that it offers extra functions beyond printing for a printer-like price. But if your copying needs extend far beyond the occasional, look for a model that has better capabilities and controls, such as Canon's Pixma MP470, which costs only $60 more.