The E232 has everything a first-time buyer's personal mono laser printer should. It's easy to install, simple to use and robust enough to take the knocks of family life. Add the low purchase price and excellent running costs and you have a great buy.

Lexmark's execution is a little disappointing on the P310. We don't like its slow access time when reading memory cards, nor do we think the omission of an output tray is a good idea. We also don't like this unit's print quality and its high cost per page.

This is a worthy but slightly dull MFD, enlivened by the presence of Wi-Fi.

This entry-level colour laser delivers high text quality and fast colour speeds, but operating costs are high.

Although the initial outlay is slightly high for a monochrome printer, the B6500N is very fast and easy to maintain, making it a good choice for a busy workplace.

While the C3530n performed quite well in our tests, its hidden consumables costs make it less of a bargain than it appears.

Oki's B4400n deserves credit for its performance and its sturdy design. Even the seemingly ho-hum monochrome printer category has hot competition, though, and other printers offer as many or more features for less money.

For the money, the Oki B4350 provides fast printing and excellent text, with an LCD navigation display that makes it particularly easy to use.

While the initial outlay on the CAMEDIA P-10 is inexpensive, its running costs are higher than many Kodak and Canon printers and its print quality is not as good. However, it is a very neat unit, so if you're looking for something that won't take up to much space on your desk or bookshelf, then it could be right for you.

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.

The Aficio GX3000 is a photo printer posing as a business model. Office users would be well advised to set their sights on a laser printer instead.