It won't replace your graphics department's high-end colour laser printer, but for drafts and for other kinds of office users it's worth considering.

The R290 is an inexpensive and efficient low-end addition to Epson’s Stylus Photo range. Although quality isn’t always up to scratch, the printer will suit basic photo printing needs.

For the average family, the X4650 should suffice. Wi-Fi connectivity is an advantage for shared printing and print quality is adequate, but poor printing speeds will deter many people.

The MFC-7340 has a number of flaws and missing features that make it problematic for office use. No duplex, no Ethernet and an inadequate paper output tray are its key failures, but it delivers good quality printing and it is cost efficient.

The MFC-7840W improves on its cheaper counterparts with the addition of Wi-Fi connectivity. However, the extra $100 compared to the MFC-7440N hardly seems justified. This multifunction makes a good printer, but its scanning quality isn't great.

Konica Minolta’s bizhub 501 provides adequate functionality for the medium-sized office with fast print speeds and decent remote administration capability. This multifunction is let down by mono scanning, however.

The Colour LaserJet CM1312nfi packs in a decent number of features for a low asking price, but significant drawbacks ultimately make it uninspiring. This is a jack of all trades and master of none.

Though the TX700W offers a lot of functionality and connectivity, it is ultimately let down by poor quality. This multifunction performs acceptably for a simple text printer, but there are better options in the same price range.