While this unit has plenty of great features, we were disappointed by its print and photocopy quality. Photo printing may require a little fiddling in an image editor beforehand to get the colour balance correct.

This package distinguishes itself by offering a good software suite that would benefit anyone who has not had much experience with a multi-function device. It is highly recommended for the small office, although for photo printing you may have to tinker with the colour balance of your photos first to get good results.

Flexible paper-handling features and speedy printing make the X422 well suited to busy offices that don't need a full-featured scanner.

Samsung's unit is impressive for a sub-$500 laser multifunction printer. While it is ideal for home, relatively slow print speeds will bog down a busy small office.

The WorkCentre C2424 is a full-featured colour laser multifunction printer that can handle the traffic of a big office, but it produces mediocre output.

We like the photo quality of this unit’s output as well as its speed, versatility and connectivity options. The only thing missing is the ability to print directly onto CDs and DVDs.

If you're hunting for an affordably priced multi-purpose, space-saving unit for your home office or small business the MFC-640CW could be for you.

The MFC-8860DN is a jack of all trades and has a number of excellent features - above all it is capable of almost anything including printing, scanning, faxing and copying.

If you need a cheap combination of printer, scanner, fax, and copier for a home office in which speed and quality are of no concern, the Lexmark X5470 could be a good choice. But if you need to make a good impression, consider spending a little more money.

Office users searching for a bargain should snap this up. The PIXMA MP180's text output is excellent for the price, and scan facilities aren't bad either. However, if you're after graphics output that takes the breath away, look elsewhere.

The Epson Stylus Photo RX590 looks nice and is easy to use, and its CD-printing feature is unique. Still, its limited paper handling and slow, poor-quality printing on plain paper limit its value as a general-purpose device.

Exclusive business users might find a laser printer more to their liking but, for a home office with a need to mix faxing and decent text output with a desire for eye-catching photographs; the C6180 is a decent option.