The Stylus Office TX300F is slow and poorly built, but for its price it’s certainly appealing. The unit provides a slight compromise between dirt cheap and acceptable quality, and the automatic document feeder is a welcome feature.

Scanning certainly isn’t a strong point of the M2727nf, but this is more than made up for by its print quality and speed.

It's too bad about the inks, because the Dell V305W is a nice printer in many ways. But even if you don't print all that much, you'll notice the dent in your wallet fairly quickly. And unfortunately, this printer doesn't print money.

Although the only major issue with the LaserJet M1522n is its scanning functionality, there are numerous small niggles that make it a largely unimpressive device. Print speeds are some of the fastest in its class, but an expensive price point is unlikely to entice potential buyers.

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.

The Brother MFC-7440N is a capable mono laser multifunction that suffers from several flaws which may impact on its use in offices. It costs $100 more than the MFC-7340, but the addition of the Ethernet port is a boon for productivity.

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.

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.

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 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.

Although it might not be the best choice if you’re looking to print lab-quality photos, this workhorse will definitely increase office productivity.

Although there are cheaper home inkjet multifunctions, the Kodak EasyShare ESP 5 provides a decent all-round experience for its price. Its focus on print and scan quality allows for good results, particularly with photos.