Superguide: Printers -- all you need to know

17 June 2008 04:55 PM

Tags: printer, ink, paper, laser, jet, photo, colour, dev

Looking to buy a printer? Our superguide rates the latest printers and shines a light into the industry.

Reviews

Dell 2135cn Colour Laser MFP

The 2135cn from Dell is a colour laser MFP with network support. While the 2135cn is a mixed bag in terms of quality and performance, it comes at a reasonable price.

Canon Pixma iP100 Inkjet Printer

It isn't cheap compared to standard printers, but the Canon Pixma iP100 has the highest resolution available in the mobile printer market and prints at an impressive speed to boot. If you simply must have a printer with you at all times, the iP100 should be the do-it-all at your side.

Canon Pixma MX7600

The Canon Pixma MX7600 produces excellent images as expected by both brand and nature. If only Canon could match its technical expertise with better network support, usability and documentation.

Brother MFC-7440N

The Brother MFC-7440N prints quickly and is fairly inexpensive to sustain, but we simply can't get behind a printer with poor quality graphics, significant hardware defects, and a boring design.

Samsung CLX-6210FX

The Samsung CLX-6210 Colour Laser MFD offers great feature set at a very reasonable price, but duplex printing is slow.

Lexmark X4875

It's a step back in the style stakes, but there's still plenty to like about Lexmark's latest small office wireless printer.

More Reviews »

Samsung ML-2851ND

Samsung's ML-2851ND is a bare bones mono-laser printer with a few extra features attached that will appeal to the small-to-medium business crowd that simply needs to print out text documents or light graphics. The AU$330 price tag is higher than average for a monochrome printer. Still, if print speed and print quality are deciding factors for you, consider the Samsung ML-2851ND.

HP Officejet J6480

The Officejet J6480 is Hewlett-Packard's newest all-in-one printer with a host of features designed to appeal to small-to-midsize businesses that want a low-cost, feature-rich device capable of handling projects across the board. The price and features set make the J6480 one of our favourite do-it-all devices.

Canon Pixma MX850

The Canon Pixma MX850 is a small, versatile multifunction printer suited to a small office looking for a cheap, do-it-all machine. It offers a broad range of features and reasonable document print quality, but don't expect top quality colour prints.

Brother HL-2170W

The Brother HL-2170W laser printer can be the perfect money saving sidekick to your existing inkjet, but don't expect it to handle even the most minor graphic jobs.

Kodak EasyShare 5500 All-in-One

Kodak packs a host of features in the EasyShare 5500, but fails to flesh them out sufficiently. We found this all-in-one printer frustrating to use.

HP CM8060

State-of-the-art enterprise-class inkjet technology makes HP's CM8060 Colour MFP more than a match for conventional laser-based alternatives.

HP Colour LaserJet CM1017

The HP Colour LaserJet CM1017 MFP is a great choice for small offices that need a multifunction laser with excellent print quality.

Canon Laser Shot LBP5360

The LBP5360 colour laser is the latest printer from Canon. Recently machines from the company have produced good quality output, but we have found them somewhat lacking when it comes to ease of installation.

Samsung ML-1630

If you want a monochrome laser that doesn't look like yet another grey box of doom, the ML-1630 could be your perfect match.

Brother MFC-685cw

The Brother MFC-685CW inkjet multifunction printer offers tons of great features at the expense of print speed and quality. If speed and quality are your priorities, look elsewhere.

Samsung ML-2571N

The Samsung ML-2571N mono laser printer has the right combination of price and features for a home office user with basic printing needs.

HP LaserJet P2015

The HP P2015dn has the right features to make it a good fit for a small office or home office.

HP unveils specialised printers, scanner

Hewlett-Packard has unveiled two Designjet printers aimed at the technical design market, and a device for high-speed document scanning.

Photos: HP Officejets challenge SMB laser printers

Hewlett-Packard has launched a new range of Officejet Pro printers Down Under aimed at small- to medium-sized businesses that use laser printers.

Lexmark X502n

Although it's missing some fax features that many small offices and work groups find useful, the Lexmark X502n produces fast, high-quality prints. This is one laser multifunction that has a lot going for it.

Dell 926 Photo All-in-One

The Dell Photo 926 is disappointing, even for a AU$100 multifunction printer. You can get a better printer for the same money.

Canon Pixma MP460

The Canon Pixma MP460 is a minor update to the MP450. We still like its print quality but were disappointed by its scans. Still, it's one of our top choices for a photo-centric budget all-in-one.

Brother MFC-440CN

The Brother MFC-440CN is a very flexible multifunction printer well suited to light use in a home or small office.

Lexmark X3550

On the surface, the X3550 appears to be a budget workhorse of a printer with the enticing option of wireless connectivity. It's a pity then, that the wireless is so expensive to include, and the printer itself so slow.

Lexmark launches SMB printer

Printer manufacturer Lexmark has unveiled an all-in-one offering aimed at the small- to medium-size business market.

IBM sells printer division to Ricoh

IBM is transferring its Printing Systems Division to Japanese electronics company Ricoh as part of a joint-venture agreement, the companies announced Thursday.

Epson Stylus Photo R2400

The Epson Stylus Photo R2400 printer's excellent monochrome printing further solidifies company's hegemony of the enthusiast and professional photo printer markets.

Lexmark Z735

This printer should sit comfortably in your home, just don't expect it to churn out award-winning pictures.

HP PSC 2355 all-in-one printer

The HP PSC 2355 all-in-one provides convenient printing and scanning tools for photo hobbyists.

Canon Pixma iP5000

A relatively fast, versatile printer with excellent text and graphics quality.

HP LaserJet 1022

This speedy, stylish, good-quality but basic laser printer fits solo users and students.

Epson Stylus Photo R1800

A very solid medium-format printer with a couple of quirks.

HP Photosmart 3310 All-in-One

This wireless all-in-one prints photos at a blinding pace.

Dell Photo All-in-One Printer 922

If you want a fast scanner that produces high-quality prints, this is the one. But for overall speed and fax capabilities, look elsewhere.

Lexmark X7170

The Lexmark X7170 prints great colour photos, but bad text prints and the lack of media-card slots might frustrate users.

Canon Pixma MP780

The Canon Pixma MP780 is a solid, midrange all-in-one that offers a smart feature set with full faxing, good paper handling, and low cost per page printing, though no networkability.

Kodak EasyShare Printer Dock 6000

Top-notch prints and easy operation makes this the photo printer of choice for compatible Kodak cameras. It does have a few drawbacks, though.

HP Photosmart 8750

This is a decent printer for the photo enthusiast or scrapbooker who wants the amenities of a consumer printer in the size of a medium-format model.

Do-it-all office inkjets

Laser printers are the office workhorse, but only ink-based multifunctions can juggle spreadsheets for work and print pictures for play.

Brother MFC-5840cn

This network-ready multifunction is easy to use and feature packed, but it won't please print-quality purists.

HP Deskjet 6840

Ready for a wired or Wi-Fi network, the HP Deskjet 6840 handles text and photos well for a small business or a home.

HP Photosmart 2710

This great all-in-one costs more than most but delivers on speed, print quality, and features.

Tech guide: When printers ain't printers

Choosing the right photo printer can mean the difference between crystal clear prints or smudged impressions. Our tech guide lets you know what to look for in a photo printer.

Canon Pixma iP90

Ever printed on an airplane? What about from a mobile phone? The go-anywhere Canon iP90 offers worlds of possibilities -- for a price.

Canon i475D Photo Printer

The Canon i475D is small-scale photo printer with some nice features for amateur digital photographers, but the i860 is a better deal.

Tech Guide: Which Printer?

If you're pondering a printer purchase, but are befuddled by the bevy of options, then you need our comprehensive guide to printer types, technologies and costings.

Dell Personal All-In-One A940 Printer

What kind of AIO printer do you get for under AU$200? ZDNet Australia investigates Dell's low-cost printer offering.

HP OfficeJet 7410

This sumptuous all-in-one is sure to please well-heeled families, photographers and small offices.

Lexmark P6250 Home Photo Center All-in-One

The P6250 is an all-in-one home photo printer that includes a scanner and some intuitive consumer-friendly touches such as animated tutorials on its 2.5-inch colour LCD.

HP's entry level printer

One look at its flimsy plastic, and you'll see the HP Deskjet 3820 for what it really is: one of the bargain offerings in HP's new, redesigned line of inkjet printers.

Samsung ML-1740

The Samsung ML-1740 black-and-white laser printer will satisfy a tight budget in a small office or at home, but you should opt for a more sophisticated machine if you need a corporate workhorse.

Dell steps onto printer stage, but will Aussies miss out?

The PC maker is taking on Hewlett-Packard and others with a quartet of inkjet and laser devices, which it will begin shipping in the US in April. Meanwhile, Australian users are unlikely to see Dell-branded printers any time soon.

Editor's Pick: All-in-one printers

It's not enough for printers to simply print any more; the best models scan, fax and copy, although they still won't wake you in the morning with a cup of coffee. Check out these all-in-one wonders.

HP's versatile photo printer

The new HP Photosmart 130 lets you print borderless 4R photos with or without a PC, while doubling as a multiple memory card reader as well.

First Take: Canon CP-200

Successor to the Canon CP-100 and sibling of the CP-300, this third-generation dye-sublimation printer offers fans of direct printing the latest in connectivity support, PictBridge.

Tech Guide: Tips for better photo printouts

Want to know how to print great-looking photos? Here are some tips on how you can get the best results from your printer.

Tech Guide: Tinker with your inkjet

Remember when you had to drag a floppy disk over to the local copy shop if you wanted to make a colour printout? Now anyone can be a printmaster.

Brother HL-2700CN

This is a compact and affordable network-ready colour laser printer that will suit many small businesses, but you may need to look elsewhere for top-notch speed and print quality.

Epson Stylus Photo R800

Despite some finicky printhead behaviour, this excellent printer earns an Editors' Choice for photo enthusiasts.

Brother MFC-8440

Small offices that don't need a colour scanner will appreciate the other features in the Brother MFC-8440.

Lexmark Z818

The Lexmark Z818 is a good-looking but otherwise humdrum colour inkjet printer. However, it is affordable.

Sony DPP-EX50

This snapshot photo printer makes beautiful prints for a reasonable price, but its design could use some work.

First Take: Epson Stylus CX6500

Epson's latest All-In-One (AIO) continues to use the manufacturer's DURABrite inks, but does this all-rounded multifunction bring anything new to the table?

Epson Stylus C65

The Epson C65 brings quality photo printing to the home at an affordable price, but offers little else over its predecessor.

Canon CP-330

The CP-330 doesn't have any whiz-bang features, but its compact design and quality output make it a reasonable choice among portable photo printers.

HP OfficeJet 9130 All-in-One

The 9130's cool new ability to auto-archive images and documents to online folders doesn't outweigh its moderate print quality, but this printer does reproduce photos very well.

Lexmark X5250 All-In-One

For less than AU$300, the Lexmark X5250 All-in-One has just about everything from photo printing features to scanning and copying. It's fast, too.

The cut-throat business of printer cartridges

Commentary: Printer manufacturers have been quick to catch on to Gillette's business model, but are they going too far?

Epson PictureMate

This portable photo printer produces quality output, but we wish it ran on batteries. It could stand to be a lot faster, too.

Tech Guide: Buy the right photo printer

Photography is not just about shooting nice portraits and beautiful scenery. Many camera users agree that the most gratifying experience is, in fact, printing their own pictures.

Brother HL-5140

The Brother HL-5140 is an affordable laser printer that will grow with your small business or home office.

HP LaserJet 3015

The HP LaserJet 3015 does the trick for students and families, but small businesses can do better with a different printer.

Editor's Pick: 5 Inkjet Printers

Whether you need a home photo printer or a cheap SOHO workhorse, this selection of the best inkjet printers will have something to suit.

Reading the fine print: 7 laser printers tested

Just because a printer is cheap to buy off the shelf doesn't mean it's going to save you money in the long term. We look at the real costs of network laser printers.

Multitalented multifunctions: 5 MFDs tested

We take a look at five devices that will print, fax, copy, scan, sort, staple, hole punch... and that's before breakfast. But can you stop those wasteful users from printing in colour?

HP OfficeJet 5510 all-in-one

A multifunction unit that's not only compact, but also a good all-round performer.

HP LaserJet 3380

The HP LaserJet 3380 is a good match for a very small-business operation that doesn't require colour printing.

Canon i80

With a car charger and Bluetooth support, the i80 brings mobile printing to the next level.

HP Color LaserJet 3500

The HP Color LaserJet 3500 is a good printer for a home office or a small business that needs quality printing but not expandability.

First Take: HP Color LaserJet 3500

The HP Color LaserJet 3500 offers a surprising number of features suitable for the printing needs of small to medium-size businesses. But will the print quality and the speed of the 3500 stand up to that of the other printers in its class?

Epson Stylus Photo R210

The Epson R210 includes many useful features and a price point that's sure to please digital photo enthusiasts.

HP LaserJet 3030 all-in-one

Need the speed and quality of a laser with the features and size of a compact multifunction? This HP may have your name written on it.

Canon i990

Sporting 1,000 nozzles more than its nearest competitor, the i990 promises to be one sprightly performer.

First Take: Canon i560

This new desktop photo printer offers true borderless images up to 8.5x11 inches, plus camera-to-printer capability.

Samsung SCX-4216F

Can Samsung provide a multifunctional device that can print, scan, copy and fax without breaking the budget of the average SOHO user? Read our Australian review.

Canon i905D

The six-colour Canon i900D photo printer is smartly designed, and it's versatile enough for serious home digital photographers.

Up in the sky! It's a printer.. it's a scanner.. it's an MFD

If it's super MFD performance you're after, you normally have to deal with a kryptonite-like problem somewhere. We put two MFDs head to head to find a printer of steel.

HP PhotoSmart 1215 Printer

Relying on Hewlett-Packard's proprietary PhotoREt III color-layering technology, the AU$799 HP PhotoSmart 1215 can create prints on premium glossy paper that display good continuous tones and subtle shading. The 1215 can also print text and photos onto plain paper, so it's an excellent choice for a multipurpose printer.

Canon imageCLASS MP370

The Canon MP370 is a stylish AIO that brings full photo-printing functionality into the multifunction space.

Canon i560

This colour inkjet is an excellent value for families, students, job seekers, and, of course, digital photo nuts.

Brother MFC-3820CN

The Brother MFC-3820CN is a no-nonsense AIO that offers full functionality at a affordable price.

HP Photosmart 7960

This photo printer's beautiful output, plentiful direct-printing options, and ease of use make it an excellent choice for any digital-photo enthusiast.

Epson Stylus Photo RX510

The Epson RX510 adds a film scanner to the standard home multifunction capabilities, all at an affordable price.

HP Deskjet 3550

The HP Deskjet 3550 is an entry-level printer that's surprisingly fast and produces reasonably good-quality prints. However, it is let down by high ink costs.

HP LaserJet 1010

The LaserJet 1010 offers decent prints for a home office or a small business. Unfortunately, the limited expansion options and its middling print quality fail to measure up to the rest of its attributes.

HP LaserJet 1300

The LaserJet 1300 offers fast prints and a lot of expansion options for a home office or a small business. Unfortunately, its print quality fails to measure up to the rest of its attributes.

Canon CP-300

The CP-300 is an ideal choice for users who want to make instant 4R prints of their digital captures on the road.

HP Colour LaserJet 1500L

The HP Colour LaserJet 1500L's low price puts good colour laser printing within the grasp of budget-strapped small offices. But if you need high volume or room to grow, get a more expandable model.

Lexmark P707 Photo Jetprinter

The P707's cutthroat price along with its built-in memory card reader give the P707 tremendous value. However, its high running costs and slow print speeds make it hard to recommend.

Lexmark's small, cheap laser printer

The Lexmark E210 (AU$599) is a good all-purpose home or office laser printer, producing crisp prints at a fraction of the cost of larger printers. Easy setup, simple software, and low-cost toner refills make the E210 an acceptable printer solution for home or small-office needs.

HP PSC 2510

Wireless connectivity is only one of the tricks that this MFD can perform.

Lexmark Z605 Color Jetprinter

The Z605 is an extremely cheap injket printer most suitable for those who only print intermittently.

Epson Stylus C43UX

The Epson Stylus C43UX is a budget printer that combines good value with reasonable good-quality prints.

Epson Stylus Photo 935

The Epson Stylus Photo 935 offers a plethora of printing options as well as high-resolution prints, but owing to its slow print speeds and sub-par text outputs, this printer just doesn't hack it for office work.

Canon LBP 2410

The Canon Laser Shot LBP 2410 fuses fast print speeds with good output quality, all at an affordable price to SOHO users.

Lexmark X1150 All-In-One

Lexmark's X1150 provides your SOHO with decent multifunctional performance, but the value of the model is compromised by high running costs.

Making the upgrade

You've got a lot invested in that current infrastructure, but there are those who are telling you it's time to upgrade. When is really the right time?

HP LaserJet 2300dtn

HP's LaserJet 2300dtn fits an impressive number of high-end features into a printer that's priced for budget-minded small offices.

HP OfficeJet 6110

Although light on fax tasks, the HP OfficeJet 6110 is still a versatile multifunction printer.

Tech Guide: Buying for your business

Don't make a costly mistake. Before you plunk down the big bucks on new hardware, read our expert advice on how to choose the right desktops, notebooks, displays, and printers for your business.

Open your own document centre

We put some of the top office printers/copiers head to head.

Canon i950

Canon's i950 photo inkjet is a sure winner for amateur digital photographers with a restricted budget.

Affordable colour on the network

Networkable laser printers have dropped significantly in price. But it still pays to know what you're after before your organisation goes colour. ZDNet Australia tests five networkable printers.

Canon i470D

The Canon i470D promises a rich feature set that promises to raise the bar for the Japanese manufacturer. We put it under stress to see how well it holds up.

HP PSC1210: Teeny-tiny all-in-one

Some all in one printer, scanner and copier units are defined by their nifty add-ons, or groovy style choices The PSC1210 is just small. No, strike that, it's very small. Read our Australian review.

Canon i70: Sleek and portable

We test drive Canon's smallest Bubble Jet, which retains the series' ultra-portable formula while updating the desktop performance.

HP OfficeJet 7130 all-in-one

An all-round good performer impaired by the same unrefined OCR package found on the PSC 1210.

HP Officejet 4110: Small gets smaller

With dimensions smaller than HP's own 1210, the Officejet 4110 accomplishes a feat. We put it through the paces to see if it improves and even performs up to the mark.

Camera-print standard comes into focus

In a move contrary to current proprietary practices, six companies are now rooting for an industry standard to allow photos to be printed through a direct camera-to-printer connection.

Sony DPP-EX5: Photos on demand

Digital shutterbugs take note. The DPP-EX5 lets you print from a camera or a media card straight to photo paper.

Epson Stylus CX5100

The low cost, good looks and straightforward use makes it a good choice for home or SOHO users.

Epson Stylus Photo 830: Budget contender

The Stylus Photo 830 capable entry-level inkjet printer that produces brilliant photo quality images and tidy text print-outs at a reasonable price.

You can take it with you: 5 portable printing options

Mobile printing can be a pain, whether you head to the copy shop or find a hotel business centre. Our Australian review examines five different options for printing on the road.

Canon's inkjet speaks your language

The S830D prints photos from cameras and media, but does its output lose something in translation?

HP Deskjet 6122: SOHO features with a catch

HP's sturdy Deskjet 6122 provides lots of small office/home office (SOHO) perks at a budget price -- but you still can't get something for nothing.

Lexmark's budget all-in-one

The new Lexmark X75 is clearly designed with the budget consumer in mind.

HP Photosmart 7550: PC-free printing

This adequate graphics printer offers only mediocre speed and print quality; you'd get better results from the Canon S900. But if you want to print directly from your camera or media card, try the 7550 for PC-free printing.

HP Photosmart 7150: No frills

HP's Photosmart 7150 is a no-frills photo printer, or at least a no-frills-worth-mentioning photo printer.

Tech guide: Ink-conceivable

If inkjets leave you flustered and lasers sound dangerous, check out our guide to the various types of printing solutions available.

Smart ways to save on printing costs

Printing your own photos is easy and in most cases fun, but it can be an expensive affair. Check out our guide to getting the most out of your printer.

What you'll buy this year

Pundits are predicting a slow tech year, but that doesn't mean that there won't be gizmos to catch your eye and snag your wallet.

HP's budget all in one

HP's PSC 2110 doesn't have a pretty name, but it does have a pretty good price point. Budget usually means compromises though -- does the PSC 2110 offer enough?

Reviews News: Graphic content

It's graphic designer's week here at Reviews News, with some programs designed to help you make things look pretty and a colour printer, so you can stick them on your wall.

Reviews News: SOHO, so what?

There's nothing large scale released this week. Everything has been for the personal consumer or small business. Even the server costs less than most notebooks.

Reviews News: Holiday Cheer

As we head into Christmas, staff begin to lose concentration at work, and begin surfing the Net for bargains to buy their loved ones for the special day. Check out this week's newest product announcements.

Pocket printing with a punchy price tag

The PV-10 is an interesting mobile printer but the price tag may deter all but the most ardent gadget fan. Check out our Australian first review.

Budget Inkjet shootout

It's never been a better time to buy a cheap and feature packed inkjet printer. We test two likely candidates from HP and Canon.

HP PSC 950: Do it all attitude

HP's PSC 950 offers multifunctional printing capabilities for SOHO environments with a couple of unique image-based twists.

Printing for professionals

The Epson Stylus Photo 2100 isn't cheap, but its print quality more than justifies its high asking price. Check out our review.

Printing on the cheap

Lexmark's Z25 colour printer is incredibly cheap, and prints well. But you still can't get something for nothing.

Reviews News: What do you want to do with images today?

This week there's everything you need to scan images, print images, chuck 'em on a wall, and so on and so forth.

Lexmark Z65: High definition, low paper sense

Lexmark's Z65 prints well, but its claim to be able to sense all paper types needs to be taken with a grain of salt.

Reviews News: What you need

Everything you need to set up an online presence is in this newsletter, with the exception of capable staff.

Reviews News: Wireless and PDA's

Peripherals continue to be a focus for companies, with several being released not just for the PC, but for PDA's as well.

Best of October 2002

Take a look at the best and most popular stories at ZDNet Reviews for the month of October.

Low-Cost Laser Shootout

We test the HP LaserJet 1000 and the Samsung ML-1250. They're similarly priced but differ in performance and features.

Reviews News: Notebooks and Switches

The staple diet of new switches and broadband technologies has this week been supplemented by a healthy addition of notebook launches.

Canon S900 -- Too fast, too pricey?

The Canon S900 colour photo printer is one of the new, flagship inkjets in Canon's 2002 fleet, and it has the styling to prove it.

A bigger Brother

Brother has been chugging out decent printer combos for some time now and with the introduction of the HL-1440 it looks like they might just be ready to play with the big boys.

Minolta's colourful addition to your network

As businesses of all sizes demand capable colour printing, numerous printer makers have stepped up to offer faster and more affordable colour laser solutions for the network.

Lexmark targets SOHOs with new laser

Lexmark's latest offering brings to the table a few key qualities that'll endear it to small businesses: affordability, versatility and speed.

HP LaserJet 4100n

The AU$3,199 Hewlett-Packard LaserJet 4100n is a fast, reliable office laser printer that cranks out sharp, affordable text pages typical of HP's high standards. What sets the 4100n apart from the pack is a nifty software suite that lets network administrators monitor and manage the printer via email and Web browser notification--an amazingly helpful tool for IT folks everywhere.

Olympus P-400

If you want great-looking photos -- and don't mind paying extra to get them -- check out the AU$2860 Olympus P-400. This dye-sublimation printer creates continuous-tone printouts without the "grain" that makes inkjets distinguishable from photographs.

Epson Stylus Photo 2000P

The first desktop printer to employ MicroCrystal Encapsulation technology, this unit claims colours that will remain stable for up to two centuries.

Cheap as Lexmark Z53

The Lexmark Z53 Colour Jetprinter is one of the best photo-quality inkjet printers we've ever tested. Priced at only AU$399, it not only saves buckets of money, it shoots out wonderfully crisp and richly coloured photo prints as quickly as those more expensive printers. Good for most home or small-biz tasks, the Z53 has our vote, hands down, as the best printer buy of the year.

HP Business InkJet 2250TN

A new addition to Hewlett-Packard's fairly new HP 2000 series of business inkjets, the 2250tn proves to be an improvement. Its two stacked paper trays and large size show it means business and it also includes an internal printer-server card so you can hook it up to Ethernet, Token Ring, and LocalTalk networks.

The Essential Inkjet Buying Guide

Get top-notch print quality from an inkjet without draining your wallet. Within the last year, true photo-quality inkjets have stormed the market, accompanied by superior resolution, low prices, and long-lasting ink.

Lexmark Z12 Color Jetprinter

With an estimated price of AU$149, the Z12 Color Jetprinter has the distinction of being the least expensive inkjet printer sold by Lexmark Australia.

HP Colour LaserJet 4550DN

The 4550DN's output quality and performance alone would make it worth considering.

Lexmark Z52

Advanced-level home users and small-office users are the target markets for Lexmark International's latest addition to its Z series of colour ink jet printers.

Canon's new all-in-one device

The Canon MultiPASS C100 is an exciting all in one device that uses inkjet technology to print, copy, scan, and fax.

HP Digital Sender 8100C

Think of the HP Digital Sender 8100C as a fax machine for the e-mail age--or, more simply, an e-mail machine.

HP LaserJet prints at new speeds

HP's LaserJet 1200se boasts output speeds of over 15ppm and a 10-second fuser warm-up time, which should put this AU$765 printer on top of the high-speed list among black-and-white office laser printers. Real-world tests showed that the 1200 is right on the money.

Dell 1720 mono laser printer

The Dell 1720dn offers fast prints and good print quality, making it an excellent mono laser printer for small offices or work groups.

Inkjet Printers

In the market for an inkjet printer? Then this product comparison is required reading.

Printers, Scanners and Monitors

From Flat Faced monitors, budget printers and cool, compact scanners, we look at the essential PC Peripherals.

Reviews News: Mostly printers, mostly Epson

Epson has flooded the market with new product this week, so you're spoiled for choice if you're looking for a photo printer. Linux is also moving out of the shadows, with a couple of companies bragging about Linux compatibility.

HP Photosmart C8180

At AU$599, the Photosmart C8180 sits in Hewlett-Packard's lineup as one of its most expensive All-in-One (AIO) players. With a suite of features, it's not without a few missteps. The photo quality is better than average and the hardware is well-designed, but the lack of an auto-document feeder (ADF) and painfully slow print speed prevent us from giving this otherwise excellent printer a better rating.

HP iPAQ 912c

The HP iPAQ 912c defines the middle of the road. When you consider its performance versus the price, the 912c is passable but painfully average.

Buffalo TeraStation Pro II Rackmount

Although it covers all the NAS bases and is very affordable, it's hard to see the TeraStation Pro II Rackmount having much of an impact on the business market.

Synology Rack Station RS408

The Rack Station RS408 is an attractive NAS solution with plenty of performance, plus lots of extras to tempt the smaller business.

Iomega StorCenter Pro NAS 450r

The StorCenter Pro NAS 450r is a generously-specified appliance running Windows Storage Server 2003. While it scores on performance, it's pricey and lacks capacity.

HP printers address need for speed

A new HP printer line-up is on the way that features blazingly fast photo printing speeds.

Bang for your buck: 4 Budget printers tested

Are printers in the sub AU$100 space actually worth buying? We check out four low-cost printing options in our Australian review.

Konica Minolta Magicolor 4650DN

The Konica Minolta Magicolor 4650DN goes a long way to reducing the gap between inkjet and laser colour handling. Overall the Magicolor was very easy to use, and the basic unit is great value for money.

Adobe Acrobat 9 Pro Extended (Beta)

Adobe's latest incarnation of Acrobat is top of the line, highly featured software. Just make sure you need all the bells and whistles before you pay the AU$999 price tag.

D-Link RangeBooster N 650 ADSL2+ Router (DSL-2740B)

The DSL-2740B is a modem and router that offers a good balance between price and features, with a slightly shaky performance.

Lenovo IdeaPad U110

Lenovo's bright red foray into the ultraportable consumer space is for the most part a successful one, despite a few missteps.

DrayTek Vigor2820n ADSL2+ Router

DrayTek's Vigor2820n offers a vast array of features, but you'll pay for them. Make sure you need everything it offers first!

All Jammed Up -- Printer management packages

All printer vendors make software to manage their own printers. But if, like most organisations, you have printers from several vendors, what tools can you use to manage all of them?

Lexmark's most-in-one printer

Lexmark's X83 All-In-One should really be called the Most-In-One; it's a colour inkjet-based multifunction that combines a flatbed scanner, a printer, and a photocopier in one box.

Belkin Network USB Hub

While we're all waiting for wireless USB, Belkin intends to make print servers easy.

Apple AirPort Express Base Station (802.11n)

Apple's AirPort Express Base Station has always been remarkable in that it is networking hardware that people actually seem to get excited about. Thanks to an update to the 802.11n wireless networking standard, this compact, easy-to-use device can now add increased wireless networking performance to its list of pros.

Paint it black: 6 mono printers tested

Who needs colour? Sometimes all you need is a black-and-white printer that can churn out the pages fast. We test your options.

Fit to Print: 9 colour laser printers tested

Printing solutions for the office come in all shapes and sizes. Check out our review to find the right one for your needs.

NComputing L230

NComputing's L230 thin client is an option if you need to add a group of low-impact users to an existing Ethernet LAN. However, you'll need to ensure that the host PC is adequately specified to deliver acceptable performance to the terminals attached to it.

Brother HL-4040cn

Despite its lagging black print speeds, the Brother HL-4040CN does a lot of things right and makes a compelling colour laser printer for small offices or workgroups.

QNAP TS-209 Pro NAS

QNAP's TS-209 Pro offers a compelling mix of server functionality and straight-up NAS backup options.

Netgear ReadyNAS RND4250

The ReadyNAS RND4250 is a new product in Netgear's line-up developed to bring enterprise level storage technology to small business and home users at a reasonable price.

Samsung CLX-3160FN

The Samsung CLX-3160FN isn't the best or fastest multifunction printer, but it offers a good value for small offices and work groups with basic needs.

Nitro PDF professional 4.91

The vast majority of people with a need to create PDF files will be served more than adequately by this product, and the price gives it a handy head start over Adobe Acrobat.

Iomega StorCenter Pro NAS 150d

An appreciably large NAS server targeted for small- or home office use, above-average performance and considerable storage space make the Iomega Storcenter Pro 150d a great solution for data archiving and backing up PCs in your office.

Mandriva Linux 2006

Despite combining the heritage of Mandrakesoft and Connectiva, Mandriva is usually considered a second-tier Linux distribution. Nevertheless, the latest version, Mandriva Linux 2006, is well packaged and includes support for both 32-bit and 64-bit systems.

Toshiba Satellite A200

The A200 is a good all-rounder notebook with plenty to offer those on a budget. Just don't expect a performance powerhouse at this price.

Netgear WGPS606 wireless print server

The Netgear WGPS606 wireless print server is a chore to set up and works with a limited number of printers, but once it's up and running, it works well.

Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5

Production-quality XenSource virtualisation is the main selling point here, with optional clustering and storage virtualisation to go with it. But there's a lot more besides, making the new Red Hat Enterprise Linux a compelling solution for businesses of all sizes.

Belkin Wireless G Router with Built-in USB Print Server

Just about everything to do with this wireless router and print server is extremely easy to use. If you're looking for an 802.11g router and want a simple life, the Belkin Wireless G Router with Built-In USB Print Server comes highly recommended.

Citrix GoToMyPC 6.0

Cost aside, GoToMyPC 6.0 is a great service. It is extremely easy to install, has great features and most importantly, it just works.

PDF-eXPLODE

For standard invoices and reports requiring efficient delivery, PDF-eXPLODE could well be a lifesaver. It can be a bit touchy on occasion, but once your document templates are set up properly it should be plain sailing.

Dell Dimension E521

It doesn't have many bells and whistles, but a powerful dual-core AMD processor lends the Dell Dimension E521 unexpected performance and strong bang for the buck.

Windows Vista Home Premium

Windows Vista Home Premium is essentially warmed-over Windows XP Home Edition. If you're currently happy with Windows XP SP2, we see no compelling reason to upgrade. On the other hand, if you need a new computer right now, Windows Vista Home Premium is stable enough for everyday use.

Windows Vista Ultimate

Windows Vista Ultimate is essentially warmed-over Windows XP. If you're currently happy with Windows XP SP2, we see no compelling reason to upgrade. On the other hand, if you need a new computer right now, Windows Vista is stable enough for everyday use.

Windows Vista Business

Windows Vista Business is essentially warmed-over Windows XP. If you're currently happy with Windows XP SP2, we see no compelling reason to upgrade. On the other hand, if you need a new computer right now, Windows Vista is stable enough for everyday use.

Windows Vista Home Basic

Windows Vista Home Basic is essentially warmed-over Windows XP, Windows XP SP3. If you're currently happy with Windows XP SP2, we see no compelling reason to upgrade. On the other hand, if you need a new computer right now, Windows Vista is stable enough for everyday use.

Internet Explorer 7 RC1

No new changes in this latest build of IE 7 from Microsoft, except for more stability and application compatibility, but this browser still is not ready for prime time.

Nokia N80

A wealth of cool multimedia features including UPnP and a 3-megapixel camera make this model impressive. The only downers are in the button design and battery life.

BenQ Joybook R55

Given its impressive performance, generous software bundle and superb screen, at just AU$2299 the R55 is a rare bargain.

Ubuntu Linux 5.10

Ubuntu is a well integrated, practical and absolutely free Linux distribution. There may be worries about support, but the Canonical organisation is building a good reputation and the head of steam in the wider Ubuntu community should provide decent local support from third parties, too.

Internet Explorer 7 Beta 3

Microsoft has changed the look and feel of its venerable browser while adding some much-needed security features.

First Take: Nokia N92

Watch TV broadcasts on your mobile with Nokia's N92 3G handset. There's also Wi-Fi, USB 2.0 and Bluetooth for connectivity and an external memory card slot for recording your favourite shows. Nokia Australia is yet to announce local availability. Stay tuned to CNET.com.au for more information about Nokia's Nseries.

Samsung SyncMaster 204B

The Samsung SyncMaster 204B can handle productivity and entertainment tasks, but there are less expensive alternatives that offer comparable image quality and superior features.

First Take: Microsoft Windows Vista

Microsoft has released the first public beta of its Windows Vista operating system. We examine the new features.

Red Hat Desktop 4

Businesses that need to support a reasonable number (>10) of Linux PCs may find that Red Hat Desktop 4 delivers an attractive total cost of ownership (TCO).

Canon Pixma iP4000

The flagship printer in Canon's latest low-end inkjet lineup is fast and inexpensive, and it's capable of producing fairly good output.

Linksys EFG120

The EFG120 network attached storage unit offers the perfect feature set for some small businesses, but everyone else should turn to better-equipped competition.

First Take: Microsoft Windows Vista

Microsoft has more to do on its new operating system, but this first beta suggests that Windows Vista will be up to par with Linux and Apple Mac OS X.

Images: Windows Vista beta 2

We take a detailed look at the features of Microsoft's Windows Vista operating system, which include improved security options, "gadgets" and integrated search.

Maxtor Shared Storage Plus

Consumer NAS drives don't get classier or easier than the Maxtor Shared Storage Plus, but we'd like to see Gigabit Ethernet on it.

Desktop Linux for small businesses

Is your business ready to take the open-source plunge? We test five leading desktop Linux distributions and come up with one winner.

HP Photosmart 245

This compact portable photo printer is a great choice for those who really need to print on the go.

Hewlett Packard

Hewlett Packard have announced a new direction in its printing and imaging strategy. It has combined its latest web-enabled printers with new printing e-services to relegate the -just a printer" concept to the Dark Ages. To ensure the commercial success of the strategy, HP is building a suite of Internet services that will turn its new generation of printers into on-line printing devices.

Nikon Coolpix P2

We love the Wi-Fi properties on this Coolpix P2, but we are sure the camera could have done better if it allowed us to connect to the Internet as well.

Buffalo By Uniden Terastation

A terabyte of extra storage is a compelling idea, although setup can be a bit tricky.

Canon i455

The Canon i455 is an inexpensive, no-frills photo printer that's perfect for families and students.

First Take: Kodak EasyShare-One

What's better than a digital camera with a 2-inch LCD screen? A 3-inch one, of course!

Analysis: Microsoft's OS update

Underneath the sheen, what's Windows Vista made of? We take a detailed look at the recently delayed operating system.

First Take: Kodak Easyshare DX7440

The American manufacturer's latest duo of digital cameras have more in common than their looks. For starters, they both sport a large and bright 2.2-inch LCD.

Photo gallery: Inside IE 7 (XP SP2 beta 2)

In the just-released Beta 2 version of Internet Explorer 7, Microsoft mirrors the look and feel of other browsers while adding a few unique features.

Novell Linux Desktop 9

If you manage a lot of corporate desktops, then Novell's Linux Desktop is well worth a look -- particularly if you're happy with ZENworks. Linux pricing and Novell's corporate-style support could make this a useful option for business.

SuSE Linux 10

SUSE Linux 10 is a full Windows/Microsoft Office replacement on one DVD at a bargain price. Home users could do a lot worse, and even IT managers may learn to love it.

Canon S200SP: Low price, good resolution

The Canon S200SP offers high resolution colour prints at a reasonable long term cost.

Tech Guide: Small-business networking

Tips for implementing a wireless, Ethernet or power-line network in a small-business environment.

Fast fixes for pesky PC problems

Hijacked Web browsers, slow bootups, lost shortcuts, choppy video -- we've gathered 10 easy, inexpensive solutions for these and other common computing problems.

Microsoft Windows Vista Preview

Microsoft has more to do on its new operating system, but this first beta suggests that Windows Vista could be up to par with Linux and Apple Mac OS X.

Google Mini Search Appliance

Aimed at small to medium-size enterprises (SMEs) that need a search engine without the hassles, the Google Mini is capable and flexible. We just wish the upgrade path was more affordable.

The Best Inkjet Ever?

Up to now, there have two types of inks to choose from when outputting photo-quality prints on inkjet printers: you could have either great-looking inks, the colours of which shift and fade after a few weeks, or more permanent inks and papers that remain stable for years but look dull and unrealistic.

Epson Stylus C63

The Epson C63 brings quality photo printing to the home at an affordable price.

Bridging the gap, but is it too little too late?

PictBridge was the darling of digital imaging for just about the whole of 2003. Yet, here we are, midway into 2004, and we're still to see it impacting purchase decisions. What's happening?

First Take: Maxtor Shared Storage Drive

Maxtor's Shared Storage Drive provides a simple way to organise, centralise and backup digital content such as photos, music and documents over a home network.

First Take: Sony VAIO A39GP

Sony's latest flagship VAIO notebook, the A39GP, will appeal to avid gamers and multimedia enthusiasts with deep pockets.

Swiss-army printing: 3 MFDs tested

They can print, copy, scan, and fax but can they open tins? We put multifunction devices to the test and find out.

eXpressing yourself in colour

Next time you pick-up a flyer at local cafÃƒÂ© or clear one off your front porch you can expect it be a full-colour print. Colour printer manufacturers seem to have taken a keen interest in medium-size small businesses, designing products that can produce professional quality prints at speeds and costs within their reach. The Fuji Xerox has developed an innovative new print head that should give their Xerox DocuPrint M750 an edge in this market.

Lexmark X1185 All-In-One

Lexmark's X1185 provides your home or SOHO with a very affordable multifunction.

GoToMyPC 4.1

After years of flying high with no competition, GoToMyPC falls to earth against stiff competition from MyWebEx PC, which is free.

Bluetooth's broken. Here's how to fix it

Bluetooth was supposed to cure cable clutter, by letting PCs, keyboards, printers, and PDAs talk to each other without wires. Here's why that hasn't happened--and what needs to be done.

Nokia, HP put wireless words into print

Nokia is working with Hewlett-Packard to let customers print content from their mobile phones.

Canon PowerShot G6

An attractive enthusiast-oriented alternative to pricier 8-megapixel models.

Is ink ever mightier than laser?

According to conventional wisdom, attaching a colour inkjet printer to an office network is like trying to demolish a skyscraper with a hammer; fast, but prohibitively expensive for small businesses, colour Laser printing has long been considered the only viable technology for this scale of duty. Printer manufacturers are seeking to fill the colourless niche with enhanced-performance inkjet printers that promise laser performance with inkjet economy. ZDNet reviews hauled Lexmark's offering, the J110tn, into its offices to see how it faired.

Tech talk

Technology developments are being foisted on us at every turn, but what do we really get out of them?

MyWebEx PC

MyWebEx PC offers powerful remote-access features for free, plus some extra capabilities for a low monthly subscription, making it a great solution for telecommuters.

Microsoft Virtual PC for Mac 7.0

Microsoft's Virtual PC for Mac 7.0 is slow and a bit expensive, probably because it includes a Windows licence. But it's cheaper than buying and maintaining a real PC -- even a low-end one.

Contact management packages reviewed

We look at which product can help improve customer satisfaction.

Longing for Laser

Choosing the right corporate colour printer requires looking at a lot more than just price and print speed. We examine the factors that are crucial to making the right choice.

Tech Guide: Photo printing paper

You can buy almost as many photo paper types as you can photo printers. We explain the differences, and how to get the best archival quality prints in our Tech Guide.

HP Deskjet 5652

The 5652 is HP's latest top-of-the-line Deskjet offering. Does it justify its top-of-the-line price?

Best of September 2002

Come take a trawl through the best of ZDNet Australia's Reviews for the month of September.

Hard copies: Paler by the day?

As digital cameras replace film cameras, the lifespan of printed images becomes a worry. This is especially true if you pay top dollar for a photo-grade inkjet and splurge on expensive ink and coated photo paper.

HL-1440: Brother's chance to play with the big boys

Brother's monochrome laser printers have always lacked that special something that might push them past, say, a Hewlett-Packard LaserJet 1200 in terms of overall value. With the introduction of the HL-1440 Brother may finally have a chance in this market.

First Take: Apple Mac OS X 10.3 Panther

Panther, a.k.a. Mac OS X 10.3, offers beefed-up compatibility with Windows networks and support for IPv6 networking.

Lexmark X5150 All-In-One

The performance, image quality, and ease of use of this all-in-one make it a good fit for SOHO users who can live without fax capabilities.

Lexmark X522: More than the sum of its parts

If the Lexmark X522 multifunction printer could choose its own attire it would wear a suit and bowler hat around the clock. This multi-role device offers all the features necessary to meet the document management requirements of the mid-to-large scale enterprise. However, at AU$8,250 it will probably take a dedicated document server and a well-conceived capital expenditure proposal to get it into your office.

Olympus Camedia AZ-1

Olympus' elegant, pocket-sized Camedia AZ-1 is sophisticated, slim, and full of features, combining style and substance in one.

Kodak Personal Picture Maker 200

The Kodak Personal Picture Maker 200 by Lexmark lets you print directly from your digital camera. It even has a built-in colour LCD on the top panel, which lets you preview the photos stored on your memory card.

First Look: InDesign CS

The new InDesign CS will hold its own as the document-layout anchor of Creative Suite and as a standalone DTP package, but as a product update, there's little to write home about.

Will Apple bite on Motorola's PowerPC chip?

Motorola on Monday announced a faster PowerPC chip that could be used in speedier Apple Computer laptops.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-U40

Snapshot photographers who value portability and style over advanced features and photo quality will like this sleek little camera.

First Look: Apple AirPort Express Base Station (with AirTunes)

Apple's latest AirPort networking product also streams iTunes music to your home stereo, but it lacks the computer-free control found in competing network media products.

FotoStation Pro 5.1

If your company needs to manage a large collection of multimedia files, FotoWare's solution is powerful, quick and easy to use.

Australians first to snap up OLED cameras

Australians are set to be the first consumers able to purchase Kodak's world-first digital camera with an integrated OLED screen, according to a company announcement.

Reviews News: Everything including the kitchen sink

Whether it's power-based networking, tape drives or the world's most costly hairdryer, we've got all your needs covered with this week's new Australian product releases.

D-Link DSA-3100

The DSA-3100 gives your small business a good reason to provide wireless Internet access to customers as a value-added service.

Canon MVX3i

A sturdy, logical design and a 2-megapixel sensor make the MVX3i an excellent advanced camcorder for general home or business use.

Reviews News: Gearing up for Xmas

With the world's biggest buy-buy give-give holiday celebration coming up, we can all expect to see a lot of new offers and special deals heading our way. Check out this week's Australian product announcements.

Reviews News: Burners and wireless tech

This week there were numerous high-tech announcements -- from a printer that talks telephony to the vanguard of affordable DVD burners.

Netgear FWG114P

Netgear's FWG114P wireless access point/router/firewall/print server is a great all-in-one device for those planning to set up a home office.

Apple introduces AirPort Express

Apple Computer unveiled yesterday a AU$219 device that acts as both a portable wireless base station and a way to stream music throughout the home.

Nvidia software gets cozier with Linux

The graphics chip leader has released an updated version of its driver that focuses on enhancements for PCs running the Linux operating system.

Reviews News: A few things of interest

The Christmas rush might be starting slowly, but some interesting things have come out in the past week.

IBM ThinkPad T42

The ThinkPad T42 is a good choice for business professionals looking for a top-notch laptop at a reasonable price.

Lexmark gives colour to your money

In medium sized enterprises, colour laser printing service is either tightly controlled or non-existent. IT managers working in this scale of business simply can't justify the dollars required for performance levels that fall well short of office demands. Lexmark's C720 series colour laser printer may change this.

The latest Lexmark

The Z53 boasts a 2400 x 1200dpi print resolution, photographic sharpness to its prints, speedy text print times, and more-all for a reasonable AU$399.

Crazy eights: 8-megapixel cameras compared

Resolution junkies unite: these 8-megapixel models deliver your latest fix. But is 8 enough already?

Compaq name fades from HP's lips

The Compaq name is getting pushed further aside in the no-longer-so-new Hewlett-Packard.

Belkin Hi-Speed USB 2.0 DockStation

Belkin's DockStation provides extra USB ports and a simple docking solution that should work with any notebook, regardless of manufacturer. Read our Australian review.

UPS for all seasons: 6 appliances tested

Suffering from blackouts, brownouts, or sags? How about bushfires, floods, or cyclones? Then maybe you need a UPS. We review six UPS appliances.

Dell Dimension 8400

The Dell Dimension 8400 offers exciting new hardware, but unless you're a staunch early adopter, you won't see a compelling reason to make an immediate upgrade.

Reviews News: saturated by Canon

Canon Australia has gone a little ballistic this week, releasing no less than six products of various types onto the market.

Intel plans Linux support for Centrino

Intel is working on Linux support for Centrino, its package of chips for mobile computers with wireless networking abilities, but the company hasn't yet decided how or when to release it.

ZDNet's 12 Days of Christmas Shopping

Christmas is the giving season, but selecting the best IT gift can be tricky. Check out our Australian guide to the best presents this festive season.

New, improved ZDNet Australia Reviews Channel

ZDNet Australia presents its new and improved Reviews service. With streamlined content, easier navigation and more intuitive organisation, ZDNet Australia Reviews continues to provide the best technology reviews, product news and tech guides.

Tech Guide: Alternatives to AvantGo

If you are looking for an AvantGo replacement, here are five software programs you can utilise to put the Web on your PDA.

Clie to plug into USB upgrade

Sony's handheld computers will soon be able to exchange data with other digital devices without going through a PC first.

Tech Guide: Letting in Linux

We'll step you through the process of installing Linux alongside Windows XP so that you can boot either OS.

Wi-Fi spreads through the home

New Wi-Fi connections allow stereos to play downloaded music and TVs to show photos stored on PCs.

Palm Zire 72

If you can live without Wi-Fi, the midpriced PalmOne Zire 72 is a well-rounded PDA with features suited for both work and play.

Microsoft moves on 'critical' Windows flaw

Microsoft on Wednesday warned of three new security gaps in its software, including one "critical" Windows flaw that could allow a hacker to run unauthorised code on victims' PCs.

Ulead DVD Movie Factory 3 Disc Creator

Movie Factory is an excellent product for novice DVD creators, or anyone needing a quick and simple DVD authoring application. Read our Australian review.

Tech Guide: Setting up a Wi-Fi home network

A broadband connection brings the Internet into your home at blazing speeds. And with a wireless, or Wi-Fi, network, you can get that access on multiple computers throughout your home -- and even outside -- without cords.

MultiFunction Devices

Multifunction devices combine all your necessary office jobs into a single, space-saving, cost-efficient device. The Test Lab had a look at seven of the very latest multifunction devices.

Olympus Mju 410 Digital

If you're an outdoorsy snapshot photographer, and you hate to fuss with camera controls, put the Mju 410 on your list.

LaCie Ethernet Disk

The Ethernet Disk offers affordable network storage in a sleek rack-mountable casing. Performance isn't great, but given its target audience this probably isn't a show-stopper. Expansion is an issue though.

Motion Magic 3d Creator

We've all seen lenticular pictures in novelty and tourist shops. If you rock them back and forth, they give you the illusion of an image moving or morphing into something else. Now, thanks to Motion Graphix's Motion Magic 3d Creator, anyone can achieve the same picture effects with a home computer, Photoshop, and a good colour printer.