Although sales of multi-function devices continue to top those of simple photo printers, there are some situations where a printer is all you need.

Some people, for instance, don't have the space for such a device, and those who already have a scanner will not want to pay again for another.

Canon’s PIXMA iP2500 is an inkjet printer designed as an entry-level device without the fripperies of more expensive machines. The top cover of its high-gloss black and silver case lifts to make a feed tray, and pages eject on to the desk – there isn’t the luxury of an output tray.

There are just two controls on the printer: one for power and the other to feed paper, and the software drivers come with simple Canon print utilities, such as Easy-Photoprint and Easy-Layoutprint.

Lift the whole of the top cover up to reveal and the twin cartridge holder. Unusually for Canon, the printer uses an integral print head, so each time you clip in a new black or tri-colour cartridge, you get a new print head as well, which should keep maintenance requirements down, but will bump up the cost of cartridges.

The head design helps keep print quality consistent and the printer produces sharp black text, with very little spatter, and bright, well-realised colours. Black text over colour bleeds a little, but only under close inspection. Photos are well reproduced, as long as good quality gloss paper is used.

Print speeds are nothing exciting; we recorded 6ppm for black text and under 3ppm for colour graphics. Still, for occasional, home-based printing, it’s not unduly slow. The cost of a standard A4 text page is around 5.3p, while a colour page on A4 glossy photo paper is around 33p. Both these figures are at the higher end of consumable costs, but given the asking price of the printer, itself, are hardly surprising.

The only way a printer maker can justify a very low asking price like this is to recoup costs on the consumables. Overall, the cost of ownership is quite reasonable.

The PIXMA iP2500 comes in at just under £30, which really is a rock-bottom price for a printer. It compares well with low-cost rivals, particularly from Lexmark, though it’s a bit more pricey to run.

Vista compatible: Yes