HP PSC 2210

Manufacturers have twigged that the best way to sell a combined printer-scanner is to ensure the components are as good as their standalone counterparts.

By the look of the PSC 2210, HP is definitely leading the way, with a multifunction device that will surely make everyone think twice about buying separate products for the office in future.

The HP PSC 2210 combines the functions of photo-quality inkjet printer, 48bit colour scanner, colour copier and plain paper fax machine in one.

The device occupies no more desk space than an average HP Deskjet, but with the A4 flatbed scanner on the top.

At the front there are four slots for digital camera cards, and HP's drivers ensure each card is recognised as a removable drive as soon as it is inserted.

A control pad and two-line LCD status window on top of the unit let you conduct most functions with your PC switched off, including colour copy, fax from hard copy and a variety of digital camera output options.

You can even print off an index sheet from a camera card, mark with a pen the ones you want output to photo paper and at what size, then scan the index sheet back in to instruct the PSC 2210 what to do.

Print quality from the machine is very good, if inevitably slower than electrophotostatic copiers. Scan quality is high too, and both the scanner and printer are quiet.

Configuring the fax function is easy thanks to HP's setup wizard.

The only thing the PSC 2210 can't do is scan transparencies but, considering it costs less than half what we'd expect for such a well-designed machine, who's complaining?

SPECS

• Printer: 1,200 x 1,200dpi; 7ppm mono, 4ppm colour
• Scanner: 1,200 x 2,400dpi, 48bit
• Fax modem
• Interface: USB2
• Camera cards supported: Compact Flash, Secure Digital, Memory Stick, Smartmedia
• HP Photo & Imaging 1.0
• 463 x 370 x 220mm (w x d x h)
• 8.14kg

DETAILS

Price: £299 (£254.47 ex VAT)

Contact: HP 08705 474 747