Print, copy, fax and scan from one machine.

A color printer copier fax scanner machine, also known as a multifunction printer, is perfect for any business or home user who want a versatile machine that will do it all. With one machine, you can replace 4 important machines. This makes for more effective use of space and gives a home or office a much neater appearance. It also makes for an easier user-experience. You only need to get the hang of one machine and its interface, instead of trying to learn and use separate machines that have different user control panels.

Lots of people use these all-in-one (AIO) color printer copier fax and scan machines these days, from students, to domestic engineers, to entrepreneurs, small and large office workers everywhere. Naturally, the specifics that each user seek from these machines will differ. But most can be classified under these 3 of the most important characteristics that users seek:

Quality of print. Whether it is for printing photos, letters, text documents, charts, slides, brochures or marketing materials, a high quality of print is always an issue. This is especially so for users wanting a good color laser or inkjet printer. Inkjet color printers make better photo printers, while color laser all-in-one printers can produce lots of beautiful high quality smudge free color prints in a more economical fashion. Some machines have been engineered with photo printing in mind and they offer more functionalities that will help users edit and print the most gorgeous pictures, even if the picture was not well-taken in the first place.

Ease of use/ Ease of set-up. Ease of use will encompass ease of setting up the all-in-one color printer copier fax machine and getting it to perform its promised features with ease. Everyone these days are busy and while it is reasonable to invest some time into learning how to use a machine well, it should not be unneccessarily frustrating to do so. Also, if some stated features are hard to set-up, the user may bypass them and not experience the benefit that was paid for. So before you buy a machine, read a few reveiws from actual owners on how they would rate the machine's ease of use.

Wireless networking. This is important for households with multiple computers and for small offices where a printer is shared among co-workers. A network ready allows the printer copier fax machine to be shared among different users or to easily allow printing from separate computers. You can plug and unplug USB cables (or other cables) everytime you want a separate computer to access the machine, but it gets inconvenient after a while. Consider your networking needs, whether it should be wired, wireless or both; as well as whether you want bluetooth connectivity for connection to cell phones and laptops.

Here are examples of a few of the best all-in-one color printer copier fax and scanner machines. They work well with both PC and Mac:

Canon PIXMA MX870 Wireless Office All-in-One Printer (4206B002) - High performance inkjet photo printer copier fax scan in a stylish and compact casing. Employs latest Canon ChromeLife100+ technology for vibrant photo prints and true to life skin tones. Document handling productivity features like automated duplex (2-sided printing), auto document feeder. Perfect for homes and home office users. About $150.

Brother Color Inkjet Wireless All-in-One Printer MFC-6490CW - An inkjet 11 x 17 color printer copier fax scanner from Brother's outstanding MFC series. Great for accountants, artists, engineers and anyone who needs a wide 11 x 17 format. Easy installation, including wireless and/or wired networking. About $270.

HP Officejet Pro 8500 Premier Wireless All-in-One Printer - A cutting-edge high performance inkjet color printer copier fax scan that was designed to peform with the speed and cost economy of a laser printer but uses inkjet technology for stunning photo printing results. Includes wired and wireless networking, two paper trays, automated duplex 2-sided printing and automatic document feeder. Recommended for small business, home and home office users. About $300.

Brother Color Laser Multifunction Center MFC-9840CDW - Brother's color laser printer copier fax scanner machine that does it all. Laser print technology for medium to high volume prints as economical cost per print. Easy to set-up, including the wired and/or wireless networking. Perfect for small office, home or home office users who want beautiful laser quality color prints at affordable costs. About $600.