The Brother MFC Pro-700C has easily accessible copying features and copies a colour page in a fraction under 90 seconds. The Samsung SmartJet was also the only multifunction device we reviewed that can't send a fax independently of a PC, as it doesn't have a dialling keypad. Relying on PC interaction can be cumbersome unless the device's native driver support is intuitive. The HP OfficeJet 635 offers the best in its class. Brother's native software is well integrated, although it lacks an additional image-editing application.
Images also have to be scanned using the fax software.
None of the devices has options for additional paper trays or for duplex printing. Performance results varied dramatically, depending on print resolution and quality of paper. The Samsung SmartJet produced some of the best results in our tests when using its three-colour cartridge, but monochrome documents can only be printed once you've replaced this with a dedicated black unit, which is inconvenient and has compatibility implications. If your office needs a fast, high-volume network tool, then a monochrome laser unit like those in the sidebar on page 208 is the only practical solution for the foreseeable future. However, if you definitely need colour, then HP's new OfficeJet Pro range offers more practical, higher-performance solutions.