Multifunction printers are the ultimate all-in-one device for any office. Combining the functionality of a printer along with any combination of scanner, copier and fax, they provide a fantastic opportunity to streamline a workplace thanks to their comparatively compact size.

The models themselves are extremely diverse. Some simply incorporate a standard laser or inkjet printer with a scanner. These tend to be the cheapest models and are likely to only set you back a little over 100GBP. The comparative quality of these devices to their equivalent standalone devices is reasonably good. Some might be slightly lacking, but the vast majority provide a pretty decent standard of quality.

At the top end of the scale, the cost of multifunction printers can reach many thousands of pounds. In this instance you can expect the full works. This means numerous input trays, exceptional scanner and copier functionality as well a colour laser printer that is anything but average. In appearance they bear more of a resemblance to a copier than they do your everyday laser printer. Ordinarily a tall structure with an A3 scanner on the top.

One specific feature that you might be interested in is duplex printing. This isn't a prerequisite for many, but when a model is referred to as a duplex multifunction printer, this means that it has the ability to print on both sides of the paper. In the long run this could well help you to save paper, money and time. It will also make printing larger documents far easier, taking out any manual processes that you may have to do in the past.

The fax element is very common, but it isn't present on all models. So if you are looking to incorporate a fax with your printing, make sure you check the specification fully to ensure that it is present in the model you want. The fax function works just as it would in a conventional fax machine, using the printer and scanner functions to send and even receive messages.

The printer itself is usually either a laser or inkjet; however, the higher end models tend to favour the speed and long-term cost effectiveness afforded by the laser. Inkjets have the advantage when it comes to producing high quality prints with excellent colour definition, so would benefit anybody looking to produce images regularly. Lasers on the other hand churn out high volumes of print in double quick time. The image is of a reasonable quality and there is no drying time due to the use of a powder based ink toner - as opposed to the liquids used in inkjets.

Connectivity is another thing to consider. Many multifunction devices will allow the printer to be networked with multiple stations, whilst some also include USB ports to allow instant connection. However, the newest technological development is Wi-Fi. By utilising an Internet connection, just as you would with a wireless router, you can connect numerous devices without cables trailing across your office.

Of course there are numerous other considerations that you might want to bear in mind, such as the size and number of paper trays, the number of pages it can print per minute (represented as a number follow by 'ppm') and whether or not you want a colour device - on the understanding that mono printers tend to be significantly cheaper as they only require a single black toner.

So as you can probably gather from the array of features that these devices offer, you shouldn't be stuck for choice when it comes to finding a multifunction printer. There are hundreds of models on the market, with devices from all of the leading manufacturers. Multifunction printers are a great way to save space and money for any office and are built to manage all capacities. They can be found in almost all budget ranges too, so whether you're buying for a busy workplace or for your home, there should be something to suit.