We found four very affordable units from Brother, Canon and Samsung. Each of these units has a good build quality and the brands are well esablished and well known. We have two ImageClass units from Canon, the D320 and MF3110. The Canon MF3110 is a true multi-function printer while the D320 is more of a personal laser printer. The MF3110 is more of a workhorse with a stronger print engine capable of 21 pages per minute compared to the D320's 15 ppm engine. The Canon D320 is also billed as a copier with top starting buttons but it's scanning is software based unlike the MF3110 whose scanning function can be initiated from the flatbed. The features and productivity go to the MF3110 over the D320. The Canon D320 will win the size award over the MF3110 which has a considerably bigger footprint.

The Samsung SCX 4100 is a great blend of features, quality and size. It copies, prints and scans at 600 x 600 dpi and has connectivity through USB and paralell. The Brother MFC-7420 is the feature packed powerhouse of this entire group with a great feature that no other printer has, and that is the auto-document feeder. The Brother also features an optional interface to make it a network printer via ethernet and definately has the build for it. With the highest resolution of the group and a 10,000 page monthly duty cycle this unit can work the long haul with no complaints. The fax also has a 500-page fax memory that will receive even if you're well out of paper.

Your considerations here should be for use and value. Most of these units are about the same price, the exception being the Brother at $35 over the average. If you rarely print or scan and want clean and simple functionality the Samsung SCX 4100 and Canon D320 might be best for you, however for only a bit more money the Brother MFC-7420 offers a total package for the personal or the professional.