Product Reviews

Although multifunction devices are intended to serve as tidy alternatives to separate printer, fax and scanner units, the HP OfficeJet G85 (reviewed issue 72, p187) is the only one that's really impressed us so far. The OfficeJet G85 showed that multifunction devices could deliver quality results without compromising on functionality, and set a standard that others, such as this Samsung SCX-1000S need to emulate to be assured of a place in the market.

The Samsung is square and box-like in appearance - a stark contrast to the soft, rounded styling of the HP OfficeJet G85. At a fairly insubstantial 7.8kg it's quite light, but the build still feels strong enough to stand up to the rigours of everyday office use.

For the money the SCX-1000S offers an impressive range of features, with an inkjet-print engine that boasts up to 1,200dpi maximum print quality, with the standard setting at 600dpi. The print engine uses Lexmark cartridges, and Samsung supplies a standard black and a high-yield three-colour cartridge with the unit. There's also an A4 flatbed scanner/copier with an optical resolution of 300 x 600dpi. Fax functionality isn't built into the SCX-1000S, and instead requires the use of a PC modem, although fax management is included in the printer software.

Like the HP PhotoSmart P1100 (see Labs, issue 67, p132), the SCX-1000S surprisingly features an integrated SmartMedia slot, allowing you to print images taken with a digital camera directly from the front of the unit. You can also save and manage images through the PC with Samsung's SmarThru 2 software. This could be a useful feature if you're into digital photography, but in a general office environment you can't help but think that a fax option would be better.

One of the main criticisms levelled at multifunction devices in the past is below-par print quality, and unfortunately the Samsung is yet another victim. Using the printer's standard 600dpi print setting, text appeared rough with noticeable flaring around the edges of characters. Several lines on each printed page were also marred with a distinct smudge that travelled sharply across each of the characters. Text on the affected lines was still readable although the mark severely affected the look of the page. This smudge was reduced when printed at the highest 1,200dpi setting,

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but was still apparent nonetheless.

Comparably, the Lexmark Z52 (reviewed issue 70, p170) at its normal 600dpi setting offers sharper, cleaner black text quality, even when compared with the results obtained from the maximum 1,200dpi setting of the SCX-1000S. Print speed was also well below the 7ppm Samsung quote for normal 600dpi printing, managing an unimpressive 3.5ppm during the 25-page plain text printing test.

Colour printing performance also failed to impress. Even printing at 1,200dpi using coated inkjet paper produced average results. Solid blocks of colour in our performance tests were printed with a speckled appearance, displaying elements of the individual colours used to create the composite shade. The Lexmark Z52 also displays elements of this effect, but with more vibrant colours and solid shades.

Colours were reproduced accurately, with a natural hue although close inspection revealed graininess and speckling. Detail was less impressive, although the overall image quality was comparable to the Z52, and actually better in terms of colour purity. The HP G85, however, fared much better on these tests, and despite its price, the step up in performance still makes it a better deal.

One outstanding aspect of the HP G85 was its ability to print photographs, and using HP's Premium Plus Glossy Photo Paper it produced stunning results. The Samsung, while not nearly as impressive as the HP, still produced commendable results that were closer to the photo quality of the Lexmark Z52 but with a warmer and more natural colour balance.

The biggest criticism of the G85 was its disappointing scanning quality - a general criticism that has been levelled at multifunction devices previously, so it was surprising to find that the Samsung unit was actually quite impressive in this area. Scanning a photograph at 600dpi in 24-bit colour produced a sharp, detailed image that was rich in colour.

The flatbed scanner also doubles as a copier, which can be controlled separately from the PC or by using the SmarThru software. The front panel controls the basic options such as the resolution and number of copies, as well as giving access to more advanced functions such as N-UP COPY, which allows you to print N pages (either two or four) onto a single A4 sheet.

The Samsung SCX-1000S conforms to the standards previously seen with multifunction devices - jack of all trades, master of none. For £349, the Samsung should offer better printing quality, although the relatively high-quality scanner unit goes some way to make up for this. Running costs are also reasonable, but given that the HP G85 is only £79 more, the SCX-1000S isn't great value. Ignoring the convenience and extra features of an all-in-one solution, better quality printing and scanning can be had separately with both the Lexmark Z52 and the AcerScan Prisa 620UT (see Labs, issue 66, p124) for just £227.