Labs

The HP is the most expensive model on test but it's suitably well specified to justify this price differential. It has USB, Ethernet and wifi connections, an automatic document feeder and digital memory card slots. It also has a built-in fax and six separate ink tanks.

And, as well as a standard-size paper tray, it has a dedicated photo paper tray for prints up to 6 x 4in, and a duplex attachment for two-sided printing.

The design is fairly bland, with a shiny white and grey finish but the device feels robust nonetheless. The paper tray arrangement is a bit of a faff to operate and is the printer's only obvious weak

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point in terms of the plastics. But the buttons are responsive and the menu system is clear and obvious.

Of all the machines here, the HP is easiest to load with ink, using the Vivera branded cartridges. It's hardly rocket science to load a printer with the necessaries but the HP scores extra points for making it entirely foolproof.

The Photosmart is a speedy operator too, spewing out an A4 print in just 55 seconds and best text in 24 seconds - the fastest times recorded in the tests.

Additionally, the C7280 proved fastest when it came to an A4 scan, taking just 25 seconds. Sadly though the file that it produced wasn't all that impressive. Detail was okay but the white areas had a pink tint. Yet the machine's print quality is exceptional right across the board. Photographic output is smooth and demonstrates excellent colour accuracy. Text, even in draft mode, is crisp and sharp, as are the copies. And the HP really shone in our page layout test, balancing the entire spread of elements with skill. White on black text looked clear and bold black text became unreadable only at 3pt and less.

This is a well put-together device and certainly robust enough to survive the rigours of daily use.