The six-ink Canon Pixma G620 prints extremely well, especially for photos, at some of the lowest running costs in the business. Its low speed and missing automatic document feeder disqualify it for office work, but it's a great value for families.
Canon's Pixma G3260 Wireless MegaTank All-in-One isn't speedy, and its scanner lacks a document feeder, but this bottle-fed inkjet delivers high-quality output at an ultra-low operating cost.
The Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8500 Wireless Color All-in-One Supertank Printer churns out terrific-looking photos and the occasional letter or business document for pennies, making it a sensible choice for families and small offices that print lots of photos.
Cost-Saving Ink Strategies
One of the most common printer-related complaints is that ink is too expensive. You can pour a lot of money into replacing cartridges, which all-too-frequently have modest capacities and deplete quickly. Generally, the more expensive the printer, the lower its ink costs will be. Often, budget-price home inkjet printers and all-in-ones have the highest costs per printed page, bringing to mind the old strategy of giving away the razor to fleece you on the blades.
The good news is that in recent years most of the major printer manufacturers have introduced inkjets with unheard-of low running costs, employing a variety of strategies to do so. HP sells ink on several subscription plans through its Instant Ink program, which can offer considerable savings on color costs. Other companies, including Brother, Epson, and Canon, offer similar (though non-subscription-based) cost-saving initiatives.