Best Multifunction Printers

HP Officejet Pro L7680 (Around $330)

Office multifunction printer with fax. Multiple reviews identify the Officejet Pro L7680 as the best small-business multifunction printer. Text quality is very good, and printing speeds are fast. The Officejet Pro L7680 has built-in networking, duplexing capability, a legal-size scanning bed, color faxing and a 250-sheet tray. Users can print from a camera, copy documents and fax without using the computer. Photo quality is generally described as good, which is a nice bonus for a business-first multifunction printer. The downside is this unit's large size of about 21" x 17" x 14", with a weight of about 35 pounds.

Canon Pixma MP610 (Around $200)

Best all-in-one printer, no fax. Reviewers find that Epson Stylus Photo models have better photo quality and HP Officejet models have better text quality, but the Canon MP610 has the best balance of the two. The Canon Pixma MP610 prints, copies and scans, but does not include fax capability. Just about all reviewers say the Canon is a great choice if you don't need to fax. The MP610 is feature rich, including direct printing from cameras, duplexing, and copy enlargements and reductions. The Pixma MP610 is also an exceptional value, according to reviewers. It's small and easy to use, with a footprint of about 17" by 17".

Epson Stylus Photo RX595 (Around $160)

Best photo quality, no fax. Though the Epson Stylus Photo RX595 is a new model, it is the direct successor to the highly rated Epson RX580, and experts generally agree that Epson is the best all-in-one for printing photos, even though text printing isn't as nice. The Epson RX595 can print directly from a camera and has a 2.5-inch display for previews. The six-color printer uses inks that can last up to 200 years. Past Epson models have been criticized for being slow and lacking features; text quality receives mixed reviews. The 120-sheet paper tray is on the small side, but the whole unit is compact.


Canon Pixma MP470 (Around $90)

Best budget multifunction printer, no fax. Reviews say that its combination of print quality, features and price make the Canon Pixma MP470 an almost unbeatable bargain in an all-in-one printer. Unlike other options in its price range, the MP470 is rich in features. Critics say it is easy to use, has robust copying features and includes an LCD screen for previewing prints. You can print directly from most memory cards, and the printer is also PictBridge compatible. Print and scan quality is judged very good, but print quality and speeds are better with higher-end Canon models. Still, the Canon MP470 outperforms sub-$100 models from HP, Brother and Lexmark in both regards.

The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass - Game

The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass is the fourteenth installment of the long-running and popular Legend of Zelda series of video games. Releasd for the Nintendo DS, The Phantom Hourglass is an action-adventure game that can be played almost completely with the use of the stylus and touchpad. The game uses 3D cel-shaded graphics and features and overhead camera perspective and makes use of the dual-screen with a map that can be pulled down and sketched on to make notes to help you along the way. Phantom Hourglass was released in North America on October 1st, 2007.

Pros & Cons
Pros:

•Fantastic use of the DS stylus
•Beautiful visual style and graphics
•Nice music and sound effects
•Effective in creating a portable version of Wind Waker and is true to the Zelda series
•Lots of playing time - 15+ hours in adventure mode

Cons:

•Easy, and appeals more to kids


More information

Game Modes

Adventures Mode - This is the traditional game mode found in all Zelda games. You plays as the protaginist Link, as you make your way through various challenges, puzzles, and battles in your quest to free Tetra and battle the evil of Bellum. The game follows logically after its prequel the The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker.

Battle Mode - This is the multi-player mode dubbed "Hide-and-Go-Seek" in which players alternate in controlling Link on offence and three Phantom Guardians on defense. Link must attempt to gain as many points without being caught by the guardians. The game can be played both locally and online with the WiFi connection.

Sony Bravia W4100 Series - LCD TV

The W-series by Sony is part of their high end lineup of LCD televisions. Last year's W-series offerings came under the W3000 label, with 2008's following the W4100 naming convention. These TVs come below the premium level Z-series and feature most of the same standard high-end display technology such as 1080p native resolution and 120Hz frequency, but lack the advanced connectivity options in their more expensive siblings. Just below the W-series is the V-series which removes the 120Hz mode for smooth display of fast motion.

Pros & Cons
Pros:

•Handles 60p content through both HDMI and component inputs
•4 HDMI inputs
•Small bezel/frame

Cons:

•No DLNA support

More information

Specs

- 1080p native resolution
- 120Hz mode
- USB port for accessing digital content
- thin bezel, and "ultra-thin" cabinet depth
- Inputs: 4xHDMI 1.3, 2xComponent, Composite

Z-Series and W-Series features

120Hz - to handle fast motion found in action movies, video games and sports the television's refresh rate is doubled from the usual 60Hz to 120Hz. This results in smoother motion and reduces the image artifacting known as judder.

24p True Cinema - movie's are filmed at 24 frames per second, traditional televisions display their images at 60Hz meaning the movie information needs to be converted. With the 120Hz mode, which is a direct multiple of 24, no conversion is necessary meaning you get the source exactly as it was filmed. 24p content comes primarily from Blu-Ray video.

Z-Series, W-Series, and V-Series features

60p and 24p support - these sets can accept Blu-Ray content that is delivered at 24 frames per second with a progressive picture. They also accept a progressive signal that is delivered at 60 frames per second, this is most common in video games. Both the HDMI and Component video inputs can handle these signals.

Bravia Sync - control the other components in your home theater system, such as your A/V receiver and DVD player, directly from the TV. The other components must be Bravia sync compatible.

USB port - view pictures and audio stored on a USB mass storage device.

Features found on all 2008 Sony LCD TVs

Digital Media Extender - this is a proprietary port that acts as a central gateway for future add-ons to be installe to expand the functionality of the TV. The first add-on available is the Bravia Internet Link module that lets you view video content from the Internet. Sony claims future add-ons will be available with more features.