The Epson DX4400 may be a low-cost device, but its specifications are relatively high. It prints up to 25ppm (pages per minute), is solidly built and perfectly suitable for home and small-business use.

It is also capable of good-quality photo printing, but being a budget product, has no memory card slots or LCD.

One-touch copying is available directly from the printer, but all remaining functions must be initiated from the PC. Epson’s printer driver is clear and helpful, providing plenty of feedback and access to troubleshooting tips. The provided Epson Creativity Suite includes applications for copying, photo printing and scanning, as well as email integration and file management utilities.

Replacement ink cartridges are priced very low, costing only £6.99 each. Because each colour comes in its own cartridge, individual cartridge prices are cheaper and less ink is wasted. On the other hand, you’ll find you have to change cartridges more often as the colours run out at different times.

Epson’s Durabrite inks are pigment-based, which makes them water- and smudge-resistant and resilient against fading. They also provide a high gloss finish and perform well on plain paper. However, if you want to print a large number of photos, we’d recommend spending an extra £10 for the DX5000, which is around three times faster at producing 6x4in prints.

When it comes to price, things get a bit complicated. At its RRP of £60, the DX4400 looks a little pricey. Of course, you can buy it cheaper in the shops, but the real issue is that Epson makes an almost identical product retailing for around £39 exclusively from Dixons, Currys and PC World; the DX4450 is essentially a DX4400 with the addition of Abbyy Fine Reader OCR software, making it a more attractive deal.