Dell's latest printer could cause a major shake up in the market, according to a recent analyst report.

"Competitors can do little to stop Dell's Multifunction Colour Laser 3115cn," said the report from Current Analysis written by Neville Khambatta and Philip Grote. "Dell has launched a model that stands head and shoulders above the competition." 

Khambatta and Grote cited the all-in-one laser printer's speed of 17 colour pages per minute (ppm) as the main reason for the rave review and big predictions.

"Other models in this segment have colour print speeds of 10 ppm at best, with most in the six to eight ppm range," said the report. "Dell is introducing a model that triples the colour print speeds of some of its competitors for a slightly higher price."

The analysts predict that the Dell model, which also boasts a 950-sheet capacity and fully-loaded toner cartridges in new models, could become the standard for other manufacturers.

"No other model currently matches the functionality of the Dell 3115cn, and pricing cannot get much lower in this segment, so new ideas will be needed to compete against this model," said the report.

The analysts added that, while Xerox, HP and Samsung are all working on comparable models, they are unlikely to hit the market in full force until next year.

The report predicted that Lexmark, which does not offer a colour all-in-one laser printer, could suffer the most from Dell's new product.

"Everyone else is getting a piece of the pie, while Lexmark is standing around without a fork," wrote Khambatta and Grote.

To compete with Dell, the analysts suggest that other manufacturers target retail outlets where Dell has yet to establish a solid foothold, rather than try to compete on the web.

"Dell's e-commerce site has set the example that most others try to emulate, " said the report.