It is not very often in this forum that I choose to write a whole column on a single piece of technology, not when that technology is a printer - make that a multifunction device. Blackberrys, or iPods yes, imaging devices, not so much. That is going to change because I am smitten with a peripheral: HPs PhotoSmart C8180 All In One.

I have probably shown a few dozen multifunction printers on my show over the years, and I have to tell you, the bar is pretty high when it comes to today’s crop of AIO (all-in-one) devices. Each time I look at a new one I am impressed with the innovations in print technology, price and interface. The manufacturers are constantly challenged to come up with better, less expensive, more innovative technology, and the bar keeps climbing higher.

The C8180 is the first AIO I have used to boast its own CD/DVD burner, which merits asking the question: Why would you want a CD DVD burner in your printer? Do you have a few minutes? There are a lot of reasons! As you would expect you can make CDs and DVDs directly from memory cards, which is a very convenient process; great for both back up and sharing your photos. 

But for me, the most exciting thought came when I consider the computers I am using day by day. I am using a Lenovo Tablet PC, and the new Apple MacBook Air. I like small and portable, but there is a price to pay in most sub 3lb notebooks: the absence of an optical drive.

The drive in the C8180 works flawlessly with both the Windows and Mac PC, allowing me to import, burn and read CD and DVD media on a computer with no built in drive! It is perfect! Am I gushing? Yes, but I don’t care. This solves so many nagging little problems for me. Oh, and it is a great printer scanner as well. It will scan slides and other transparent media, and it is a Photosmart printer, meaning it will print at photo lab quality. It has built in wireless - both Bluetooth and Wifi - and when HP says the C8180 is designed for wireless use they were not kidding; both Wifi and Bluetooth perform flawlessly in both Windows and Mac environments.

One of the real keys to a device like the C8180 is the interface screen. All this power would be nowhere near as impressive if it were not for the excellent interface. It is a hallmark feature we are seeing in many peripherals these days. Touch screens make already good products much better, because they give us easy access to all the key features and settings.

The PhotoSmart C8180 is the most complete AIO I have had the pleasure to use. The CD/DVD burner is a stroke of genius; it makes an already compelling product groundbreaking. The moment I saw the drive in the printer I hoped it would work the way I envisioned, and it does!

Wireless, networkable, CD/DVD burner, scanner, copier, printer and a revolutionary touch screen interface; that bar I spoke of earlier has reached new heights.