The Panasonic KX-FLB851E is a laser-based multi-function machine, offering mono printing, copying and faxing and colour scanning. Panasonic claims it's particularly easy to use and also points to its three output bins, which help separate out its key office functions.

This is a substantial machine, looking more like a traditional office photocopier than a multifunction device. The well-designed control panel lies along its long side and its 250-sheet paper tray also opens from the side, so you stack paper into it landscape fashion, rather than portrait. An optional second tray can be fitted underneath, to increase the machine's overall capacity to 750 sheets.

Under test we produced 10ppm when printing from a PC, through the machine's single USB 2 connection. While not as fast as claimed, this speed is still fine for the kind of small workgroup into which the device is likely to be put.

Print costs, at around 2.8p per page, are on the high side for a laser device, but in the end actual costs will depend on the price you can find for the toner and drum consumables.

The verdict is that while there is little doubt that this is a robust and serviceable office multifunction machine, the asking price is considerably higher than for equivalents from rival manufacturers. For this reason, we suggest you examine machines with a similar spec from a variety of suppliers, before deciding which to go for.

Via itreviews.

Manufacturers come at multifunction machines from one of two directions: with expertise in printers and in fax machines. Panasonic could have done either, but the name and style of the Panasonic KX-FLP851 suggests faxing was foremost in its mind.

This is a substantial device, looking more like an office photocopier than the laser printer on which it's based. From its auto-document feeder on top, to the three paper out bins at its right-hand end, it says business.

TrustedReviews made a review of this printer and here are some of their impressions:
One particular strength of the machine is its control panel. Despite dealing with all four multi-functions, it manages to remain fairly simple and obvious to use. The main panel includes a two-line by 16-character LCD display, though with no backlight, under which is a set of four dual-function buttons and a small four-way wheel for navigating its menu system.

The KX-FLP851 is very easy to use; to copy you place an original in the Automatic Document Feeder (ADF) or on the flatbed and press Copy. For printing, you use the machine exactly like a desktop laser printer and for faxing you can send from the flatbed or ADF. If the machine receives two instructions at once, for example being sent a print job at the same time as a copy job is started from the control panel, the KX-FLP851 intelligently queues whichever arrives last.

The conclusion is that this is a robust multi-function machine which would suit a small office or workgroup of half a dozen people. It won't need servicing that frequently, so running costs should stay low, though the asking price for the original machine is comparatively high. Devices with the same feature set are available for considerably less than half the asking price, so you have to decide if the Panasonic name and reputation for reliability is worth the extra money.

Read full review on trustedreviews.