Bargain buy: Multi-functional devices

Price is not the same as value.The most expensive product isn’t always the best value for your money. This section highlights the least expensive model in a product category. If price is of no consequence, check out the most expensive model.

Our pick
HP Deskjet
F4185
Price – Rs 4,999
Features – Thermal inkjet colour printer, copier and scanner, up to 4800x1200 dpi resolution, 14 pages per minute (ppm) colour and 20 ppm black text prints, 32 MB in-built memory, analog copier, flatbed scanner, scans up to 1200 x 2400 dpi, 25-400% reduction and enlargement, USB port, 500 pages per month duty cycle
For:Those wanting a basic all-in-one device, for occasional use, at an affordable price

Close second
Epson Stylus CX5500
Price – Rs 5,499
Features – Inkjet colour printer, scanner and copier, 5760x1440 dpi maximum resolution, A4 flatbed colour image scanner with 600x1200 dpi resolution, 48-bits input, 24-bits output optical resolution, USB compatible
For:Those wanting faster speeds and sharper prints than the entry-level devices and are willing to pay a bit more for it

Top of league
Canon Pixma 800R
Price – Rs 30,495
Features – Inkjet colour printer, scanner and copier, 9600x2400 dpi print resolution, auto paper switching, 35 mm film scanner, 2400x4800 dpi scan resolution, colour copier, colour LCD for preview and editing, USB 2.0 HS, PictBridge, wireless/wired LAN port,multi-format card reader, direct print from memory card
For:Those with heavy printing needs and who desire studio quality picture prints

Purchasing Power

Life in Gulbarga, Karnataka, is becoming expensive where inflation is almost thrice the national average. Elsewhere, Shimla in Himachal Pradesh, is experiencing the least price hike. Among the metros, Delhi is least affected by inflation.

All-India Price Inflation: 6%

HIGHEST INFLATION RATES

Gulbarga: 12.1%
Jaipur: 11.0%
Shillong: 10.6%
Kurnool: 10.4%I
Imphal  10.1%

LOWEST INFLATION RATES

Shimla: 1.4%
Agra:3.0%
Bhavnagar: 3.4%
Agartala: 3.5%
Siliguri: 3.5%
Figures are percentage annual rise in consumer price index for urban non-manual employees from March 2007 to March 2008

Rates of Relevance
Home loan rates
Banks	Fixed rates	Floating rates	Processing charges*
PNB	11.25%	9.50%	1%
Bank of Baroda	11%	9.75%	0.35%
Allahabad Bank	11.75%	10%	0.5%
SBI	12.75%^	10.25%	0.25%
HDFC	13.25%	10.25%	0.5%
Source: Bank websites. Loan amount of Rs 20 lakh. *As of loan amount. Loan term for 15 years. ^Loan term up to 10 years.

 

• Among the institutions listed HDFC has the highest fixed rate

• There is a spread of 0.5-2.5 percentage point between fixed and floating rate

• Most institutes reimburse processing fees once the loan is disbursed