Rating: 7/10
This new multi-function machine from Canon provides all your printing needs in one machine Combining the facility to print, fax, photocopy and scan all in one unit. With this impressive array of functions is the actual unit a jack of all trades and master of none? Well no actually, the unit is surprisingly good on all counts. providing all your printing need in one. The unit itstelf is quite cumbersome, with lots of trays and sheet feeders coming off it but really is no more bigger than a good size laser printer, and is certainly a lot more compact that having both a inkjet, scanner and fax all on your desk. The entire system It is pretty easy to install, however I would suggest reading the instruction manual on how to put the varying components together, as there is a lot of them, especially when installing the cartridges. Installing the software onto your PC is a lot more straightforward, the drivers for the unit are are all provided on CD,as well as software to run the different functions of the unit. All the different aspects of the machine are explained in a comprehensive manual with functionality and how to change from one format to the other explained section by section. On the back of the unit are the standard parallel ports, a phone connection , a USB port and the power supply socket. Each of these are easy to reach, meaning less time trying to fiddle with cables to get things working. Every part of the unit is easily variable. Paper sizes can go up to A4 and the print quality is changeable to what job you are doing. Once the machine is installed you are given the option to choose your print modes, this can be altered through both the front control panel of the unit and he software that comes with the machine. The unit as mentioned has a lot of functionality, each one using the same set of ink cartridges and feeding trays. The front panels contain most of the controls that work the different aspects of the machine. The control panel is pretty straightforward and switching between the different setting is pretty simple just requiring you to keep a buttons held down to switch from, say printing to fax mode.
The combination of four different systems all using the same control panel would cause a logistical nightmare, however creating custom setting for each component using the front control panel are easy and well straightforward. For example in Fax mode you can set up and customise your own settings, including speed dial, dates and registration for reference purposes and also programme the Fax to print off Headers and footers of your company name on all faxes you send. As well as standard dial tone fax keypad there are also controls for the printer options that include the ability to change the quality of both the print, from black and white to colour and changing the print quality from fax, draft, standard to high quality options. As for the print quality and speed, the unit is based around an inkjet system and even in draft prints quite quickly and to a fair standard. The quality is not stunning, but will suit most needs. The colour option is also pretty good and will be suitable for most home office uses. The photocopy option on the unit is also quite good doing both mono and colour copy to a fair standard This, as well as the fax option are rather on the slow side, doing around two sheets per minute in standard mode. The machine prints quite slowly , even in draft mode, however the quality of the print is very good in most modes. On a speed test the printer did around eight to nine pages per minute, this depended on whether the unit had gone into power save mode.All the units different modes can be adjusted for quality, each ranging from draft to high quality, obviously the lower the quality the more sheets were printed per minute. On the whole this is a versatile and good quality machine. What it lacks for in high quality print (that is to say some people would prefer a laser to an inkjet) it certainly makes up for in functionality. The unit is ideally suited for home office use and provides a great all in one unit and a reasonable price.
For more information, visit Micromart.co.uk