Annoying and Irritating (Canon Multipass C75)

Member Name: IronChicken

Product:	Canon Multipass C75
Date:	21/10/03 (525 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: The fax works OK

Disadvantages: Everything else

This machine is an update on the Mutipass C70 which is the machine I have. All I can hope is that they have substantially upgraded the software, functuality and durability of this machine because mine has the most irritating habits!

The software is dreadful. Firstly the C70 will not work with multiple users on the same machine on Windows XP. Canon don't seem to know (or care) why - you just can't use this feature of windows. The software frequently refuses to install which means a complete restart of windows and unplugging the multipass (as there is no off or reset switch). I thought this was just my old Win98 Laptop but it does it (less frequently) on my new desktop. Other than that its just minor irritations. The fax headers don't have enough space for your message, the scanning software can't scan several pages to one document etc. Most annoyingly of all, if you have the single black cartridge in, (rather than the colour) every time you print a letter you have to go into the printer set up menu and tell it that you're printing in black only. Otherwise it will reject the print. Also, if you send more than about 2 prints to it at once it starts to reject them and then it will continue to reject prints until you're just on the verge of smashing it with a large stapler when it will smugly start again. All small things but over time they build up to a dreadful, terrible hatred of this nasty machine.

I use mine for a small business and it just isn't up to the job. When you want to switch from letter printing to an envelope you have to move a switch on the print head. To get at the print head you have to press a button which starts the machine through a process of whirrs and beeps that takes a good two minutes. After flicking the switch accross you have to press the button again to be treated to another minute of it faffing around. And don't even think about sending your print to it whilst its doing this.
It will just be rejected.

Finally is the cost of running the thing. You can get recycled print cartridges for about £2 each so you think it would be cheap to run but Canon have thought of this and make the print heads cost £35 each. I need to buy one of these every 4 months or so with about medium use. The print quality on a new head quickly diminishes from not great to unacceptable. (Even with Canons own cartridges - I've tried this!)

Other than that, colour printing is poor. The fax is OK. The scanner is slow.

When I become prime minister my first law will be that the MD's of companies have to use their own products. The maybe we wont see under developed rubbish like this for sale.

Summary: