From now on, when I pixma printer, I picks me a canon! (Canon Pixma iP2000)

Member Name: Secret Squirrel

Product:	Canon Pixma iP2000
Date:	30/11/05 (2516 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Price - and cartridge price

Disadvantages: A little large for a base level printer - but this is due to the paper feed choices

The pixma iP200 is a fairly base-model printer. featuring a front-tray paper feed and a top-toading paper feed, usb connection, and bundled printing software.

I ended up with a pixma iP2000 due to need of a printer, quickly, without breaking the bank. After years of using my epson inkjet, it finally gave up. The error it gave meant apparently that the pads which soak up excess ink were saturated and needed replacing. Rather than fork out for repair, I figured a new printer would be the best bet, so I bought an iP1000 on price alone. This did not last long at all. The build quality was flimsy and parts seemed to just fall out of the printer on a regular basis. It was noisy and very square and ugly. But - and this is the reason I opted for another Canon printer after the shoddy iP1000. The ink cartridges, compared to the epson branded or even the unofficial replacements, were far, far cheaper.

So, on this fact of ink prices, I stepped up to the newer and improved model, the iP2000. First looks were encouraging - this actually looked like a printer, rather than a bland grey machine that spat out paper all over (the iP1000 didn't even come with a tray to catch prints!) The printer offered two methods of paper feed. Firstly, the front-loading tray. Now this means that the printer takes up more desk space, but it does have the advantage that the front tray can be fairly heavily loaded with standard printing paper, instead of putting new sheets into the top every couple of hours. For those who regularly print documents, invoices etc on standard A4 paper, this is a definate plus. The top-loading paper feed option is also offered. So your photo prints, address labels or anything else that uses a differnt type or size of paper can be printed from the top feed, without having to first empty your stock of plain paper.

Canon have also improved drastically on the build quality from the lower 1000 model. Whilst it is still a little "plasticy" and certainly a home rather than a commercial printer, it just feels more sturdy. The paper tray that catches your printed documents (yes, Canon have included one on this model) is probably the most flimsy part - and obviously it's a part that sticks out. So don't place the printer where the paper tray can be knocked or brushed against - or if you have no choice, retract it when not in use.

The iP2000 also offers a quiet mode. This slows down printing a little, however the mode is easily switched between from the controls in the printer software included. So for those who, like me, can be a little nocturnal in thir computing habits, the whole house needn't be awoken by a 2am racket of the printer roaring into life, clunking it's way through a ream of paper.

The bundled software - a little limited in the review I can give on this aspect as I tend to print mainly from other applications. However, the photo-printing package seems basic but capable of printing centered, cropped, bordered or borderless prints onto the preferred size of paper with little fuss.

Still on photo-printing - the prnter offers very good results on 6x4 paper sizes. Obviously the resolution of your camera has a bearing on the final quality too. I also use this printer to print custom CD and DVD covers to keep the DVD which accompanies my favourite monthly magazine - DVD covers printed straight onto A4 glossy photo paper look very professional indeed! Unlike my earlier epson printer too, I find the ink in the canon cartridges sets well onto clossy paper, dries quickly and without smudge marks as the paper is fed through the printer rollers.

I mentioned earlier about ink cartridge prices. THey are indeed much cheaper than the epson. HOWEVER! I have found that most generic cartridges even the branded ones from major chains which claim to fit the iP2000 do not fit the cartridge housing. There is a little plastic tab on the side of the cartridge which is in a different place to all the unofficial cartridges.

Canon, however, do not add chips to cartridges for this machine, as other manufacturers have been keen to do. Refilling a black cartridge is very easy, and I have been lucky enough to find a source of refill kits at just £1 a time for the black cartridge - which refills one of these cartridges approximately 3 times.

To refill the canon black cartridge:

1- with a fine (1.5mm or thereabouts) drill bit in a HAND DRILL - carefully enlarge the vent hole at the top of the cartridge and also through the second plastic layer about 5mm below. (You only need do this once and refill the same cartridge numerous times)

2- place the cartridge on a rag (I don't use tissue paper as this can stick to the pad at the base of the cartridge)

3- carefully insert the nozzle of the refil syringe into the enlarged hole, deep enough to pass through the second internal plastic layer mentioned earlier, and slowly squeeze, until a little ink starts to seep from the bottom of the cartridge

4- wipe clean and replace in the cartridge housing of the printer

5- print. The printer will ask you if you have replaced a cartridge, click "yes", select "black cartridge refilled" and the printer will reset the ink meter to full. No chips, no messing.

With practice, this routine can be done without too much mess, in under a minute. Since I use a lot more black than colour ink, my preference is to purchase new, official Canon colour cartridges as replacements, and refill my black. The cost of cartridges has dropped dramatically since switching to the Canon.

Would I buy another Canon? Most certainly. This model has restored my faith in the brand after a shaky start with the earlier 1000.

Summary: Restored my faith in the brand, after a shaky start with an inferior model. Cheap to run too!

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