Fantastic budget printer (Canon Pixma iP3000)

Member Name: dfisher

Product:	Canon Pixma iP3000
Date:	07/06/06 (360 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Built in duplex printing, two feeder trays, excellent software

Disadvantages: Slightly flimsy build

This Canon IP3000 is an excellent printer for £80

Firstly this uses Canon's four separate ink cartridge technology, which means that when you run out of one colour you don't have to throw the others away therefore saving money (unlike other brands).

Secondly, it has a built in duplex unit which is a feature often found on only high end inkjets (£200) or high end laser printers. The duplex unit allows you to print on both sides automatically hence halving your paper use.

Thirdly, the bundled software is excellent. The drivers are well written adn don;t conflict with anything on my computer. There are some picture editing packages that come with it (canon's own software) which have plenty of features for the normal user.

Of note is the 'Easy web print utility' which installs as a bar on Internet explorer. It allos quick one button printing and features liek double sided printing and draft printing are one button click away. THe best feature of this Easy Web Print is the print function itself. Have you ever tried to print a web page and found that the sides of the web page are missing on the print out. What this does is automatically scale the webpage so when you click print the entire website comes out on the page and nothing is missing. Excellent idea Canon!

For the office user there are two feeded trays. One is a top feeder where the apper enters from teh back (like a normal printer) and then there is a second tray at the front of the printer. THis means that it you could have letter headed paper in one (for buisness) and blank paper in the other for leisure. Then there is a switch that allow you to switch between both trays. This feature is normally found on expensive professional printers.

The pring quality is good with text coming out clear with little spidering. Photo print outs are average (nothing spectacular) though the average user won't find much to complain about. The device is very frugal on ink and therefore won't cost the earth to run either.

This device connects via USB2.0

The build is of grey plastic though some of it is a little on the flimsy side (but what isn't made of plastic these days?)

Excellent product.

Summary: Brillian value for money with features of high end machines.

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