For a graduation present, I received a Canon Pixma MX310 All-In-One a few years ago. I've used it for a few years now, and would like to share my take on the quality and features of the product and provide some kind of final verdict.
Faxing, printing, scanning and copying are features offered by the MX 310. I have used all the features rather extensively except for the fax component. I will address each in turn and then talk about some other considerations.
Printing with the MX310 is a snap. The installation software was easy to comprehend and I was able to connect the printer and print a few test documents within minutes of opening the box. The printing is fairly speedy and isn't as jam-prone as other printers I've used. The ink usage is fairly high, unfortunately, and the cartridges cannot be refilled, but replacement ink is modestly priced and can be found online for as little as $22 at a reputable dealer. For the tech geeks, it prints up to 600x600 dpi in monochrome at 22 pages/minute and 4800x1200 dpi in color at 17 pages/minute.
Copying is also easy. The document feeder holds up to 30 pages and the automatic feeder (ADF) works well. Quality, of course, is great, as would be expected from Canon-branded anything. Copying of photos on photo-quality paper produces products almost impossible to distinguish from professionally developed photos.
The scanner is also a quality tool. The scanning feature, however, has always given me cause for an issue. I always have trouble shifting the printer into scanning mode. It will generally take several attempts of pressing the 'scan' button before the machine ambles into the scan function. When you finally manage to get the machine to scan your documents, however, the quality is superb.
I don't know much about the fax. From what I've read online, reviews seem to be mixed. People like the 20-number storage capacity, but don't like how few options it has. For more precise information about the fax's capabilities, I frankly suggest you look elsewhere on the web for reviews.
The biggest problem I have with the printer is its large size. The thing is huge. It extends over most of my desk! If the printer is already on my desk, I can't fit my laptop. The printer is also very loud. Also, when the printer indicates it is low on ink, there are actually 30-40 pages left (from my experience). I don't know if this in intentional on Canon's part, but it's not very eco-friendly.
Pros: Good quality, very efficient.
Cons: Uses a lot of ink, difficult to find space for. Can't use ink refills for printers.
Final Verdict: A 3 out of 5. Although the printer has high productivity, I just can't afford to keep replacing ink at the rate I do, and the large size makes it difficult to fit onto a desk. It is a decent printer, but when I buy my next model, I will definitely look for something less space and ink-consuming.
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