Canon's most recent PIXMA is a 4-in-1 printer (print, scan, copy and fax) readily available for under 90.
Similar to most of the recent PIXMA devices, the compact MX340 is nicely designed in cream and black, and with the in and out trays shut it's not going to use up much room on a cabinet, measuring 458 x 415 x 198mm and weighing close to 8.6kg, that surely is not going to put your back out whenever lifting it into place.
This is clearly designed to become a small business, light use printer intended for workplaces that don't have to create big quantities of documents. At the top there exists a useful automatic document feeder which is for up to 30 sheets additionally, the main input tray at the back keeps a maximum of 100 sheets. The control panel beneath the ADF features substantial, obviously labelled buttons and printing instructions may be issued directly, via the mono, two-line LCD menus or by way of the provided software on your pc.
Even though there is not any media card reader, a USB 2. port is available beside the output tray intended for servicing flash cards or PictBridge digicam transfers. Possibly unexpectedly with this price class, the MX340 has Wi-Fi in addition to an Ethernet connection, though establishing the Wi-Fi link requires a LAN cable to get you going. The manual is available as a hard copy and is additionally incorporated on the provided set up disk along with Canon's usual set of MP Navigator and Easy-PhotoPrint software.
With regards to print rate, Canon's promises are definitely more precise than the vast majority. Black text documents of draft quality managed 7ppm (in contrast to the stated 8.4ppm), although this declines to 2ppm at high quality. 10 x 15cm photographs came up spot-on the advocated 43 seconds and the finest quality attained a respectable 1 minute 20 seconds. A4 sized pictures required only 1 minute 50 seconds with the standard level, increasing to 3 minutes 35 seconds at the premium setting, moreover A4 copies zoomed out in 55 seconds.
Although the MX340's performance all round is outstanding (the greatest resolution is 4800 x 1200dpi), CL-511 ink cartridge consumption plus print quality tend to be less stunning. In contrast to a number of other All-in-Ones, you'll find just two ink cartridges: black, and that is pigment based, and a dye based colour cartridge which brings together colours to make black on non-text output.
Black text documents are clear, razor-sharp and bold however photos possess a clearly yellow shade while copies turn out clearly more dark than the originals. Additionally, the furnished black cartridge only has a 220 page lifespan, and the colour offers 244 pages, therefore you will most probably be required to invest in more costly high-yield, but better value, alternatives.
Small businesses trying to find an affordable all-in-one printer inclusive of fax functionality will be bowled over by the PIXMA MX340's flexibility, Wi-Fi connection and speed of operation, although its ink consumption is expensive and its colour quality subjet to variability.
Canon PIXMA MX340 ink cartridges can be found here.
