The grades
Plain paper:
Text quality: C
Photo quality: C-
Coated paper:
Text: B
Photo: B+
Speed: B
Noise: B
Size and weight: B-
Paper handling: A
Driver utility: B+
Ink system: A
Setup: A
Manual and guides: A
Not too unimpressed really
I am not too unimpressed to be honest. Its handling of paper and envelopes saved it from getting a failing mark from me. All other printers I have tested either chewed up the envelopes or creased them badly. Its driver utility also gets points from me, it allows you to adjust a variety of things but there is no specific indication of resolution in the driver. All there is a slider between fast and fine (3 points in between). It also allows for setting up of auto-power off times etc.
Not too impressed either
Then again, I am not too impressed either! Again, maybe I am spoiled by other better-looking output I have seen on similarly priced printers. And I begin to regret sometimes, not having bought the Epson or HP...since there are refill kits and even cartridge clones for them out there. I will recommend this printer if you get it SUPER CHEAP with rebate and you just need one for, say, your college kid or your kid’’’’s computer. I will NOT recommend it for anyone else wanting to do a lot of business quality printing as well as graphics.
Bottom line...
Bottom line is stick with Epsons for photos, HPs for both. You really can’’’’t go wrong with the better HPs (880 and above). Even the mid-end Hps like the 840 are good value. Go with Lexmark if you don’’’’t mind the noise level and high ink costs. Or if you don’’’’t mind refilling, Lexmarks offer great satisfaction. Where does Canon fit in the printing world? Let’’’’s just say they really should just stick to what they do best, CAMERAS!