Canon PIXMA iP1500 > Reviews (9)

This is my 4th printer. I've had 3 prior to it since 1993, and none has topped the quality of this.

Of course, the more modern the printer the better it is, but prior to this the 2nd and 3rd printers were quite shoddy compared to my first DeskJet 520 from HP, which was merely black and white!

The problem I've had with all printers to now is how print quality is prone to degrading fast; whether you refill a cartridge or buy a new one, or invest in decent paper, the initial inkjet printing glow cease.

And the cartridges run out easily (some demand you replace both when one's run out!) and are too expensive to replace, yet refilling yields below satisfactory results.
To top it off build quality is usually flimsy. And don't get me started on how cost-cutting multifunction devices (printer, scanner, copy) clearly reveal their low price.

I knew I wanted a brand name, but I chose one I hadn't dealt with, but based on some research.

I'm not interested in photo printing but don't mind basic results, and I don't want to pay a fortune. And then it has to look good.

I got the IP1500 at Xmas and this Canon printer looks great with it's Dell matching black and grey, costs budget, and has a good enough build - it keeps it light.

Installation (being USB) was easy. Print quality was high; it's perhaps down to the FINE technology which promises quality near to laser. Photos are good enough for a non photo printer (near fooling on photo paper), while printed word is truly just excellent!

Despite having no output tray, meaning I have to play catch with printed documents (no big deal really, to me), the biggest grace is how cheap the cartridges are.

In a recent fill, for around £20 I got a black and colour cartridge plus 50 sheets of photo paper. An authentic Canon product with the same high quality I expected. You wouldn't get that with any other brand, to my knowledge - not even with compatible inks.

Maintaining the printer's a doddle too. You know where the sheets fit and it's a two button machine. Extra features can be accessed with the printer's driver software.

The Pixma range by Canon seems to be a very applaudable range, and provides a heavy challenge to contenders like HP, Epson and Lexmark et al.

It certainly catered for my needs, so maybe you should look at Canon the next time you need a printer!